If there was some kind of deal, that Robert Kraft accepting the NFL's deflate-gate punishment might positively affect Tom Brady's appeal of his four-game suspension, Roger Goodell wasn't saying.
Goodell, during his news conference on Wednesday at the league's spring meetings in San Francisco, was asked directly if Kraft giving up the fight on the New England Patriots' punishment would impact Brady's appeal, which he will rule on.
"No," Goodell said.
And with that he looked around for the next question. Whether you believe that there was some deal in place between Kraft and Goodell is up to you, but Goodell denies it.
Goodell avoided questions about whether he thinks it's fair that the league office rule on the punishment, and then have the commissioner oversee the appeal. The NFLPA has called for Goodell to recuse himself. Goodell kept talking about the system in place — basically, that he has the right to rule on appeals via the collective-bargaining agreement — but didn't address the situation directly. He wants to hear from Brady directly, he said a few times, and wants to see if Brady has any new information that wasn't in Ted Wells' investigation report. But he said the league took the punishments of the Patriots and Brady seriously.
"I have a great admiration and respect for Tom Brady, but the rules have to be enforced on a uniform basis, and they apply to everyone in the league," Goodell said.
Brady not giving Wells his texts and emails was obviously a major sticking point with Goodell, who said that was a part of the punishment. He said he expects players to give up that information in investigations. "When there isn’t full cooperation, that is certainly part of the discipline," Goodell said in his news conference.
It was clear that if Brady is to have his suspension reduced (unless you believe that there was a deal with Kraft after he did a 180 and accepted the deflate-gate punishment) then Brady will have to provide some new information or convince the commissioner of something that wasn't in the Wells report. Brady hasn't admitted to any wrongdoing.
"I’m not going to get into hypotheticals, but that’s the reason for the process," Goodell said. "That’s why we continue to have an open mind and we’ll do everything possible to understand all the facts."
Goodell also said that the league did not ask the Patriots to suspend employees John Jastremski and Jim McNally, who were implicated in the Wells report, that the team did that. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that the NFL asked the Patriots to suspend those two employees.
Goodell also said that Kraft's decision to give up any potential fight of the deflate-gate punishment was completely his own.
"The decision Robert made was his decision," Goodell said. "I admire and respect Robert, as you all know. We’ve had plenty of discussions over the last couple weeks. This was his initiative and something he wanted to do. I certainly admire the step he took. We may disagree on things, but that’s usual. That happens."
Goodell also said he anticipates that the protocol on the handling of game balls will be changed.
Here are some other highlights of Tuesday's news conference:
Teams in Los Angeles?
Goodell said that progress was being made to get a team to Los Angeles, citing stadium plans in Carson and Inglewood, but that it wasn't a done deal that a team would move there.
"I think there’s significant process but I don’t think it’s inevitable," Goodell said.
Goodell sounded optimistic about stadium plans in St. Louis, and that he knew San Diego was working hard on a plan for a new stadium too. Oakland? Not so much.
"Oakland, I have not heard directly from," Goodell said. "I don’t have an update on that. It’s not something we’ve seen anything, to my knowledge, of a significant proposal."
Goodell seemed frustrated by that.
"We don’t have a deadline, but this is not a new issue we’re dealing with here," Goodell said.
More games in other countries?
Goodell said that reaching fans in "Germany, Mexico and South America" was addressed during the meetings. He said there is a possibility of games in Germany, specifically a regular-season game in Mexico, and perhaps a game in Rio de Janeiro (it has been reported the league might consider a Pro Bowl there). The NFL will have three regular-season games in London this season.
"There’s a growing passion for our game on a global basis, and we want to respond to it," Goodell said.
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