Bob, Myra and Jonathan Kraft

[PatsFan37]

Based on what I have read, this is an extremely premature thread.. and discussion is not warranted.

I think it's a legit question, but I think it needs to be rephrased.
a) Will Kraft step forward now to address the allegations? Whether true or not, the perception reflects poorly on the team and he may address that.
b) If the allegations are true, regardless of whether video-taping and other tactics are commonplace, what will Kraft's reaction be then?

I believe Kraft will stand by Belichick in the same way Belichick stood by Rodney. The team will take its punishment, apologize to the fans and to the other teams, state that it will not happen again, and that they have put policies into place (which they will publicly describe) ensuring that it won't happen again.

It's the only way to put the matter behind them and to ensure it doesn't affect the brand or the team.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Based on what I have read, this is an extremely premature thread.. and discussion is not warranted.

I tend towards the cautious, but I disagree. This story has legs, it's doing real damage to the team's reputation and I fear it could affect the locker room. The patriots need to come up with a media strategy that is more than "head in the sand" vis a vis their players, their fans, the media and the league. If it didn't happen, Belichick has to come out and say so. If it did happen, he has to take a cue from Rodney Harrison, face the music and get the story behind him.

 

[shmessy]

From the reports, the camera was immediately confiscated and sent to the NFL offices in a sealed package.

.........Wouldn't it be great is there was no film inside?

That it was a mindgame by BB all along?

That this is his revenge on the Jets (and the NY media) for all their worminess in the weeks leading up to the game?

I must be true to myself. If that isn't the case and they were flat out cheating, then whoever is responsible should be punished. No excuses.

 

[mgteich]

I KNOW how the Krafts feel about cheating, by our team and by others. I KNOW how they feel about substance abuse violations. I KNOW how they feel about character issues. And finally, I KNOW how they feel about conduct detrimental to the PR of the team and of the NFL.

What I don't know, and expect not to know, is what the Krafts are going to do about the building set of instances whereby his NEP show blatant disregard for the NFL, its rules and its public relations.

And yes, I do understand that many hear don't care about these violations, and don't accept the attitude of the Krafts toward character issues. The raiders syndrome is rampant. Many want to win and don't care about rules violations or even public conduct.

 

[shmessy]

I KNOW how the Krafts feel about cheating, by our team and by others. I KNOW how they feel about substance abuse violations. I KNOW how they feel about character issues. And finally, I KNOW how they feel about conduct detrimental to the PR of the team and of the NFL.

What I don't know, and expect not to know, is what the Krafts are going to do about the building set of instances whereby his NEP show blatant disregard for the NFL, its rules and its public relations.

And yes, I do understand that many hear don't care about these violations, and don't accept the attitude of the Krafts toward character issues. The raiders syndrome is rampant. Many want to win and don't care about rules violations or even public conduct.

I agree 100% with your post.

I just want to find out all the facts about that tape before making any judgements in this instance.

 

[Vern]

The question is what, if anything, will the Krafts do to right the ship, or are they content to see the image of the patriots be transformed into that of the 1980's Raiders?

I say this with utter seriousness: What the HELL is wrong with the 1980's Raiders? They had perhaps the best attendance and revenues and ratings impact on the league in some time. I lived in LA at the time. I hated them with a passion but come on, that's sports. That's the point. It is an image they are rightly PROUD OF, as in:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1414183115323448274

Boy, have the pink hats and PC police invaded football. This isn't a moral issue people, it's a game! There is no higher power involved. The rules of the game and the league are totally arbitrary and amoral. There is no ancient talmudic text that gives us the "spirit" behind the letter of any of this, whether it's pass interference rules, or the salary cap, or any of the other rules of football. There is only the letter of the rule, and the punishment, and the risk you accept when you push that line.

Kind of makes me sick reading some of the sanctimonious crap on these boards lately.

