Nobody here knows Kraft's side of it.

MitchKumstein · May 19, 2015

JR4 said:
What would you do? Sacrifice yourself and the fans in a battle you can't win?

So it's better to sacrifice yourself and the fans without even putting up a fight?

Because that's exactly what Bob Kraft did this afternoon

#56300ex · May 19, 2015

Hey Bob, how can letting the NFL punish a team with NO EVIDENCE be good for the league???
You think this won't happen to another team and another and another? Eventually the entire league's fan base will be pissed off and then you'll ALL be f*cked.

Hael · May 19, 2015

Again, I really think that fans here are reading their narrative into a story that is likely significantly more complicated.

I just don't see Bob Kraft being like, yea take a 1st and 4th rounder (a massive disadvantage for the future of the franchise), a cool million, taint my name and my teams name, taint my hall of fame QB that gave us everything we have accomplished these last fifteen years and i'll simply roll over without exploring every possible solution.

Very likely he did explore every option, and came to the conclusion (for whatever reason) that it was not worth it to fight back in this setting.

I pretty much guarantee this is not about finances. At this level of power, he stands to lose much more from fan reaction than anything Goodell can promise him. Further at the end of the day, knowing some very rich people myself, their general concern is almost never about more money and almost always about legacy and what their product actually does for the world.

My theory is that his lawyers told him that suing the NFL would just drag the Patriots name in the mud for a few years with very little chance of winning. Worse, getting the case dismissed by a pro NFL judge could look bad for our case (which is really a case for public opinion, something we are currently losing).

Perhaps he thought that the resolution of the Brady appeal, which is much more favorable to us, would do the job for him and that pursuing his own appeal would make that case worse.

DaBruinz · May 19, 2015

JR4 said:
He asked us to trust him, that this is the best for the fans, the Patriots and the League.
Without ALL the details how can anyone here condemn Kraft for this action.
IMO, We are obviously missing critical information necessary to understand his decision.

Instead of condemning him, try to figure out what the league told him. What the other
31 owners told him. Imagine going into a meeting to find 31 owner set to pull together all their
power to destroy him if he peruses a course of action detrimental to the league.
What would you do? Sacrifice yourself and the fans in a battle you can't win? To potentially bring the
league to it's knees and by so doing put an end to Our Patriots the way we know it.
Maybe the best decision is to back off and fight another day.

Suing the league wouldn't be an action detrimental to the league. Particularly in this case where the league has actually been harmed quite a bit..

And yes, you "sacrifice yourself and your fans" (not sure how they'd be a sacrifice in your thinking) to win. Why? Because the league had NOTHING. Nothing at all. They punished the Patriots for being HELPFUL, FFS. Have you been oblivious to everything that has gone on?

If the league was "brought to it's knees over this" it would only be because the corruption would be so in depth between ALL the league officials (including refs, time keepers, etc) that the league SHOULD be destroyed over it. And if that is what did it, then yes. it would be for the better.

BradyFTW! · May 19, 2015

Hael said:
I pretty much guarantee this is not about finances. At this level of power, he stands to lose much more from fan reaction than anything Goodell can promise him. Further at the end of the day, knowing some very rich people myself, their general concern is almost never about more money and almost always about legacy and what their product actually does for the world.

FWIW, my experience is generally the opposite. You don't become a billionaire by deciding that you don't care so much about money once you have 'enough'.

At a certain point, if someone keeps devoting themselves to making money while having more of it than they could spend in a hundred lifetimes, it's clear that money is a factor: a big one at the minimum, and maybe the only one. And I'm not even criticizing that in of itself--it's everyone's right to live their life according to their own values and all--but let's not pretend that money isn't a factor in every decision that a guy like Kraft makes.

Soul_Survivor88 · May 19, 2015

2 sensationalized cheating scandals that irreparably damaged the Patriots brand, 2 surrendered first-round picks and the largest fine in NFL history -- all because Robert Kraft didn't want to stand up for his team

Zuma · May 19, 2015

Bob Kraft needs to change his freakin mind, apologize to the fans and fight this. He has till Thursday. Go down with the ship if necessary. I don't care if by some freak of nature we fight till the death and lose and the NFL shuts down the team permanently. We need to stand up....fight and do the right thing. You freakin change your mind now Kraft....and I will be on-board.

Rhodey · May 19, 2015

JR4 said:
He asked us to trust him, that this is the best for the fans, the Patriots and the League.
Without ALL the details how can anyone here condemn Kraft for this action.
IMO, We are obviously missing critical information necessary to understand his decision.

Instead of condemning him, try to figure out what the league told him. What the other
31 owners told him. Imagine going into a meeting to find 31 owner set to pull together all their
power to destroy him if he peruses a course of action detrimental to the league.
What would you do? Sacrifice yourself and the fans in a battle you can't win? To potentially bring the
league to it's knees and by so doing put an end to Our Patriots the way we know it.
Maybe the best decision is to back off and fight another day.

Actually, those who are aware should know quite a bit about Kraft's side of it. FYI: the language he used- that sounded like something he was reminded of (behind closed doors) -was quite revealing. In a nutshell, Kraft was going on about collectivism over individualism. Doesn't that ring a bell? It should. It's be indoctrinated by the schools and the workplace. And, of course, there is a specific reason for that, as well.

The only way one would have missed this stuff (i.e. details) is if one has no idea about what exactly going on with the collectivism versus individualism bit; how it plays out; why schools and institutions are not just selling it, but demanding it...at the expense of routing out ALL dissenters. And one can drill down on this quite a bit. Regardless, Kraft's language was a dead-on giveaway; came right out and said it.

