On Robert Kraft's calculated PR stunt

Patriots owner Robert Kraft was showered with praise Tuesday afternoon after he made the announcement at the NFL spring owner’s meetings that his team would accept the penalties the league handed down as a result of Deflategate.

Here is a sampling of tweets from some influential people around the NFL:

“Takes a big man to swallow anger, give in for common good. Also takes a man who knows he wouldn’t have won+wants lower Brady ban.”

Peter King of Monday Morning Quarterback

“Kraft did the right thing, and he deserves credit for it.”

Joe Banner, former president and CEO of the Eagles and Browns

Credit for what exactly? Credit for not being Al Davis and taking the NFL to court?

If Kraft truly believes his franchise was wronged he should sue. That’s what Tom Brady is doing with the help of the NFLPA.

After watching Kraft operate over the past week it’s clear to me his behavior was calculated. The most damaging penalty the NFL levied was the four-game suspension to Brady, and his bluster and subsequent acceptance of the penalties smacks of an influential owner attempting to reduce the suspension.

Here’s hoping Roger Goodell doesn’t cave.

*When Atlanta and Cleveland were hit with penalties for breaking the rules earlier this spring the reaction from their owners was quite different. The Falcons were fined $350,000, docked a fifth-round draft choice in 2016 and had their team president suspended from the league’s competition committee.

Here is what Falcons owner Arthur Blank said before those penalties were handed down:

"It's not really a fine line," Blank via The Associated Press. "I think what we've done in 2013 and 2014 was wrong. Anything that affects the competitive balance and fairness on the field, we're opposed to, as a league, as a club and as an owner. It's obviously embarrassing but beyond embarrassing it doesn't represent our culture and what we're about."

When Cleveland general manager Ray Farmer was suspended for the first four games of the 2015 season after he was found guilty of sending text messages to coaches on the sidelines during games, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said the following:

“Ray Farmer knows and has (said to the Browns) he made a mistake in sending those texts,” Haslam said via Cleveland.com. “Ray feels terrible about it. Ray's a guy who has utmost integrity. I think it is important for you all to know that Ray has the organization's and my full support and despite the fact that he made a mistake here it does not affect his standing with the Browns.”

Haslam managed to stand up for his employee and accept the NFL’s penalties in one short quote.

Now here is what Kraft, who was praised for backing down, said in his opening statement:

“It’s been an emotionally charged couple of weeks as all of you know, and I’ve been considering what my options are. Throughout this whole process there have been two polarizing audiences. At one end of the spectrum we’ve had Patriots fans throughout the country who have been so supportive and really inspirational to us, and believing in us, but I’m also mindful at the other end of the spectrum there are fans that should feel just the opposite, and what I’ve learned is the ongoing rhetoric continues to galvanize both camps, and I don’t see that changing, and they will never agree. But the one thing that we all can agree upon is the entire process has taken way too long, and I don’t think anyone can believe that after four months of the AFC Championship game we are still talking about air pressure and the PSI in footballs.”

Notice how he managed to criticize the league by remarking how long the investigation took and by making light of the offense. Kraft has no shame. 

*Kraft didn’t take questions because his appearance was a PR stunt and not a news conference, but I wish someone would ask him soon why he cares how long any NFL investigation took. The other 31 NFL teams and their fans demanded transparency from the league after Goodell destroyed the Spygate evidence. The NFL hired Ted Wells to do a thorough investigation and the length of that investigation should not matter to anyone, least of all the owner of a team that continually breaks league rules.

*We’re still four months away from the Sept. 10 NFL opener, so please tell me how a four-month investigation hurt his franchise.

*In other NFL news, owners voted to change the extra point for next season. If teams choose to kick after touchdowns the ball will be placed at the 15-yard line. If they choose to go for two it will remain at the 2-yard line. Also, defenses can return blocks, fumbles and interceptions for two points.

Surprise, surprise, kickers are not happy about it.