I posted this in another thread
This is what I think may have happened.
1) Goodell does not want to fight the Pats or Brady in court. He let this get out of control and now he needs it to die down.
2) Kraft is pissed. He doesn't want to fight the NFL in court but may have to 'cause of the harshness of the penalties and having his greatest star under fire.
3) Goodell appoints himself arbitrator in the Brady case so he has something to go to Kraft with. He meets Kraft on the weekend. "Bob, I am arbitrator in the case. If you drop the team appeal/case then I will drop the Brady suspension. The NFL doesn't want to go to court and I'm sure you do not also. You get Brady's suspension dropped and we get the team penalties upheld. We both get to save some face."
Now for us as Pats fans, we want total absolution of any wrong doing, but Kraft as an owner does not want to be in court fighting the league. He doesn't have the demeanor of Al Davis, it's us against the world. He loves being a big cog in the NFL machine so in his mind taking a hit but getting the Brady's suspension dismissed is a better alternative then going against the league and taking it to court.
Now if he just gave up without any backroom dealing and making sure Brady's suspension is dismissed then he's a complete coward.