Silver Blue&Red · May 19, 2015

JR4 said:
He asked us to trust him, that this is the best for the fans, the Patriots and the League.
Without ALL the details how can anyone here condemn Kraft for this action.
IMO, We are obviously missing critical information necessary to understand his decision.

Instead of condemning him, try to figure out what the league told him. What the other
31 owners told him. Imagine going into a meeting to find 31 owner set to pull together all their
power to destroy him if he peruses a course of action detrimental to the league.
What would you do? Sacrifice yourself and the fans in a battle you can't win? To potentially bring the
league to it's knees and by so doing put an end to Our Patriots the way we know it.
Maybe the best decision is to back off and fight another day.

WE ARE HIS BREAD AND BUTTER!!, not the league. The league doesn't pay him. WE DO!! Screw him. Let the NFL pad his pockets, cuz it won't be mine. He said he is not guilty. Try living outside of New England, and see how it is to defend the Patriots, when it's all because Kraft chose to back down rather than fight. "For the good of the league"?. BS, For the good of the owners. They say, F' the fans. It's time for the fans (the payers) to hurt them where it counts. We hold the cards. You stop paying, and its over for them. That's where I stand.

MitchKumstein · May 19, 2015

And the way that Kraft handled this makes him look like a complete jerkoff. After the penalties were announced he did a lot of public tough talking about how he was going to fight it. Then he released the wells report context which got the fans even more fired up. Then just 2 days ago he gave a interview to Peter King with lots more tough talk.

And then after all that, one hour into the owners meetings he runs over and gives Scumbag Goodell a nice hug, rolls over and surrenders.

He should be ashamed of himself. What a disgrace

Sfpat · May 19, 2015

Froob said:
Benson didn't back down and the Saints seemed to be actually guilty. Kraft has to be one of the few owners who would accept this. Although if this were the Ravens, Jets, Colts, or Steelers this never come close to materlizing.

When you make yourself a doormat, you get stepped on. Simple as that

Sfpat · May 19, 2015

BSR said:
Yup...if there was ever an issue to go nuclear over, this was it.

If you won't defend your reputation and good name, what will you defend

JMarr · May 19, 2015

People, please just don't give this man any more money, period.

He is literally laughing in our faces as he chugs ****tails with his granddaughter-aged bimbo No more tickets, no more concessions, no more merchandise, no more clicks if you can help it. Seriously. I've bought one Patriots shirt in my lifetime because i've seen what a money grubbing sham this NFL has become, even though I have love the sport.

It's not that hard, you can watch most Pats games on free TV, even outside of NE--and boycott the advertisers.

Sfpat · May 19, 2015

JR4 said:
“I know that a lot of Patriots fans are going to be disappointed in that decision,” acknowledged Kraft. “But I hope they trust my judgment and know that I really feel at this point in time that taking this off the agenda, this is the best thing for the New England Patriots, our fans and the NFL. I hope you all can respect that.”

Unfortunately, I can't respect this. I'm not one to rant and rave but I can't accept not defending the honor of his team, and himself.

flasox27 · May 19, 2015

Hael said:
Again, I really think that fans here are reading their narrative into a story that is likely significantly more complicated.

I just don't see Bob Kraft being like, yea take a 1st and 4th rounder (a massive disadvantage for the future of the franchise), a cool million, taint my name and my teams name, taint my hall of fame QB that gave us everything we have accomplished these last fifteen years and i'll simply roll over without exploring every possible solution.

Very likely he did explore every option, and came to the conclusion (for whatever reason) that it was not worth it to fight back in this setting.

I pretty much guarantee this is not about finances. At this level of power, he stands to lose much more from fan reaction than anything Goodell can promise him. Further at the end of the day, knowing some very rich people myself, their general concern is almost never about more money and almost always about legacy and what their product actually does for the world.

My theory is that his lawyers told him that suing the NFL would just drag the Patriots name in the mud for a few years with very little chance of winning. Worse, getting the case dismissed by a pro NFL judge could look bad for our case (which is really a case for public opinion, something we are currently losing).

Perhaps he thought that the resolution of the Brady appeal, which is much more favorable to us, would do the job for him and that pursuing his own appeal would make that case worse.

Are you living in a dream world. You are worried about fan reaction or public opinion? Our reputation is already in the toilet everywhere except New England because he turtled in 2007. The choice he had to make was whether he cared more for the the league which hates him or his fans. We all know what his choice was.

Sfpat · May 19, 2015

mgteich said:
perhaps

If so, this is the most juvenile reaction in the history of sports.

Not really. Trust is very hard to earn but easily lost. Once bitten, shame on you. Twice bitten, shame on me.

FCB02062 · May 19, 2015

We all know Kraft's side of it - $ is the most important thing to him; legacy and public perception be damned!

skinnydog · May 19, 2015

ctpatsfan77 said:
That ship sailed eight years ago. All this did was give haters more "proof."

Yeah, but it's hard or impossible to even mount an argument against it and it's raised to the nth degree

DaedalusX · May 19, 2015

In my view, the only legitimate reason for Kraft to back down (not saying this is the case, but it's basically the only possibility where he isn't a complete coward) is if other large market owners (or a majority of owners) were threatening to blow up the CBA if the Patriots continued to dominate in what was supposed to be an era of parity.

Given the hostile response from those who ought to know the Wells report was junk (other owners & coaches), it's plausible this was about the other owners/teams demanding Goodell find a means of leveling the playing field, or else.

I wouldn't put money on that explanation, but if that threat were conveyed to Kraft via Goodell on behalf of the other 31, I wouldn't be entirely surprised.

Deus Irae · May 19, 2015

One more note, and a question:

Kraft told us his side of it. Are we to add "liar" to his dossier, now? Was he telling us falsehoods while giving us his side of the story?

Nobody here knows Kraft's side of it.

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