Why Bob folded - and what it should tell you.

SVN said:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ert-kraft-surrender-ok-to-avoid-wrestlemania/

Click to expand...

And what that equates to is "The league is wrong, and it would hurt the league to shine a spotlight on the error, so I'll help cover it up".

Kraft took our spirit and passion. It's his biggest crime, and why it's unforgivable.

Kraft apologists need to let that sink it before they make anymore stupid threads defending this traitor.

For Patriot fans that have always taken up the cause of defending this organization from the mob of jealous haters, this is a devastating blow. For eight years we have zealously defended this organization against a fanatical mob of idiotic liars, calling the Patriots cheaters for Crygate while apparently unbothered by the Cowboys -no, the entire league- doing the exact same thing. I have no idea how many Tom Brady threads I created on this forum defending our quarterback last season from enemies both foreign and domestic. It was enough at the height of the media assault that I was accused of plenty of things I didn't care for, from disloyalty to "laundry", to outright sycophancy.

Kontradiction said it best: What Kraft did to us in one press conference was more damaging than what any other idiotic, envious, shallow, hate-riddled rival fan base could have in 100 years.

The `fight` has just been completely sucked right out of me. Sure, that doesn't really mean much, taken at surface value, but what it means is he just killed my spirit as a Patriot fan.

Patriot Nation: Meet your owner, Mr. Robert Kraft


One look at this forum and it's clear I'm not alone. Our entire fan base is now demoralized in the offseason of our 4th championship, and it has literally NOTHING to do with the "cheating allegations" of outsiders.

Eight years is a long time to bitterly defend the football team -and its players and coach- only to be stabbed in the back by the ****ing owner at perhaps our most critical moment.

I wonder. If it's `more probable than not` that Linebacker X is `generally aware` that Linebacker Y is taking steroids, is that a four game suspension? I guess that probably depends on if he wears a Patriot uniform.

Apparently it's fine for ex-rivals to conspire against us in the league office and media, **** all over our team, discredit all of its accomplishments, and we'll just lay down and take it. Go on, tarnish our championships and dock our draft picks at your leisure. We won't do or say anything. Maybe we should start apologizing for things we haven't even done, just to be appeasing and sensitive to other cities football misfortunes. After all, there's 32 teams, and only one Tom Brady, and only one Bill Belichick. Hardly seems fair.

Apparently this is the NFL's version of "social justice", and pride comes before the fall for Patriot Nation.

Every single Patriot fan that I have spoken with in real life over the last 36 hours is just broken, and I cannot help but believe that this isn't just a `mood,` but a permanent stain. No, not "Deflate-gate," as we all know that's utter ********. The permanent stain is Kraft's capitulation, and it's far more profound than any media narrative or the ****-talking of some other fan base that gleefully rubs their hands together watching this spectacular farce from afar. It's entirely internal, and has nothing to do with any of them.

I understand that Tom Brady needs to be smart right now, and has a process to attend to, but, without trying to sound over-dramatic, Bill Belichick could really help the mental-state of Patriot fans everywhere with a moderate breaking of ranks. (What's Bendover Bob going to do? Fire him?)

I don't care that we're on to Pittsburgh. I think one of the most loyal and passionate fan bases in the NFL could really benefit from hearing a metaphorical "We're on to Cincinnati" right about now from the hoodie, because that would actually mean something. Belichick has it in his power to save this fan base from turning its back on the game of football right now. I don't think it's hyperbole to say that many of us, as of yesterday, now have one foot out the door.

It would definitely mean a helluva' lot more than Kraft's "I only care about our fans" lie, and certainly more than Goodell's "the integrity of the game" double talking poison.

The new narrative is "we couldn't have won." I don't believe that. I can't believe that considering what an Orwellian piece of garbage the Wells Report was, which was an insult to the intelligence of any human being that actually possesses that quality (which is fewer and fewer, it seems).

But even if it is true, it doesn't matter. Football is -or was- about Legacy. In twenty years history might have said, "the league went after the Patriots because they were too successful, but the Patriots didn't take it lying down."

