Now that I had time to digest this

RelocatedPatFan said:

I'm too exhausted (by this and other things) to really carry on.

but, I did turn on ESPN/NFL just to see how the media was reacting (not something I'm proud of or do too often) and I was surprised at how "positive" they were treating Kraft. I wonder if this was part of the backroom deal, that the media spin the narrative (as I suspect they'll do whatever the NFL wants...within reason).

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Not sure of it was specific wording of the backroom deal, however, I think you are on to something. I saw a quote from Woody Johnson when asked about Kraft's capitulation. He appeared to be speaking very carefully. Normally a blowhard will give you at least one or two blunt words or phrases. When he speaks non blowhard it is probably because he was told in no uncertain terms to say 'Bob made the right decision and I respect Bob' then to shut his piehole.
Unless I have missed it, other owners have been mum on Kraft's decision. Considering it was a large media event that surely would cause each team's local reporters to ask about it, I take that to mean Emperor Goody let them know, in no uncertain terms, to watch what you say or else.

How the **** did the Chargers win the towel gate appeal? They were actually guilty....

simple.....I know have more respect for goodell than kraft

goodell mopped the floor with kraft and did not even try.....hell, troy vincent, kensil, gardi, pash all lined up for a nice kick to krafts groin......well deserved, too

I could care less if the Shmuck sold the team or not. I am no longer proud of that owner. Not that he really cares what we think anyway.

The harsh reality is that there is no other way to look at this but just as Kraft said, the will of 1 vs. the entire league. The difference is, you would never see another premiere sports franchise take it up the ass like Kraft let his. 0 chance the Lakers, Yankees, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United's, of the world put business over the culture and integrity of the team and the fans.

He could have chose to fight it out and even in a losing battle, he would be remembered as a loyal to the Patriots team and "family" as he liked to call it. There is no way you turn your back on your family for your families competitors. There is no positive spin on what Kraft did today, there is no way this will ever be anything other than a sad day in Patriots history.

up next:

1 - Brady appeals
2 - NFL drops the suspension
3 - Brady sues for defamation
4 - everything comes to the surface and Brady is exonerated and Kraft winds up as a poster child for adult undergarments

new englanders are supposed to fight to the end

this is what bothers me most

Sciz said:

Goodell was inevitably going to appoint himself to hear any appeal knowing that the only way to overturn his decision would be to sue. Does Kraft have a duty to put up the facade of fighting the punishments even if he knows it will accomplish nothing? A lot of people here seem to think so, but the end result is almost definitely exactly the same unless he commits to an attempt to destroy the NFL in court, which he obviously isn't remotely close to doing.

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You are leaving out option 3, defer. He could have said 'as a member of a lodge of 32 and with concern for the health of our entire league, I have chosen to not pursue an appeal at this time. We continue to support our QB's pursuit of a full rescinding his punishment'.
With that he doesn't capitulate, he doesn't start a fruitless legal war, he throws platitudes at the other owners that he understands the importance of the health of the whole league, yet he also makes it clear through support of his QB that he continues to not accept the league's actions and will fight it if/when possible.
What is wrong with that option?

ChoWZa said:

Even if it was, in his mind, 100% probability of defeat he needed to fight it.
Kraft will be booed for the first time at Gillette stadium and I hope it stings.

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If we take all the emotion out of it (hard, I know), statements like this just don't make any sense to me. Kraft didn't "bend over and take it" today (not your words, but the words of many and I think it's applicable here). He "took it" 21 years ago when he signed away his right to sue the NFL as he purchased the Patriots. Would Kraft vs the NFL have been awesome to see? Probably. It also would have almost definitely failed, says every legal expert who has given their opinion. I don't think Kraft is gutless for calling it quits. I think he's just acknowledging the crappy situation every owner is put in when it comes to NFL discipline. As people said when the penalties were originally announced, the NFL made a statement by giving the Pats a penalty that was almost definitely going to stick regardless of Brady's appeal. The end result on this is exactly what people originally expected. I don't think it's worth getting this upset over just because it happened sooner than people wanted it to.

Sciz said:

The end result on this is exactly what people originally expected. I don't think it's worth getting this upset over just because it happened sooner than people wanted it to.

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So are you happy with how today ended?

Chiuba E. Obele said:

So are you happy with how today ended?

