I'm going to assume you mean Kraft and not me condemning the report.
Yes, you interpreted that as I intended
Folks, let's remember, we're all on the same team here. We all want what's fair and best for the Pats, during this..... low-tech lynching....
Peace to all
Actually, I think this has been a remarkable civil discussion overall. Doesn't hurt that we mostly are in agreement. Anyone that would think Hawg is a "traitor" needs to have their head examined. And I can certainly see how there is room to extrapolate the belief that Brady was complicit in wrongdoing from what was reported - the problem is that extrapolation is, in fact, necessary. I'm just not buying it yet.
As far as Kraft goes, I still think his response doesn't make sense if he is accepting the results of the report, but to be fair, we see politicians equivocate all the time when the realize they can't abandon a strong stance they head without looking like a "flip-flopper", but need to pivot over to a new stance based on which way the wind is blowing. So I see the following possibilities:
A) Kraft is, in fact, playing the politician here
B) He had to release a statement quickly before having time come to a full understanding of the report, and without the benefit of seeing those members of the public that have been able to analyze the claims in a certain way, and he may reevaluate his stance at some point.
C) He intends to roll over for the league and he sees the NFL shield and his personal investment in Goodell as more important than the NE shield and the honor of "his guys".
As TommyD and others have pointed out, he will have another chance to react and update his stance when the punishment is handed down. At that point we will also see what Brady and Yee have up their sleeves. Until that time, I will hope that B) is the correct scenario and give the benefit of the doubt until then.
I think we can all agree that this is a stupid cluster-fvck regardless of whether Wells' conclusions have any merit or not.
How this plays out down the road is a big unknown, but it is important that people understand the big picture-- what the league under Roger is really doing here and even if he "gets away with it" and the Pats end up having no choice but to accept his mandated punishment --- it's important to note that nothing happens in a vacuum. There is a groundswell of opposition to the direction the league is choosing. The bad decisions that have been made under his watch. It doesn't look good for us now, but it could ultimately be viewed differently by a LOT of people.
I've referred to Roger as "President Snow" from time-to-time and if he isn't careful this little lesson in corporal punishment could actually end up being the catalyst to a revolt-- much like the storyline in the Hunger Games from which I drew that reference.
Brady is getting framed (the organization really) here and it would be very ironic if it ends up blowing up in Roger's face. If Brady, in effect, becomes the MockingJay and level-headed people treat his suspension as a call to wake up and do something.
Try to imagine for a moment the Pats fighting to overcome a suspension of Brady for multiple games. Struggling to get to the top despite Roger's finger on the scale. Things could get very, very interesting this season and the Pats are likely to not decide to roll over and play dead for him.
Maybe that's a little premature, but that's what I've been thinking about.
This has occured to me as well. I think Cuban's criticism of the NFL is spot-on, and I keep wondering if the NFL has finally peaked. It sure is showing signs of a business that has completely filled all of it's available growth space and now needs to resort to extreme measures to maintain that growth that the fatcats can't live without. However, at this point I think it's probobaly just wishful thinking on my part, we'll see.