 

[Tunescribe]

I say this with utter seriousness: What the HELL is wrong with the 1980's Raiders? They had perhaps the best attendance and revenues and ratings impact on the league in some time. I lived in LA at the time. I hated them with a passion but come on, that's sports. That's the point. It is an image they are rightly PROUD OF, as in:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1414183115323448274

Boy, have the pink hats and PC police invaded football. This isn't a moral issue people, it's a game! There is no higher power involved. The rules of the game and the league are totally arbitrary and amoral. There is no ancient talmudic text that gives us the "spirit" behind the letter of any of this, whether it's pass interference rules, or the salary cap, or any of the other rules of football. There is only the letter of the rule, and the punishment, and the risk you accept when you push that line.

Kind of makes me sick reading some of the sanctimonious crap on these boards lately.

Good post, Vern. And sorry MG, but the LAST person I'd want holding sway over any Patriots-related matter is Myra Kraft. The woman is a feminazi.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Couple of points to keep in mind MG since you've been on a bit of a cranky-assed tear of late where image is concerned.

Most of what you are upset about is only message board fodder. Spend less time here (if you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen) and it will lessen your melodramatic perceptions.

Barely heard mention of Rodney this weekend. This will be gone by next week. Just like baby-gate and divorcee gate, but rest assured another gate will be soon to follow. Paranoia and jealousy run deep in a 32 team league where all but the owners serve as employees at will.

Parity is a concept lots of folks hang their employment hat on in this league, and BB is perceived as the single most serious threat to that perception since Vince Lombardi by a lot of people who don't want to be held accountable for the inept product they put on the field this weekend. Did you watch the MNF double header last night? Half the staffs and/or FO's in the league should be fired this AM for gross incompetence.

But that's a story nobody wants to cover. Better to pile on the most successful HC/FO in the last decade because doing so deflects attention away from just how pathetically uncompetitive 80% of the teams in this league are at this very moment.

The ship is fine Mg. Just some of the deck hands are getting squirrely that they have to remain on deck while the captain and his officers navigate through some chop. They forget what Bob and Myra adn Jonathan had to go through to hire a guy the media already contended was disingenuous pond scum and a cheater who took a dying owners money and then like a lunatic tendered his resignation on a ****tail napkin. They all slapped on their dramamine patches and a long time ago, their fan base just seriously misjudges/misinterprets their business accumen.

I suggest those who can't tolerate a little seasonal pitch and roll just slink below decks and curl up into a ball with a bucket nearby until the ship returns to calmer waters or reaches landfall in the Arizona desert in February. Then you can all safely come above decks again.

 

[PatriotsReign]

I am ashamed of the number of fans on this site who have found it necessary to post thread-after-thread about the non-issue of stealing signals.

We just played on of the most dominant games in years, our team looks very powerful and we have a playoff type game this Sunday that has far reaching implications and you're all acting like Patriots turn-coats.

Stop it, you're embaressing me and insulting everything the Patriots have done for us...

AND IT'S MAKING ME SICK!

The Patriots have not signed any player with a criminal record, so what the hell are you talking about...questionable character, please!

What type of questionable character are you referring to my friend? signing a guys that other teams had "Issues" has NOTHING TO DO WITH QUESTIONABLE CHARACTER. The only bad signing the patriots could make would be one where someone was a convicted criminal or had several complaints for beating his wife.

Please share with us one single player the Krafts have hired that was a mistake based upon questionable "CHARACTER". If you don't, then you're a coward and full of hot air and a miserable example of a fan!

 

[thesmee1]

Couple of points to keep in mind MG since you've been on a bit of a cranky-assed tear of late where image is concerned.

Most of what you are upset about is only message board fodder. Spend less time here (if you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen) and it will lessen your melodramatic perceptions.

Barely heard mention of Rodney this weekend. This will be gone by next week. Just like baby-gate and divorcee gate, but rest assured another gate will be soon to follow. Paranoia and jealousy run deep in a 32 team league where all but the owners serve as employees at will.

Parity is a concept lots of folks hang their employment hat on in this league, and BB is perceived as the single most serious threat to that perception since Vince Lombardi by a lot of people who don't want to be held accountable for the inept product they put on the field this weekend. Did you watch the MNF double header last night? Half the staffs and/or FO's in the league should be fired this AM for gross incompetence.

But that's a story nobody wants to cover. Better to pile on the most successful HC/FO in the last decade because doing so deflects attention away from just how pathetically uncompetitive 80% of the teams in this league are at this very moment.

