New England Patriots Owner Bob Kraft Defends Tom Brady
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Elsa/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft on Wednesday called the NFL’s investigation and decision to uphold quarterback Tom Brady’s four-game suspension “extremely frustrating and disconcerting.”
Kraft said he regrets not taking legal action in May when the team was fined by the NFL.
“I was wrong to put my faith in the league,” Kraft said, adding that Brady “is a person of great integrity and is a great ambassador of the game both on and off the field.”
Brady responded earlier Wednesday to the NFL’s decision to uphold the four-game suspension in relation to the “Deflategate” scandal, saying he was “very disappointed.”
“I did nothing wrong, and no one in the Patriots organization did either,” Brady said in a post to Facebook. “Despite submitting to hours of testimony over the past 6 months, it is disappointing that the Commissioner [Roger Goodell] upheld my suspension based upon a standard that it was ‘probable’ that I was ‘generally aware’ of misconduct.”
At the news conference Wednesday morning, Kraft said, “I continue to believe and unequivocally support Tom Brady” and called the league’s decision “unfathomable.”
“I have come to the conclusion that this was never about doing what was fair and just,” he added.
The investigation, led by attorney Ted Wells, stated it “is more than probable” that Brady “was at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities” involving the release of air from the Patriots’ footballs.
The NFL players union have now filed an appeal of Roger Goodell’s decision in Minnesota Federal Court.
The NFL said Tuesday that it would uphold Brady’s four-game suspension, originally handed down in May.
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