Brady's response through Don Yee

[Soul_Survivor88]

Why in the world did he say there would be no contest from the Patriots? Punishment hasnt even been handed down yet. He just gave the NFL carte blanche.

This is mindless and brainless.

Maybe he knows there won't be any punishment for the organization, but wants to appear compliant with the League...I dunno...I'm not proud of what Kraft is doing...but I want to believe that whatever he does...he's always keeping the good of the organization in mind

 

[upstater1]

Maybe he knows there won't be any punishment for the organization, but wants to appear compliant with the League...I dunno...I'm not proud of what Kraft is doing...but I want to believe that whatever he does...he's always keeping the good of the organization in mind

What about his QB? Open season on his QB? Did he need to say, "Whatever they do... oh well."?

 

[Ivan]

Ivan - I just read pages 14 and 15 of the report. It's clear to me that what Jastremski and McNally were doing was tantamount to blackmailing Brady. If Brady didn't give them what they wanted, they'd over-inflate the balls for the game prep. If he did, then they made sure that the balls were filled to the pressure Brady liked.

How this wasn't plainly obvious to Wells is beyond me.

If Kraft had hired Wells that's exactly the conclusion he would have come to. And embarrassing as it is to admit I was to dense to recognize that rlCarr and flasox were right on the money when they argued that Wells sole purpose was to construct an investigation and subsequent report that arrived at a conclusion that was predetermined by the league office. This entire fiasco is a disgrace and everyone needs to keep shredding the report and forcing the issue for as long as we can. Props to Curran, Reiss, Howe, Levine and others in the media calling this into question and firing back.

 

[fair catch fryar]

Well sure, I'm not saying it's impossible to lose a fan over something, or even lose a significant number of fans over something. But if there was a reliable way to quantify it, I would lay a large some of money that the value of the Patriots franchise will not sway in a significant way because of how Bob is handling this situation. And that's not even to mention that this is day two of a situation that's likely to stretch for a while now. I'm not prepared to call for Bob's head when we haven't even seen the punishments yet, or heard anything other than a statement that expressed frustration over the process and a lack of recourse. People are being about as rational in this thread as they are in a game day thread.

The time for patience is gone. Since Spygate, Robert Kraft has capitulated to Goodell for too long. We all know how Spygate was blown way out of proportion and now there are people trying to do the same thing with a few deflated footballs. I'm using the old adage of "Shame on you the first time, shame on me the second time" and would expect a shrewd businessman like Kraft to start pulling in some of his own favors and showing teeth on this one.

 

[Sicilian]

The time for patience is gone. Since Spygate, Robert Kraft has capitulated to Goodell for too long. We all know how Spygate was blown way out of proportion and now their are people trying to do the same thing with a few deflated footballs. I'm using the old adage of "Shame on you the first time, shame on me the second time" and would expect a shrewd businessman like Kraft to start pulling in some of his own favors and showing teeth on this one.

If that's how you choose to manage your emotional decisions, that's your battle. I disagree.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

What about his QB? Open season on his QB? Did he need to say, "Whatever they do... oh well."?

Sorry to say @upstater1 but this one is on Tom Brady alone

What a shame ... I hate that it has come to this.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Actually, he shouldn't because they will be evidence in the court case against the NFL... Which everyone knows that is where this is headed.

Yup, as much as I personally want that information to be out there, I definitely understand why it's not.

 

[fair catch fryar]

If that's how you choose to manage your emotional decisions, that's your battle. I disagree.

I'm not saying to start shooting from the hip, but for Kraft to say he doesn't agree with the report, but will agree to the terms deemed fit by the NFL kind of goes against what you are claiming. All I want to see him do is similar to the Kraft we saw giving a press conference before the Superbowl demanding an apology. If this qualifies as an apology then consider me as someone who has lost a lot of respect for a man I greatly admired.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Well sure, I'm not saying it's impossible to lose a fan over something, or even lose a significant number of fans over something. But if there was a reliable way to quantify it, I would lay a large some of money that the value of the Patriots franchise will not sway in a significant way because of how Bob is handling this situation. And that's not even to mention that this is day two of a situation that's likely to stretch for a while now. I'm not prepared to call for Bob's head when we haven't even seen the punishments yet, or heard anything other than a statement that expressed frustration over the process and a lack of recourse. People are being about as rational in this thread as they are in a game day thread.

I'm not sure that I agree. If Brady gets taken down over a bunch of circumstantial nonsense that doesn't even implicate him, and the Patriots take that lying down, then they will absolutely lose my support. I'm a Patriots fan first and an NFL fan second - I'm not going to watch a league that is determined to **** my team and my team if they'd decided to just take it. And given how diehard I am, I can't imagine that I'm anywhere close to the only one.

I'm sure Kraft and his people have done the math. I'm a whole lot less sure that their math is anything approaching correct. They may be surprised by how this plays out if it goes in the negative direction that it seems to be headed in.

 

[Sicilian]

I'm not saying to start shooting from the hip, but for Kraft to say he doesn't agree with the report, but will agree to the terms deemed fit by the NFL kind of goes against what you are claiming. All I want to see him do is similar to the Kraft we saw giving a press conference before the Superbowl demanding an apology. If this qualifies as an apology then consider me as someone who has lost a lot of respect for a man I greatly admired.

Fair enough.

 

[ViperGTS]

Sorry to say @upstater1 but this one is on Tom Brady alone

What a shame ... I hate that it has come to this.