Now history will say something quite different.

Congrats on your legacy…. Bob.

From here on out, you are to us what Art Modell is to Cleveland, now and always.

#WeWillNeverForget

Screw all the talk of banners.
#KraftIsArtModell is what we should be trending.

That and that alone will capture the full extent of this betrayal.

Don't let time heal this wound. Kraft should be booed even the next time he holds up the Lamar Hunt trophy.

PATS16N0 said:

Kraft took our spirit and passion. It's his biggest crime, and why it's unforgivable.

Kontradiction said it best: What Kraft did to us in one press conference was more damaging than what any other idiotic, envious, shallow, hate-riddled rival fan base could have in 100 years.

One look at this forum and it's clear I'm not alone. Our entire fan base is now demoralized in the offseason of our 4th championship, and it has literally NOTHING to do with the "cheating allegations" of outsiders.

Every single Patriot fan that I have spoken with in real life over the last 36 hours is just broken, and I cannot help but believe that this isn't just a `mood,` but a permanent stain.

#WeWillNeverForget

Click to expand...

Extra emphasis on those things.

This perfectly encapsulates the situation. I am so dispirited that I am not even much of a fan anymore. One week ago I was in vehement defense of the organization but one press conference was enough to cause a 180 in my feelings.

Why should we stand up for an organization if they don't stand up for themselves? Its incredibly depressing and all thanks to our slimy, cowardly owner. The man ruined any interest I had remaining in the NFL.

I will forever root for Bill Belichick and particularly Tom Brady, wherever they may be. But that is the extent of it.

My wife's family are in Cleveland and they are all sport fanatics, so I'm well aware about how they feel about Art Modell. But as upset and hurt as I am by Kraft's actions (see my avatar), I'm not prepared to go as far as the OP. Let's wait some time to see how this all sorts out and then decide if Kraft's legacy really deserves that level of infamy.

When all this happened yesterday, I remembered a quote from Friday Night Lights when they were trailing at halftime in the state championship:

"At some point in every man's life he is going to lose a battle. He's going to fight and he's going to lose. But what makes him a man is at the midst of that battle he doesn't lose himself."

To me it was never about getting the draft picks back. It was about telling the NFL office enough is enough. Even if we couldn't win, the cause was worth the fight. Kraft could have done that for us, but instead showed us he isn't even a man.

I agree that Kraft should be booed from now into perpetuity, or until he somehow reverses course.

It would, by the way, shock him.

People need to understand that it's not just that he decided not to fight. That would be bad enough. No, he went one further. He tried to cram down our throats that it was wrong to fight, that we were better off doing nothing. That WE were the ones in the wrong for wanting to fight. That's unforgivable.

I'm willing to let this play out and see what develops but my initial reaction and impression is the only way Kraft can make this right in my eyes is to step down and hand over everything to Jonathan. We'll see if new information and Brady (who will carry the torch for the Pats AGAIN) will change my mind toward Squeaks.

Crazy Patriot Guy said:

When all this happened yesterday, I remembered a quote from Friday Night Lights when they were trailing at halftime in the state championship:

"At some point in every man's life he is going to lose a battle. He's going to fight and he's going to lose. But what makes him a man is at the midst of that battle he doesn't lose himself."

To me it was never about getting the draft picks back. It was about telling the NFL office enough is enough. Even if we couldn't win, the cause was worth the fight. Kraft could have done that for us, but instead showed us he isn't even a man.

Click to expand...

Nah he put on the other team's uniform and is going to fight on their side.

What Kraft is too short sighted to realize is that it's precisely that the 32 want to be unified that he should fight. And precisely that they want this scandal to end that he should continue.

Don't be fooled, people hate the Patriots, but they still hate Goodell. He is wildly unpopular with nearly every fan base and all players because he's a tyrant. Kraft should have been a pain in the ass because the NFL doesn't want its commissioner at war with its most successful owner or most successful player.

This would continue to be black eye on the NFL right up until Goodell loses in court. Then they can leverage that loss and more law suits into getting rid of Goodell and getting a new commissioner to try to undo everything Goodell screwed up.

