Reactions To Kraft 's Presser Dropping the Fight.

“He had to make the best decision for the Patriots, and for him, and he made it, I guess,” said New York Jets owner Woody Johnson.

Asked if it was good for the league to have an influential owner like Kraft take a step back, Johnson said: “I really don’t want to comment on it.”

Texans owner Bob McNair voiced complete support of the decision.

“I think that’s indicative of what Robert tries to do. He thinks about the league,” McNair said. “I think that’s the smart thing for him to do. So, I’m pleased.”

Rival owners are 'pleased' with Kraft's decision. I want to say I'm disappointed, but I have never respected Kraft after 'spygate', so I can only take solace in the fact that now everyone else can see Kraft for what he is..

YOUGOTMOSSED said:

Because Kraft just validated it.

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But he didn't. There was no admission of guilty, he just said that he will unhappily take the punishment, which makes him quite the *****, but changes nothing in the eyes of people that were already calling the Patriots cheaters. In other words, today's surrender is not as big as an ammunition to Patriots haters as you think. Their ammunition was the Wells Report.

Deus Irae said:

I can see the touching father/son chat now:

"Someday, son, I'm going to die. When I do, I'll leave you the most reviled team in all of professional sports.

But you'll get $4.3 billion PLUS an extra hundred million more than it might have been had I saved the team's good name. Isn't that great? That $100 million is going to make all the difference."

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I honestly didn't have the highest opinion of Kraft even before this--mostly going back to Spygate and his bizarre defense of Goodell last year--but I did figure that if there was one thing he cared about more than 'the 32' and his net worth in general, it was his legacy and generally high regard among the fans. When I went to see the Pats in San Diego in December, he came through the Pats fan tailgate on a golf cart, gave a speech about how Pats fans are the greatest and he's one of us, and clearly loved the attention. I hope for his sake he doesn't plan on doing that anymore, because he sure as hell won't like the reception that he gets.

Kinda weird realizing that he genuinely just doesn't care about his own legacy to the Pats fanbase. I guess the only people whose regard he cares for are the other billionaires in the league. The man is truly a whore for every last cent he can get his hands on.

fresnostatealum said:

What I don't quite understand is some of you are saying "damn now we'll be known as cheaters forever! The whole legacy is tarnished!". You guys do know that regardless of what happened with the appeal, the opinion of the vast majority of people was not going to change one bit? Theyve been known as cheaters even before this Deflategate crap happened. Patriots fans will always defend the team and everyone else will hate them. It's been like that for the last 8 years. What difference did today make exactly?

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For me, it means you don't need credible evidence to take what you want from the franchise as long as the owner of the franchise sees future earnings harmed if he puts up a "fight." An employee sends a suspicious text, flame the Pats. Doesn't have to make sense, the Kensil's of the NFL can run roughshod over this franchise ANYTIME they choose.

fresnostatealum said:

But he didn't. There was no admission of guilty, he just said that he will unhappily take the punishment, which makes him quite the *****, but changes nothing in the eyes of people that were already calling the Patriots cheaters. In other words, today's surrender is not as big as an ammunition to Patriots haters as you think. Their ammunition was the Wells Report.

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Today's surrender was ammunition. Stop deluding yourself.

I kinda hope they are guilty as to justify Kraft being a Puxxy

What a dark day. I don't have season tickets...but if I did I'd most certainly be calling Patriot Place today.

What I don't understand is why does he make this announcement NOW and why does he put up the "Wells report in context" website BEFORE taking this to the back channel? I know the Brady appeal could drag on a little bit, but it will regardless of whether Kraft makes this announcement today. The "context" website was the team figuratively handing out and lighting torches for their fans to bring up against the league, and this weak statement is figuratively taking a fire-hose and turning it on those same torches. WHY.

And while Brady still has the league by the gonads in some ways, Kraft has just made it harder for him and MUCH easier for the NFL to make their case without looking like complete buffoons (they'll only look like 3/4 buffoon, give or take). What I mean by that is he has taken a lot of information and (more importantly) carefully framed arguments that Brady likely could have used in his appeal proceedings, and gave it to the NFL and said: "Here is the general strategy his team will likely employ on certain items. Better start to prepare arguments and excuses for all of this".

Don't get me wrong, there are other factors or lines of reasoning that Brady could use that Kraft didn't just torpedo, and I am still confident in Tom Brady's appeal process especially with his legal team. If anyone can overcome the hurdle that Bob Kraft just threw out, Kessler and Yee can. However, some of the information in the "context" website absolutely could have been used by Brady as example that the league's investigation, report, and subsequent punishment against him was all biased and they arguably could have blindsided the league on the record in the appeals process with some of their "context" comments, rather than giving them and every other schmoe with an internet connection weeks to prepare counter-arguments.

If this were Poland in 1943 he just watched Brady get on the train and didn't protest. F him.

What agitates me the most is that this was all avoidable. When the penalty was first handed down, Kraft said he was going to accept it no matter what. I didn't like it but it was in line with how he reacted over Spygate. A horrible penalty but I was ready to move on.

Then I see that Brady's jersey starts showing up on Patriot's sites. Then Bob says he won't accept the penalty and even puts up a website refuting the Wells Report.

Now I am sucked back in and ready to defend Kraft, Brady and the Patriots until the bitter end. And today? He just rips the rug our from under us that he placed on the ground in the first place. Why couldn't he have just kept his mouth shut from the very beginning. How can you not feel betrayed?

At one end of the spectrum, we’ve had Patriots fans throughout the country who have been so supportive and really inspirational to us, and believing in us. But I’m also mindful at the other end of the spectrum; there are fans that feel just the opposite.

