By Jonathan Lehman
May 19, 2015 | 10:42am
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Robert Kraft are reportedly back on hugging terms, which could affect the Patriots' Deflategate punishment. Photo: AP
Pssssssssssh. That’s the sound of the hot air being let out of the Patriots’ post-Deflategate posturing.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced Tuesday the team will not appeal the punishment handed down by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell last week for using under-inflated footballs during the AFC Championship game in January.
The Patriots were docked two draft picks and fined $1 million following a months-long deliberation by Goodell that included the commission and release of the costly Wells Report.
Quarterback Tom Brady remains free to pursue an appeal of his personal suspension for the first four games of the season, filed with the backing of the players’ union.
In standing down, Kraft offered a half-hearted grumble about the discipline — “When the discipline came out, I felt it was way over the top,” he said — but mostly talked of wanting to end the negative rhetoric surrounding the four-month ordeal and act in the best interests of the NFL at large.
Photo: AP
“The entire process has taken too long; it’s four months after the AFC championship game, and we are still talking about air pressure … in footballs,” Kraft said.
“Although I might disagree in what is decided, I do have respect for the commissioner, and believe he is doing what he perceives to be in the best interest of the 32 [NFL teams].”
Kraft and Goodell appeared to begin repairing their relationship this weekend, when they had a long face-to-face chat and sealed it with a hug, according to ESPN.
ESPN cited an industry source who said Kraft and Goodell sat “on a couch, talking by themselves for quite a long time” Saturday at the 60th birthday party for CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus in New York City.
http://nypost.com/2015/05/19/kraft-and-goodell-hug-at-party-as-deflategate-thaw-begins/
May 19, 2015 | 10:42am
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Robert Kraft are reportedly back on hugging terms, which could affect the Patriots' Deflategate punishment. Photo: AP
Pssssssssssh. That’s the sound of the hot air being let out of the Patriots’ post-Deflategate posturing.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced Tuesday the team will not appeal the punishment handed down by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell last week for using under-inflated footballs during the AFC Championship game in January.
The Patriots were docked two draft picks and fined $1 million following a months-long deliberation by Goodell that included the commission and release of the costly Wells Report.
Quarterback Tom Brady remains free to pursue an appeal of his personal suspension for the first four games of the season, filed with the backing of the players’ union.
In standing down, Kraft offered a half-hearted grumble about the discipline — “When the discipline came out, I felt it was way over the top,” he said — but mostly talked of wanting to end the negative rhetoric surrounding the four-month ordeal and act in the best interests of the NFL at large.
Photo: AP
“The entire process has taken too long; it’s four months after the AFC championship game, and we are still talking about air pressure … in footballs,” Kraft said.
“Although I might disagree in what is decided, I do have respect for the commissioner, and believe he is doing what he perceives to be in the best interest of the 32 [NFL teams].”
Kraft and Goodell appeared to begin repairing their relationship this weekend, when they had a long face-to-face chat and sealed it with a hug, according to ESPN.
ESPN cited an industry source who said Kraft and Goodell sat “on a couch, talking by themselves for quite a long time” Saturday at the 60th birthday party for CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus in New York City.
http://nypost.com/2015/05/19/kraft-and-goodell-hug-at-party-as-deflategate-thaw-begins/
