SOURCES: Robert Kraft is 'strongly considering' suing the NFL

[DarrylS]

The self appointment of Roger Goodell, even though it is allowed, plays into Kraft's hands as doing so creates an "appearance of impropriety"(conflict of interest) and lends credence into any possible law suit..

It speaks volumes about how justice works in the NFL, from appointing Wells, producing the report(flawed), adjudging discipline and now hearing the appeal.. I can see and feel change coming... the NFL cannot deny due process for players.

 

[reflexblue]

It costs a couple billion to buy a team

no pikers allowed

we could still get a daniel snyder as an owner

 

[JarOfMayo51]

I think Kraft has to attack on two fronts. First lawyer up for a suit on what ever legal grounds available and be prepared to take it to court. Secondly, threaten to remove himself from negotiations of the TV contracts and pledge to be hardliner when the CBA comes up for renewal. Time for him to put the team ahead of the shield. He finally recognizes what putting the shield ahead of the team got him when you are dealing with a corrupt and biased piece of sh-t.

my concern is (based entirely on my speculative opinion watching this unfold) is that owners have already reaped the benefits of Kraft's negotiating prowess to benefit from him and now have everything they need.

Like the scene in ironman where the bald guy betrays Tony Stark and says that just when I thought your use had run out, you lay your final golden goose egg...

The TV contracts are a done deal, and can be used as a baseline for the new deals when they come up. The same for the CBA and labor negotiations.

Jerry Jones publicly coming out and supporting Goodell is very, very telling... its almost like the league is positioning itself to black ball Kraft should the need arise...

They used him and profited from his negotiating efforts on several different committees and now are willing to toss him to the side like a 2 dollar whore.

Jerry Jones and Dan Snyder are 2 huge allies that Kraft needs, and Jones has publicly stated his support of Goodell. This whole thing is very scary. .

If he fights this, could Kraft lose his spot on all of his committees? Can the other owners vote him out of the league?

Basically what im asking is are there any extreme circumstances that could negatively impact Kraft and the Patriots of the other 31 owners decide to black ball him?

 

[JarOfMayo51]

Kraft doesn't seem like the type of guy you screw with. He has to be thinking; fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. I expect him to do something this time.

Kraft no doubt is a man to be reckoned with.. but he is an ant compared to the might of all 31 owners working together against him

just knowing the nature of human beings, it wouldnt surprise me at all of the other owners were buddy buddy with Kraft while he was working on deals to make them all boat loads of money. . But once they all have what they want from him, now they're sick of him winning too much and will stab him in the back Ala Brutus and Julius Caesar

Jerry Jones team is real close to a SB and I'm sure he won't mind seeing the Patriots get knocked the f*** out of contention so they aren't an obstacle for him to win another Lombardi.

Him publicly supporting the punishment and Goodell is very telling, and very scary

 

[JarOfMayo51]

I see a few people are disagreeing. Let me explain why this is the best option so that even they might understand.
After Al Davis sued the league in the '80s Owners added some clause to make it harder for team owners to sue the league. Then we get to the fact that Kraft is 1/32 of the league. Then we get to competitive balance and sacrificing for the greater good,, yadda, yadda, yadda. (Why don't you already know this?)

Suing Wells (or his company) is a way to get around all of that and it gives the league an out. "We relied on an erroneous report. Good Heavens. We thank and apologize to Bob Kraft..."
That this needs to be explained pains me.

suing Wells company accomplishes nothing though. That won't get the draft picks back, that won't remove Brady's suspension, that won't reverse the 1 million dollar fine.. all he could sue for would be for damages to his brand

 

[hwc]

If he fights this, could Kraft lose his spot on all of his committees? Can the other owners vote him out of the league?

Basically what im asking is are there any extreme circumstances that could negatively impact Kraft and the Patriots of the other 31 owners decide to black ball him?

All of that will be irrelevant. The endgame on all of this is Robert Kraft selling the New England Patriots and wiping his hands clean of the National Football League.

I don't think people are really grasping how ugly this will get. There are no winners here.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

I wouldn't be surprised if Goodell's protectors, Rooney and Mara are telling Kraft to call off the dogs for the good of the shield.

And if I were Kraft I'd tell those 2 owners to kindly go f*** themselves.