All it takes is a letter from an equipment manager, a trumped up investigation with text messages taken out of context as proof to not only levy the largest penalty in NFL history but to forever tarnish the teams reputation. And you allowed it to happen. That's ****ing awesome, Mr. Kraft.

RI Patriots fan said:

The hilarious thing is that people actually think that Kraft cares what they think about this situation.
Let me tell you what he thinks (and he will be right). Ultimately, you will still go to the games. Ultimately, you will still pay for parking. Ultimately, you will buy Patriots gear and beer at the stadium because he knows that your life would be empty without the Patriots.

All these ridiculous comments I see about "not watching the Patriots after Brady is gone" or "just go to the games but not buy beer".......he is counting on you having no life.

I can almost guarantee you that come opening day that stadium will be full.....and that is sad.

Bob Kraft only cares about your money so don't give it to him. Don't go to the game....I won't be going. Don't pay to park your car.....I won't. Don't buy gear, DVDs, or shop in Patriots place.....I won't.

Have some real balls and sacrifice......if you give him even one dollar, you're telling him (to some degree) that you support his team.

To those who have the guts to not give Bob Kraft one dollar, I salute you. To those who will continue to give him your money......you're a fool.

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I think Kraft will care and will be hurt when he gets booed on opening day. He will have deserved it.

I've been a Pats Fan since 1970. I've seen many players and coaches come and go. I've seen undermanned squads battle valiantly against teams with much better talent.
I wore Pats jerseys when no one was wearing Pats gear. I screamed when Ben Dreith threw that flag on Sugar Bear Hamilton. I was watching the Pats on MNF when Cosell announced the murder of John Lennon, I suffered through the SB blowout by the '85 Bears. I worried our team would be taken from us during the Ortwein / Kiam ownership changes.
When you bought the team and brought in Parcells, I was bouyed with hope that we would finally be a team to be respected. I was crushed by the loss of the perfect season to the Giants. I was frustrated by Welker's drop that cost us another SB.
Those losses and Parcells betrayal hurt badly. Today, you have inflicted a wound much deeper than any of these prior disappointments and pains.
Today, you went over to the dark side. You have disgraced a franchise that was born and kept alive on a shoestring for decades. Those trials and pains felt by all long time Patriot fans collectively hurt less than your betrayal today.
I known you started out as a Pats Fan. What happened? Were you seduced by playing with the big boys? Was it more important to stay in the good graces of the other NFL Owners?
I guess the answer is yes. I never ever questioned your love of the Pats until today.
Was it worth it Bob?

Kraft breathing is already offensive to me, damn it I need to work and I can't write 2 lines of code.

BradyFTW! said:

I honestly didn't have the highest opinion of Kraft even before this--mostly going back to Spygate and his bizarre defense of Goodell last year--but I did figure that if there was one thing he cared about more than 'the 32' and his net worth in general, it was his legacy and generally high regard among the fans. When I went to see the Pats in San Diego in December, he came through the Pats fan tailgate on a golf cart, gave a speech about how Pats fans are the greatest and he's one of us, and clearly loved the attention. I hope for his sake he doesn't plan on doing that anymore, because he sure as hell won't like the reception that he gets.

Kinda weird realizing that even that isn't the case. I guess the only people whose regard he cares for are the other billionaires in the league. The man is truly a whore for every last cent he can get his hands on.

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Mr. Kraft chose poorly, and against sound principles. for the second time, in a punishment scenario. He is simply not trustworthy, and I shall never again deem him worthy of anything but contempt.

I changed my vote after seeing Adam Schefter's take. Schefter isn't the type of guy who becomes a puppet to leak false reports from someone with an agenda.

Chiuba E. Obele said:

Kraft Group contact info:

One Patriot Place, Foxborough, MA 02035
508-384-4230
Fax: 508-698-1587
[email protected]

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I sent a very harsh email. I hope someone gives it to Kraft, that piece of ****.

This Sucks. I am beyond pissed.

Really unsure why they spent the last week defending themselves to do this....

Poor Brady, I would have to assume he is angry right now. We will probably never know. But if I was him I'd retire or demand a trade. Luckily for him, I am sure he is much more level headed.

As for me, I have invested so much energy into this team. All I wanted was ONE superbowl victory to shut the haters up about spygate. And hear we are, cheaters forever. And I know, I should not care what people think, but I don't live in Boston, or New England anymore. I get **** from people NON STOP here in Florida, I cant even go to a sports bar and watch my team play in peace with out being taunted and there I am constantly trying to defend them. Maybe I take this game to seriously. But no more, never again. I am DONE. I will support TOM BRADY and defend him until the end. As for the Patriots as a whole, nope. Robert Kraft doesn't care about defending his brand, and now neither do I.

Robert Kraft, you have let the team and the fans down.

As long as your buddy Goodell is happy, eh?

Pathetic.

Deus Irae said:

Today's surrender was ammunition. Stop deluding yourself.

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No it wasn't. Anti-Patriots fans were gonna be anti-Patriots fans with the same amount of vigor regardless of whether Kraft decided to appeal. Dumb fans are dumb fans, they don't follow the appeals and all that stuff, they follow rhetoric. I mean Christ, if you'd ask the majority of football fans what Spygate was about, they'd say it was about taping walkthroughs. If you're gonna tell me to "stop deluding myself", then I can tell you to "stop overreacting". A lot of you were clearly expecting a fight by the Patriots to get their picks back, and today hit you like a ton of bricks. Step away from the forum, from anything Patriots related for a while, and just relax. Today is not as bad as it seems.


I'm personally not that heartbroken because Im not in the least bit surprised. I guess I had far less respect for Kraft going into this than you guys did. Him defending the dictator last year and him hooking up with some 20 year old bimbo not long after his wife passed showed two huge character flaws in him.