EDIT: I want to hear Brady stand up for himself, ASAP[/QUOTE

If the Jets game balls were at 16, what does that say about how careful the officials are inflating the balls. Hence Rodgers getting his 15.5 balls. That being the case it's not just Brady, it's up to the organization to attack unqualified accusations. Brady is the Patriots and vice versa.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I used to be a bigger fan of the Red Sox in the 1980s and early 1990s.

By the 2000s, they had lost me.

I hardly care anymore.

It was over the competitiveness situation, the honesty. I still love baseball, and play recreationally.

The Sox lost me when they smeared Francona on the way out the door. I won't waste my time rooting for franchises owned by petty jagoffs who pull crap like that. Even if it's the team I grew up loving and have a ton of family history attached to, that's just the standard I have. Made this last WS win a little odd, basically had to force myself not to pay much attention, but I've made my decision and I won't get on board with the Sox until/unless this ownership group is gone.

Pretty close to going the same way with the Pats, although hopefully I wouldn't be out for too long before Jonathan takes over. At this rate, before long the Celtics will be the only team left to root for.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

I said it in another thread and I'll say it again here: the use of Exponent to conduct the scientific research coupled with the word "probably" throughout the report and in it's conclusion is indicative of a man who cared more about being right based on a preconceived notion than a man that cared about arriving at the truth. It's honestly getting to the point where I hope the NFL suspends Brady so he can take the league to court.

Yup, it's an insult to anyone with even an average level of intelligence... but since we're so hated around the league, people already knew what they wanted to believe and be true, so this gives them what they need to justify that feeling

 

[Oswlek]

What about his QB? Open season on his QB? Did he need to say, "Whatever they do... oh well."?

Since Bill and Bob were exonerated in the report, the risk of a hefty penalty levied against the organization is low and it's up to Tom to appeal his punishment anyway. People are giving far to much weight to what is functionally a throwaway line in Kraft's statement.

 

[upstater1]

Sorry to say @upstater1 but this one is on Tom Brady alone

What a shame ... I hate that it has come to this.

I frankly havent seen you on this board before. So now you're anti-Brady on this.

Doesnt say much for you, honestly.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

Why stand up for his quarterback when he can just follow the status quo and make money hand over fist?

What's more disturbing to me and something I'm struggling with is that Kraft had always referred to Brady as his 5th son...

What a crock of $!%&, what father would allow their sons name and reputation to be so carelessly and ruthlessly attacked by an "investigation" that is insulting to the human intelligence... a father who happens to be a BILLIONAIRE to boot!!

I dunno.. this whole thing is just so aggrivating and depressing. Can we not just enjoy football and the success of our team in peace? this constant media storm over this franchise is disgusting, we're just being used as the WWE villain and it's getting real old

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

That being the case it's not just Brady, it's up to the organization to attack unqualified accusations. Brady is the Patriots and vice versa.

But Brady is the one who is the victim, not the Patriots. I'm not suggesting Tom shouldn't stand up for himself. But I don't think any good can come out of Robert recklessly taking shots at the media or the League for that matter. They would only expose themselves to further unfounded allegations - not to mention risk straining the trust that Kraft has built with League officials and friends. Kraft can only do so much. He has other responsibilities as a businessman and owner that go beyond Brady.

But even if Kraft does not share his grievance, then that doesn't mean Brady can't take action of his own.
Tom Brady was a fighter long before he ever met Robert or Bill. And I expect him to be the same even without his boss or coach.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

If Kraft does nothing else, this would be the second time that he's allowed either his coach or his quarterback to get railroaded with either no or half-assed support from him. So yes, I agree. It would be time for him to step down.

it's all about those dollah dollah bills yo!

So much so that he'll treat his "5th son" and hero of this franchise like a bastard on game of thrones..

I don't know what to feel about this league and this team anymore. Really bummed out by all of this.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

The notion that Bob Kraft does not care about the brand of the franchise is simply preposterous, and flies in the face of years of hard work, dedication, and accomplishment by him and his family. Ivan, do you seriously believe Robert Kraft does not care about the image and good name of his organization?

People, be rational, and don't let your emotions get to your head

You are the one arguing from emotion regarding Kraft.
In 2007 he made the hugely critical mistake of going silent on the camera placement fiasco.
That stain has haunted the franchise and its coach and its QB for nearly a decade.

In contrast the Saints FOUGHT Goodell and the league when indisputably caught violating league conduct that placed players' health at serious risk. They won. What do you hear week in and week out about the Saints bounty hunting? Nothing!

I THOUGHT Kraft would goto war with his belated statements just before the SB but apparently not as he now has assumed the passive punishment position a la 2007 yet again. Not expecting him to sue the league as its pointless but he needed to take on the league front office.

Why?

Because his failure to fight back invites the league front office to begin work on yet another Pats "sting" operation. They will not stop until the SB legacy of the franchise, BB and TFB are completely tarnished.

Judge Kraft by his actions Inactions in fact. Not by the emotional good feeling he engendered by keeping the team here in NE.

BB and TFB have killed themselves rescuing this franchise from below par. Kraft is willing to see that totally trashed just to continue to get along with the billionaire boys club. It's what he is doing & not doing that is at issue, not some team purchase in the 90s.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

I frankly havent seen you on this board before. So now you're anti-Brady on this.

Doesnt say much for you, honestly.

This has nothing to do with my personal feelings with Brady. I admire the man wholeheartedly - to a fault. But I am not just a fan of Tom Brady. I am also a fan of the New England Patriots, and I don't want my team to have to suffer any more than it needs to. I'm sure Kraft feels the same way