The problem is that he has not even helped the NFL long-term. The power base of Rog the Evell megalomaniac is even stronger than before and his medieval justice system has been reinforced. His only real challenge now is the NFLPA. We seem to now have to hope they can be the white knights coming to the rescue. Sure they have to be better than Evell, but its not who I would want to trust the good of the game to.

Players over management. Always

When I saw Kraft start to put up a fight I thought that the Patriots my get another shot at 19-0. Fans would be rabid supporters because he showed his backbone and was tired of the BS. Players would have felt the same and would have felt the energy from the fans at the game. Brady would come back on fire with a bigger chip on his shoulder. Then Kraft came out and killed all of that with one of the most spineless announcements I have ever heard. The only thing that has been deflated over the last 3 months is the Patriots fan base and Brady had nothing to do with that either.

That was one amazing bit of writing.

Bobsyouruncle said:

What Kraft is too short sighted to realize is that it's precisely that the 32 want to be unified that he should fight. And precisely that they want this scandal to end that he should continue.

Click to expand...

And thats why the NFL banned the Green Bay ownership model and wants all of the franchises to be owned by wealthy people. They can be better controlled and "convinced" than having to go through a vote among thousands of people. You think there is a chance the Packers would lie down like Kraft? There would be thermonuclear war with their ownership.

Bobsyouruncle said:

Don't be fooled, people hate the Patriots, but they still hate Goodell. He is wildly unpopular with nearly every fan base and all players because he's a tyrant. Kraft should have been a pain in the ass because the NFL doesn't want its commissioner at war with its most successful owner or most successful player.

This would continue to be black eye on the NFL right up until Goodell loses in court. Then they can leverage that loss and more law suits into getting rid of Goodell and getting a new commissioner to try to undo everything Goodell screwed up.

Click to expand...

Why would he risk damaging his money printer over all this? Obviously, money is the only thing he cares about. If he'd be honest about it there would be less disappointment among fans. But he lives in a bubble and most probably thinks that supporters will be on his side.

luuked said:

And thats why the NFL banned the Green Bay ownership model and wants all of the franchises to be owned by wealthy people. They can be better controlled and "convinced" than having to go through a vote among thousands of people. You think there is a chance the Packers would lie down like Kraft? There would be thermonuclear war with their ownership.



Why would he risk damaging his money printer over all this? Obviously, money is the only thing he cares about. If he'd be honest about it there would be less disappointment among fans. But he lives in a bubble and most probably thinks that supporters will be on his side.

Click to expand...

I'm not convinced this was a wise financial decision for Kraft, and I'm not convinced that he thought it would be. I doubt there would be any long term financial issues whether he appealed or not. But more for not appealing.

I think Kraft really believes that he will be on the list of revered owners like the Rooney's, and is worried his legacy will be hurt from fighting. The problem is that the reason why anyone talks about the greats is because they are fans. Other fanbases are completely indifferent to him. The only people who will care to talk about Kraft is NE fans and it will be that he is a traitor. That is the only narrative that will ever be heard.

It might be more understandable if he got money, or something else tangible. But I think the reality is much worse. He sold out his team and players for some magic beans that don't work. He did it for promises of grandeur that will never come to pass. His selfishness is only exceeded by his stupidity.

Many months ago, someone thought William Shatner could play Robert Kraft....whoever said that most likely has withdrawn that remark.

Some will recall an old Star Trek episode Capt Kirk is split into two Kirks, each with half of himself:

• one Kirk was completely aggressive, angry
• the other Kirk was completely spineless, but altrustic.

This episode had a happy ending when the two half-Kirks became one again.

I see in real life, NFL teams are likely to have owners like:

• John Haslan, aggressive, but completely too involved.....or....
• Bob McNair, patient and out of football matters, but probably needs to put his foot down more. At least until he finds his GM and HC (like the Rooneys finally did)

Kraft is definitely not the former (which I'm grateful), but his personality gets in the way of ever doing it - he's in the latter category.

My two cents.