The ship is fine Mg. Just some of the deck hands are getting squirrely that they have to remain on deck while the captain and his officers navigate through some chop. They forget what Bob and Myra adn Jonathan had to go through to hire a guy the media already contended was disingenuous pond scum and a cheater who took a dying owners money and then like a lunatic tendered his resignation on a ****tail napkin. They all slapped on their dramamine patches and a long time ago, their fan base just seriously misjudges/misinterprets their business accumen.

I suggest those who can't tolerate a little seasonal pitch and roll just slink below decks and curl up into a ball with a bucket nearby until the ship returns to calmer waters or reaches landfall in the Arizona desert in February. Then you can all safely come above decks again.

Very nice analogy, Mo. Kudos.

 

[Tunescribe]

Parity is a concept lots of folks hang their employment hat on in this league, and BB is perceived as the single most serious threat to that perception since Vince Lombardi by a lot of people who don't want to be held accountable for the inept product they put on the field this weekend. Did you watch the MNF double header last night? Half the staffs and/or FO's in the league should be fired this AM for gross incompetence.

But that's a story nobody wants to cover. Better to pile on the most successful HC/FO in the last decade because doing so deflects attention away from just how pathetically uncompetitive 80% of the teams in this league are at this very moment.

Excellent stuff, Mo. The Patriots have something uniquely special going and it's bound to conjure plenty of negativity for the reasons you specify.

 

[Armen Da Pats Fan]

Theyve certainly got themselves in a pickle.

That's what happens wneh you're self-righteous.

It's the old "born-again pastor caught in the hotel room with the hooker" thing!

If the pastor just said, "Heck yes. I love hookers! It's capitalism at its best. She wants money. I've got money. I want sex. She's got sex. Done deal. It doesn't mean I don't love God, it just means I like poon!"

No one would care. Big deal. Another dude with a hooker.

But when you are self-righteous and you step in doo-doo, you deserve the public bee-otch slapping!

I wish Belichick would just get it over with and say, "Heck yes, we steal signs. And so does everybody else. It's part of sports. Coaches have been trying to steal the other team's information since the beginning of sports! Why do you think we take playbooks from players right when we tell them they're cut? And you know what? We're not gonna stop, either. We're just gonna be smarter about it next time, which will be this Sunday vs. Pastor LaDanian and the Chargers.!"

 

[PonyExpress]

A newbie tried to ask this question and was made fun of. It is a serious question for some. What do you think the feelings of the Krafts are toward the team's attitudes with regard to NFL rules?

==================================
SOME OBSERVATIONS

1) The Krafts have often not drafted a player, or even cut a player, because of character issue. Obviously, that does not apply to top stars, but character is an issue in choosing players.

2) Kraft has been a leader in trying to clean up the image of the league.

3) The Krafts have tried not be directly involved in football operations, ignoring all the nonsense with regard to making fun of injury designations, and being totally non-cooperative with the press. The Krafts have publicly ignored the violations by Harrison.

=======================================

The question is what, if anything, will the Krafts do to right the ship, or are they content to see the image of the patriots be transformed into that of the 1980's Raiders?

This is ridiculous. I can't believe Patriot fans are falling for this Jet "spin" and so quick to turn on their own coach and organization. First of all, these are "allegations" by a bitter and defeated rival. No conclusion has been announced by the league yet. So your insinuations are premature. Second, if they are true, the reality is this is part of "gamesmanship" and all organizations likely do the exact same thing. The difference is, these problems are handled internally by the league, not leaked to the press. The Jet organization leaked this to the press to alter the NY media spin cycle which was eating them alive after a devastating and humiliating defeat. I can't say how disappointed I am in Patriot fans for falling for this media trick enough to turn on their coach. Really, it's pathetic.

 

[oldskool138]

AND IT'S MAKING ME SICK!

Posting the same thing over and over and bringing nothing to the conversation is making me sick...

 

[mgteich]

In the end, I don't expect to find out much of the facts. As with Rodney, the NFL will pass judgement (my guess is a 4th rounder) and poster here will say that everyone does it so its OK. I suspect that the next clear violation of the injury report rules will also be punished.

I agree 100% with your post.

I just want to find out all the facts about that tape before making any judgements in this instance.