Nobody here knows Kraft's side of it.

MitchKumstein said:

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

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Bingo. This was not about the picks, the fine, suspensions. This about GUILT!!! And he sold us out. and he left Brady, the man who single handedly brought in millions of new fans (and their money), to his empire. I say burn it down. Hit him where it hurts. He will pay for this. The owners wont bail him out when the stands are empty

DaedalusX said:

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.

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Then the other owners can pay his bills. If that's the case. But the fans are his income. Period. The guys an idiot

Chiuba E. Obele said:

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

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I mentioned before that Kraft should have gone Al Davis on the league and I feel it even more strongly today. Until Al went off the rails his last few years of his life, he was a pretty astute football man and great owner. I hate to say it and most will think this is hyperbole, but I truly wish the Pats were owned by Al Davis and not the person who will henceforth be known as "Bend over Bobby" Kraft.

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.

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Why not? He accepted the then-largest penalty in NFL history for 'spygate' which destroyed his team's legacy at the time.

He didn't even push to let people know the biggest rule they broke was using electronic equipment on the sidelines. People still believe, and will always believe, that Belichick had secret spy cams stealing any info he can.

Look at how quickly we were told the recent sideline texting incident was harmless. If the Patriots were texting on the sidelines, all hell would break loose and Kraft would apparently allow it

Quotes on and off the record from owners here:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/...-couldn-win/MOpqZnW4k8NhqaFpdMI4qO/story.html

“There isn’t much support for the Patriots,’’ said an owner of a vaunted NFL franchise. “I’ve been hearing all the claims of Patriot fans and folks poking holes in the Wells Report, so I read it again last night. You know what? The league has enough on them.’’

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And more here... http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...rt_kraft_decision_not_to_appeal_pleases_peers

It's really starting to sound like the owners had a direct hand in pushing the league office to punish the Pats, and Goodell's message to Kraft was very likely along the lines of "you don't have any friends on this".

reneluar said:

He could tell us the details of the talk with Goodell if we pay, its all about the $$$$$

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Oh I have a feeling he was be called to testify in Brady's lawsuit versus the NFL. Why not call to ask what Goodell told him about the punishment and any knowledge of a sting in the league office? There is no protected privilege between Goodell and Brady......

everlong said:

We do know Bob's side of it. He gushed about being part of the 32 and that comes first. He thinks this capitulation will get him clout. He's a fool.

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DaedalusX said:

Quotes on and off the record from owners here:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/...-couldn-win/MOpqZnW4k8NhqaFpdMI4qO/story.html



And more here... http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...rt_kraft_decision_not_to_appeal_pleases_peers

It's really starting to sound like the owners had a direct hand in pushing the league office to punish the Pats, and Goodell's message to Kraft was very likely along the lines of "you don't have any friends on this".

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Remember recently when there was eager speculation here about how Goodell could be in trouble once Kraft arrived at these meetings?

SteveKiner said:

I mentioned before that Kraft should have gone Al Davis on the league and I feel it even more strongly today. Until Al went off the rails his last few years of his life, he was a pretty astute football man and great owner. I hate to say it and most will think this is hyperbole, but I truly wish the Pats were owned by Al Davis and not the person who will henceforth be known as "Bend over Bobby" Kraft.

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Al Davis. Well, that's a new low.

Jackson 2 said:

Remember recently when there was eager speculation here about how Goodell could be in trouble once Kraft arrived at these meetings?

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Good times. Good Times!
Remember how we were going to get an apology from the league, a Colts draft pick once the sting was revealed? Kensil and the league office cronies fired? Maybe even a retraction of the Spygate penalty?

Ah, the good ol days on Patsfans!

JR4 said:

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.

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How does one destroy a billionaire i would like to know. But lets play this unlikely game you really think that with the skeletons in the closet the NFL got, and Kraft knows all of them, they would actually do that? They were ****ting their pants he was going to go nuclear publicly according to one unknown owner cited by Mike Freeman.

Enough with the he was trying to protect the pats, afraid of being destroyed nonsense. He was trying to protect the NFL, his business. The NFL will always come before HIS team. Go back and listen to that I give up speech he made yesterday again. NFL and other 31 teams MORE IMPORTANT than his own team. Going after them would make the NFL look bad and that is not good for business. And if that means someone else in the AFC wins then so be it. Look at it from a billionaire's perspective for a sec. They are not billionaires by chance. Follow the money. Loyalty to the patriot fanbase was a fallacy we all fell for.

Judge a man by his actions. His actions spoke loud and clear.