Robert Kraft put the NFL's interests as a whole over what he thought might have been best for the New England Patriots. The Patriots owner will accept the punishment of commissioner Roger Goodell in deflate-gate, sanctions that include the loss of two draft picks and a $1 million fine.
On Tuesday, Kraft took the unusual step of holding a news conference at the start of the league's annual spring meetings. But it's an unusual circumstance. He spoke for a few minutes, taking no questions, and explained that the discussion of deflated footballs in January's AFC championship game had continued too long and he wanted it to end. So to end the continuing argument, he took the NFL's punishment, which included a $1 million fine, and the loss of a first-round draft pick in 2016 and a fourth-round pick in 2017.
Quarterback Tom Brady appealed his four-game suspension through the NFLPA. It would be a surprise if he drops that. And judging by the response from George Atallah, NFLPA assistant director of external affairs, it doesn't appear as if Brady will accept the league's punishment the way Kraft did on Tuesday:
"Believing in the strength of the partnership and the 32 teams, we have concentrated power of adjudication in the office of the commissioner," Kraft said. "Although I might disagree with what was decided, I do have respect for the commissioner, and believe he’s doing what he perceives is in the best interest of the full 32. In that spirit, I don’t want to continue the rhetoric that has gone on for the last four months. I’m going to accept, reluctantly, what he has given to us. And not continue this dialogue and rhetoric. We won’t appeal."
Kraft thought the fight over the controversy was not in the best interests of the league.
There had been reports that the Patriots and NFL could work on a solution to lessen the penalties from deflate-gate, although that would be an admission by the league that its original penalties were wrong. Kraft's decision to accept the punishment relieves the NFL from that potentially awkward situation, as well as a contentious appeal or any legal action.
It worked out perfectly for the NFL. Kraft, however, didn't admit any wrongdoing in his statement. He just wanted the conversation to end. He did not take any questions for that reason. He said he hoped Patriots fans understood.
"The heart and soul and strength of the NFL is it's a partnership of 32 teams," Kraft said. "What has become very clear over those two decades is that at no time should the agenda of one team outweigh the collective good of the full 32."
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