PFT: Settlement Talks Have Taken Place

Peachhead · Jul 23, 2015

scott99 said:
Saw a lot of headlines today saying the NFL TURNED DOWN the NFLPA's offer for a settlement on Brady's case. I guess this is going to court. NFL must think they have a strong case, and aren't budging on the 4 games (or maybe NFLPA's offer was 0 games and they balked). They will get crushed in court.

I think the NFLPA's offer could have been (intentionally) unacceptable to the NFL. Something like "drop the suspension and fine and Brady will send you a pair of Uggs" j/k

To get the court to even take the case the NFLPA has to show they "tried" (wink, wink) to settle it before petitioning the court. Otherwise the court would just say "we're busy, settle it amongst yourselves". This reported offer by the NFLPA goes towards fulfilling that requirement.

Clonamery · Jul 23, 2015

Peachhead said:
I think the NFLPA's offer could have been (intentionally) unacceptable to the NFL. Something like "drop the suspension and fine and Brady will send you a pair of Uggs" j/k

To get the court to even take the case the NFLPA has to show they "tried" (wink, wink) to settle it before petitioning the court. Otherwise the court would just say "we're busy, settle it amongst yourselves". This reported offer by the NFLPA goes towards fulfilling that requirement.

That's why it could have been the $25K.

ctpatsfan77 · Jul 23, 2015

Clonamery said:
That's why it could have been the $25K.

The Herald says it was a "large fine," so I'm thinking they may have offered something like $100K to $250K.

ctpatsfan77 · Jul 23, 2015

Serious question: Given that we're hearing that there are owners "openly" lobbying for Goodell to keep the suspension in place, is it really that hard to believe that they basically threatened Kraft into dropping the appeal? After all, just as with the NBA, a supermajority of owners can force the sale of a franchise.

[Note: I'm not saying this is definitely what happened, merely that it is an explanation for Kraft's sudden about-face.]

ViperGTS · Jul 23, 2015

Rob0729 said:
Jerry Jones and Bob Kraft are tight. I doubt he would be lobbying against Kraft's interests.

My guesses are:

Woody Johnson
The Maras
The Rooneys
Biscotti
Irsay

Although I do not know how influential Irsay and Johnson really are. I guess Johnson is only because of the fact he owns a NY team.

Possibly. I'm not sure he has ANY friends. If he did they would speak out publicly. Irsay must have some pull because of all the rules changes he has had enacted. The fact that no one said diddly about the open "Suck for Luck campaign".

Mack Herron · Jul 23, 2015

ctpatsfan77 said:
Serious question: Given that we're hearing that there are owners "openly" lobbying for Goodell to keep the suspension in place, is it really that hard to believe that they basically threatened Kraft into dropping the appeal? After all, just as with the NBA, a supermajority of owners can force the sale of a franchise.

[Note: I'm not saying this is definitely what happened, merely that it is an explanation for Kraft's sudden about-face.]

I suspect it is likely that Kraft spoke with other owners and took their input under consideration before deciding how to respond. I view threats as improbable. I think they simply sold him on the good of the 32 philosophy.

MitchKumstein · Jul 23, 2015

After the Hardy appeal, Brady's 4 game suspension might be off the table for goodell.

rog got a public beating by giving Ray Rice a 2 game suspension for domestic violence. He'd have to be a complete idiot to now give Brady the same punishment as Hardy.

Actually, the 4 game suspension for Brady will probably stand

jah · Jul 23, 2015

ctpatsfan77 said:
Serious question: Given that we're hearing that there are owners "openly" lobbying for Goodell to keep the suspension in place, is it really that hard to believe that they basically threatened Kraft into dropping the appeal? After all, just as with the NBA, a supermajority of owners can force the sale of a franchise.

[Note: I'm not saying this is definitely what happened, merely that it is an explanation for Kraft's sudden about-face.]

This is something like what my grandpa keeps saying about Deflategate. "If Kraft didn't back down, he'd be forced to sell the team!" It doesn't make what he did any less of a slap in the face to his QB and fans, but it does make you wonder how much choice he had in the matter. Not even the most kind hearted sports owner in the world would sacrifice his ownership for the good of a team he wouldn't even own anymore.

Rob0729 · Jul 23, 2015

ViperGTS said:
Possibly. I'm not sure he has ANY friends. If he did they would speak out publicly. Irsay must have some pull because of all the rules changes he has had enacted. The fact that no one said diddly about the open "Suck for Luck campaign".

No one was going to speak out publicly for the Patriots. You never see owners say anything bad against the League.

ctpatsfan77 · Jul 23, 2015

Elijah said:
This is something like what my grandpa keeps saying about Deflategate. "If Kraft didn't back down, he'd be forced to sell the team!" It doesn't make what he did any less of a slap in the face to his QB and fans, but it does make you wonder how much choice he had in the matter. Not even the most kind hearted sports owner in the world would sacrifice his ownership for the good of a team he wouldn't even own anymore.