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Of course not. Don't confuse "not as upset" with "happy." I would have loved to see a failed appeal lead to a lawsuit and a subpoena of all internal NFL communications, but people that are a lot smarter than me on the subject say that was never a realistic option. Despite some admittedly emotionally charged and pipe dream opinions shared in past weeks on the topic, my general opinion has been that the team penalty would stick because that's hard to fight against and that Brady would get a chance to fight his penalty to the end. Today sucked because the worst case scenario about the team punishment was confirmed, but I care far less than most here that it came via Kraft announcing he would not fight it as opposed to what appears to be the almost definite alternative, fighting and losing.

The reason Patriot fans are so pissed off is because Kraft led us to believe he wasn't going to take this sitting down and this time the evidence and smoking gun was on our side. Patriot fans had to endure months of lies and the trashing of their team and were just getting the opportunity to turn the tables on the haters and had clear proof the league was biased and the penalties uncalled for. The smoking gun was the fact that Wells relied heavily on Walt Anderson's word and memory except for the one thing that cleared the Patriots, the gauge, and demonstrating that the report should be thrown out entirely for that reason would have been very easy. If Wait Anderson was telling the truth and his recollections the basis for their findings it was case closed Patriots win.

What happened in SF was Bob Kraft putting his ego and his perceived legacy ahead of his real responsibility, which is to the fans. Kraft sees himself and his legacy as The Man Who Saved Football, and he realized when he got to the owners meetings that he would have to forfeit that legacy and go down as the owner who sued the league instead of the savior and was not willing to take that hit to stand up for his team and fans, it simply wasn't worth it to him so he choose Goodell and the owners club over his team and their fans? It was shameful. Whether he won was not the issue to the fans, showing his belief in the team and fighting for their name was all that mattered, but he simply does not have the heart or courage for that fight.
At this point Kraft has shown he can no longer lead this team as an owner and it is time to turn the team over to his son and step back from the operation of the team.

It's a good thing the team has Brady's heart and Belichick's brains and balls because had they relied on Kraft for any of those qualities there would be no rings on their fingers or Lombardi's at Patriot Place.

Sciz said:

If we take all the emotion out of it (hard, I know), statements like this just don't make any sense to me. Kraft didn't "bend over and take it" today (not your words, but the words of many and I think it's applicable here). He "took it" 21 years ago when he signed away his right to sue the NFL as he purchased the Patriots. Would Kraft vs the NFL have been awesome to see? Probably. It also would have almost definitely failed, says every legal expert who has given their opinion. I don't think Kraft is gutless for calling it quits. I think he's just acknowledging the crappy situation every owner is put in when it comes to NFL discipline. As people said when the penalties were originally announced, the NFL made a statement by giving the Pats a penalty that was almost definitely going to stick regardless of Brady's appeal. The end result on this is exactly what people originally expected. I don't think it's worth getting this upset over just because it happened sooner than people wanted it to.

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He chose to "accept" the leagues ruling, rather than appeal it. **** that spineless, senile slime. He "respects" goodell? I want that cowardly piece of **** booed out of his own stadium.

I honestly hope Brady and his lawyers take down the nfl and Bob with it.

Actually, there is more to the capitulation, Kraft is required to change the teams name to the Cheetahs and the Washington team can use the name Patriots instead of Redskins.

IllegalContact said:

new englanders are supposed to fight to the end

this is what bothers me most

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you don't fight an unwinnable fight, Kraft was smart enough to know that

sambam94 said:

you don't fight an unwinnable fight, Kraft was smart enough to know that

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Tell that to the 300 Spartans who have been immortalized.

I guess you would have surrendered at bunker hill too!

Now that I've had time to digest this, I've concluded Kraft is still a biatch!

Jackson 2 said:

Just watched Quick Slants and I think Kay Adams made a great point. She criticized Kraft not so much for caving but, rather, for misleading us with all of his tough talk. The SB arrival day speech, the Wells in Context rebuttal, the interview just 48 or so hours ago with King as evidence. From my perspective, I would have been less disappointed if Kraft at least would have forcefully claimed innocence while capitulating. Honestly, he suddenly looked and sounded like a guilty, defeated, tired old man. Just really disappointing.

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I have the impression that he was threatened with something new, something the NFL was holding to use if necessary, anyway, if he's dirty at the point to bend the knee this way it's even more shameful than cheating 1 psi from a football .

I hope Kraft regrets his actions till the end of his life.

The "Kraft fell on his sword to protect Brady" theory is asinine.

Kraft fully supports the system that has determined (based on nothing) that Tom Brady is both a bald-faced liar and a cheater. Kraft is standing 100% on the other side for Brady's battle to clear his name. It is Brady vs. the 32, and the 32 includes the Patriots.