This turning the Patriots into martyrs is BS and getting old real fast

 

[JarOfMayo51]

But the bottom feeders are the ones who benefit the most from the current structure of the NFL and the anti trust exemption as it insulates them from real competition. I have no doubt that if the NFL was thrown into a free for all that the Pats would be one of the teams to benefit the most. If anything, the current structure puts a lid on what the value of the team could be

Yup, and then cities like Indianapolis would have to stop looking for handouts from the larger market teams like the Pats.. I would love to see Indy turn into NOTHING.. they don't even have a true history in the league, they moved from Baltimore in the night and are owned by a druggie

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

It should be obvious why the Patriots haven't appealed yet. They have until next Thursday to do so but the NFL spring owner's meeting is next Mon-Wed in San Francisco..I'm sure Mr. Kraft will be discussing this with the other owners knowing he has the trump card of being able to appeal if he is not happy with the result...
Best of all world's is firing Goodell, short of that a vote of no confidence.

 

[upstater1]

All of that will be irrelevant. The endgame on all of this is Robert Kraft selling the New England Patriots and wiping his hands clean of the National Football League.

I don't think people are really grasping how ugly this will get. There are no winners here.

I've been saying this too. New England has a big market. If I'm Terry Pegula right now, I'm asking myself WTF did I do plunking $1.3B on the Buffalo Bills.

 

[sportnik]

All of that will be irrelevant. The endgame on all of this is Robert Kraft selling the New England Patriots and wiping his hands clean of the National Football League.

I don't think people are really grasping how ugly this will get. There are no winners here.

And if Kraft doesn't fight back Goodell's coming after the Pats first round pick again. Kraft needs to put his foot down and sue, if needed.

I don't care what the cost is. Goodell has a god complex and it needs to be dealt with now. Whatever the consequences are, letting this pass will only make it worse.

 

[Bruins29]

I don't care what the cost is.

lol Its not your money...right?

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

And if Kraft doesn't fight back Goodell's coming after the Pats first round pick again. Kraft needs to put his foot down and sue, if needed. I don't care what the cost is. Goodell has a god complex and it needs to be dealt with now. Whatever the consequences are, letting this pass will only make it worse.

Exactly what I've been thinking. What's to keep this nonsense from happening again in the future? The fact is, the Patriots will never be allowed to thrive ever again, so long as Roger Goodell and his New York cronies have their way. We need to draw the line NOW!

 

[Deus Irae]

lol Its not your money...right?

Millions lost now v. the prospect of many more millions lost later.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

lol Its not your money...right?

lol, but on a serious note... you've been around long enough all these years. Does any of this cast any doubt as to the future of franchise?

 

[Bruins29]

Millions lost now v. the prospect of many more millions lost later.

Dont get me wrong I think RK should go bananas I just thought the context of the post was funny. I agree with the premise. I wrote in one thread that the NFL needs a serious overhaul and who is going to do it?

 

[Deus Irae]

Dont get me wrong I think RK should go bananas I just thought the context of the post was funny. I agree with the premise.

I hear you. I was just noting an issue. Kraft has a difficult decision to make. He can continue to be a doormat, and watch the league continue to **** on his team, in the hopes that it'll keep the peace. In the alternative, he can run the league through the ringer at both financial and reputational cost.

 

[Bruins29]

lol, but on a serious note... you've been around long enough all these years. Does any of this cast any doubt as to the future of franchise?

Well the Pats will be around a long time. If anything this just wound up Pats fans to back the team more. I know that I am behind them even more and done with the NFL. They have shown who they are. In fact Once BB and TB are gone I will probably be done with pro sports.

If you are asking me to predict what a billionaire might do with his team, that is a tough one. No clue if this affects his goals, thoughts, attitude. You just dont know but I guess there will be a Kraft involved in the Pats for a long time unless BK has serious plans to teach the NFL a lesson and knows that cashing out sooner might be a good idea.

Does that answer your question?

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

^^^ I guess we'll have to wait and see where Kraft stands by Thursday next week

 

[Bruins29]

I hear you. I was just noting an issue. Kraft has a difficult decision to make. He can continue to be a doormat, and watch the league continue to **** on his team, in the hopes that it'll keep the peace. In the alternative, he can run the league through the ringer at both financial and reputational cost.

I think he has to try to effect changes. My gut tells me that even if this blew over that Pats would have a huge target on their back going forward. Everything will be ultra scrutinized and made into a big deal and then blown out of proportion by the media. So if BK dosent get some changes made Deflate Gate happens again only next time it will be some other nonsensical claim by some random player or coach or whatever.

But this is a tough situation because he can win/lose with any scenario that plays out.

2 main goals:

1. Get completely cleared of this (if possible)
2. Insure stupidity like this can not happen again.

Number 2 includes purging all of the slime out of the NFL office.