Remember how he said he thought he was pursuing the best course of action? If I'm right about this, the possibility that he might have lost the team over it (because of the jealousy of the other owners) might be what he meant by that.

Deus Irae · Jul 23, 2015

Holy cow! The NFL should take a page from the Lou Lamoriello handbook.

Lamoriello stepped down from NJ one minute, and signed on as the GM of the Leafs the next.

Patsfanin Philly · Jul 23, 2015

ctpatsfan77 said:
Remember how he said he thought he was pursuing the best course of action? If I'm right about this, the possibility that he might have lost the team over it (because of the jealousy of the other owners) might be what he meant by that.

I just don't see it happening (losing the team even though it is in the bylaws). It would have been an idle threat. Let them try to take the team away and consider what would have happened. You would have Senators clamoring for Congressional hearings and investigations into the NFL. And with 6 states, that's 12 Senator's *****in, pissin and moanin about anti-trust and court cases tying things up and a PR nightmare for the league as Kraft says, they are attacking us for being too successful....
As I posted before, Kraft could have deftly supported his team and his QB, appealed and still maintained his dignity and helped in the PR battles. By not appealing, some will take that as tacit admission of guilt as well as a waiver of the penalties. Had he appealed, even in losing he would have been seen as "fighting the good fight"...
By kowtowing to Goodell again, he is setting himself for the next time to get railroaded. Goodell has to be thinking, " I screwed them twice, what''s to stop me from doing it again? Kraft doesn't fight back"

rochrist · Jul 23, 2015

scott99 said:
Saw a lot of headlines today saying the NFL TURNED DOWN the NFLPA's offer for a settlement on Brady's case. I guess this is going to court. NFL must think they have a strong case, and aren't budging on the 4 games (or maybe NFLPA's offer was 0 games and they balked). They will get crushed in court.

Or maybe Goodell thinks it looks better for him if he sticks with the four and then gets overruled by the court.

363839 · Jul 23, 2015

The Gr8est said:
Can someone help me out here?

I'm a bit fuzzy on my escatology, but did Christ embrace Judas after he, uh, well, you know?

No. 10 char

fnordcircle · Jul 23, 2015

rochrist said:
Or maybe Goodell thinks it looks better for him if he sticks with the four and then gets overruled by the court.

I think Goodell is less of an evil mastermind and more of a doofus who still thinks of himself as this sheriff figure like he talked about when he originally started. Which makes him easily manipulated by the people in the league office who have an axe to grind.

Ring 6 · Jul 23, 2015

ctpatsfan77 said:
Remember how he said he thought he was pursuing the best course of action? If I'm right about this, the possibility that he might have lost the team over it (because of the jealousy of the other owners) might be what he meant by that.

That is ridiculous.
They cant take his team away for appealing a penalty given for something that didn't happen.
His best course of action was what is best for the 32 owners, not the Patriots.
It was blatantly a call that if an owner challenges Goodell (especially and wins) then how can they keep the players down.
Kraft backed down because fighting would have weakened Goodell, and the stranglehold the owners have on the NFLPA. Jealousy is a ridiculous claim.

ViperGTS · Jul 23, 2015

Rob0729 said:
No one was going to speak out publicly for the Patriots. You never see owners say anything bad against the League.

Unless your name was Al Davis. Something very cool about that in retrospect.

vyrago · Jul 23, 2015

ViperGTS said:
I can see it. You realize it's all a sham right? They are emboldened because there isn't a massive backlash. Local influential media save for a few are all still saying Brady did something. If the teams own backyard is on board they will do whatever they want.

I doubt PFT would put that out there without a credible source.

RelocatedPatFan · Jul 23, 2015

Deus Irae said:
Holy cow! The NFL should take a page from the Lou Lamoriello handbook.

Lamoriello stepped down from NJ one minute, and signed on as the GM of the Leafs the next.

Isn't that what BB did, just wrote it out on a napkin

.

The Brandon Five · Jul 23, 2015

PatsGuy said:
A great tweet from BruceAllen
He's Right..it all comes down to the Godfather http://www.bostonsportsmedia.com/2015/07/my-offer-is-nothing?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BostonSportsMediaWatch+%28Boston+Sports+Media+Watch%2

This is right on the money:

So, other NFL owners are pushing to Commissioner to ensure that Tom Brady does not play in one-quarter of the NFL regular season.

They would have absolutely no competitive motivations for doing that, right? They are attempting to use the Commissioner to gain a competitive advantage. Well, we know that at least five owners have come out publicly in support of Goodell’s punishment of Brady.
...
I hope people can see just what a criminal organization the NFL is.

This scenario is all the more reason why Goodell should’ve appointed an independent arbitrator to handle this appeal. Owners wouldn’t be running up and whispering the ear of the arbitrator in order to influence the outcome of the appeal.

PFT: Settlement Talks Have Taken Place

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