SAN FRANCISCO—New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft
said Tuesday he won't appeal the penalties the NFL levied against
his franchise in connection with the "Deflategate" scandal.
In a somber and surprising statement delivered before the start
of the NFL owners meetings in San Francisco, Kraft said he had
puzzled over what actions to take in light of the league's decision
to fine the Patriots $1 million, dock the team a 2016 first-round
draft pick and a 2017 fourth-rounder and suspend quarterback Tom
Brady for four games.
Kraft said he ultimately chose not to pursue further action and
declared a unilateral truce for the good of the league. "Taking
this off the agenda, this is the best thing for the New England
Patriots our fans and the NFL," he said.
Kraft's decision doesn't directly affect Brady, who is expected
to continue his appeal, which is being handled through the NFL
Players Association.
Commissioner Roger Goodell had no immediate reaction to Kraft's
statement. It remains to be seen whether the NFL rewards the
Patriots for standing down, possibly by reducing Brady's
suspension, the appeal of which will wind its way through the NFL's
adjudication system and could ultimately land in court in the
coming months.
Goodell will preside over Brady's appeal. The NFLPA is using the
process to highlight what it sees as a need for a neutral
arbitrator in disciplinary matters, something the union didn't
press for in the last round of collective bargaining.
Kraft, who wore black-and-red Nike sneakers with his trademark
navy suit and red tie, offered no explanations for why multiple
game balls the Patriots used during the first half of their 45-7
thrashing of the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC title game didn't
meet the league's air pressure standards. He declined to take
questions, he said, because he wanted to end the intense rhetoric
that has surrounded the scandal since it surfaced in January.
"I can try to end it or I can try to extend it," he said.
Kraft did reiterate his criticism of NFL's handling of the
matter, saying it has gone on far too long. He called the evidence
uncovered during Ted Wells's independent investigation
circumstantial, and the penalties unfair and unprecedented.
The controversy has strained the relationship between Kraft and
Goodell, who has used the Patriots owner as a confidant throughout
his tenure. Kraft said he has "respect for the commissioner and
believe he is doing what he perceives to be in best interest" of
the league's 32 franchises, though he made it clear that he
believes Goodell's perception of the situation was wrong.
But Kraft said that fighting the league would violate a pledge
he made at his first owners meeting 21 years ago, which was to do
whatever he could to build respect for his franchise and make pro
football the most popular in America.
"The partnership of 32 teams is the heart and soul of the NFL,"
Kraft said. "At no time should the agenda of one team outweigh the
collective good."
Follow Matthew Futterman on Twitter: @MattFutterman. Write him
at matthew.futterman@wsj.com
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