NFL New England Patriots

Robert Kraft’s Desire For An Apology From NFL Will Fall On Deaf Ears

Fresh Videos

By @MichaelTerrill

Robert Kraft

Getty Images

No team in NFL history has entered Super Bowl week under more scrutiny than the New England Patriots have. The worst part about “Deflategate” is that it is completely taking away from the grandest sporting event of the year. More importantly, it has taken two first-ballot Hall of Famers and put them under fire during a strenuous time that deserves their full attention.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who many regard as the most well-respected NFL owner, has come to the aid of his two “family members” as they squirm in front of the media. In fact, Kraft is not just maintaining his typical friendly image. He has taken the gloves off and is gunning for the reporters who have spent countless hours attempting to dissect the limited information and tearing apart Tom Brady and Bill Belichick after their press conferences.

“This would be in direct contrast to the public discourse which has been driven by media leaks as opposed to actual data and facts,” Kraft said during his surprise appearance at Monday’s Super Bowl Media Day, according to ESPN. “Because of this, many jumped to conclusions and made strong accusations against our coach, quarterback and staff, questioning the integrity of all involved. …

“I am disappointed in the way this entire matter has been handled and reported upon. We expect hard facts as opposed to circumstantial leaked evidence to draw a conclusion of this investigation.”

Kraft is not just disappointed with how the media has handled the personnel of his organization. He demands a swift apology from the league if the investigation comes up empty.

“If the Wells investigation is not able to definitively determine that our organization tampered with the air pressure on the footballs, I would expect and hope that the league would apologize to our entire team, and in particular, coach [Bill] Belichick and Tom Brady for what they have had to endure this past week,” he said.

As much as the Patriots, Brady and Belichick may deserve an apology if the investigation does indeed show they had nothing to do with what happened to the 11 footballs that were deflated below league regulations, Kraft’s demand will fall on deaf ears.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the rest of the league brass have no interest in making themselves look foolish. Even though the NFL had nothing to do with how the media storm has picked up speed over the past week, they are partly responsible for spilling gasoline on the growing fire by stating publicly they plan to get to the bottom of why the rules were broken. They also have hinted at possible repercussions. Clearly, that is what everyone expects them to do. Of course, it also gave the media more ammunition to play with.

In all honesty, it is hard to say who exactly is at fault. Reports have surfaced that a Patriots locker room attendant could be the culprit, but there is no confirmation in that case. Meanwhile, Brady and Belichick are playing the innocent card, which could be the real deal. Then there are countless ex-NFL players who are putting in their two cents. By far, the biggest is Jerry Rice stating there needs to be an asterisk next to New England if they go on to win Super Bowl XLIX, assuming the team is found guilty of deflating the footballs during the AFC Championship Game.

For now, all we can do is wait. The media will continue throwing their punches for the remainder of the week. And, the Patriots will continue to dodge, block and play dead if need be. Anything to get them through their current nightmare and on to Super Bowl XLIX.

Michael Terrill is a Senior Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelTerrill, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on