NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday that, while there are ongoing differences of opinion over the Deflategate penalties imposed on the New England Patriots by the league, he does not consider himself to be in a feud with owner Robert Kraft, the team or its fans.
"We have a disagreement about what occurred," Goodell said at his annual state-of-the-league address and news conference. "We have been very transparent about what we think the violation was. We went through a lengthy process. We disagree about that. But I continue to respect and admire Robert, Jonathan [Kraft], the entire organization. They are an extraordinary organization. And they’re extraordinary people, in my view, so I have a very deep and close relationship to them.
"That doesn’t change that we have to compartmentalize things that we disagree on. I’ll be honest with you. I have disagreements with probably all 32 of our teams. I’m not afraid of disagreement. I don’t think disagreement leads to distrust or hatred. It’s just disagreement. You take your disagreements. You find a common place. You move forward. That’s what it is. It’s not all personal in nature, which I know people like to make it."
Goodell’s comments came four days before the Patriots face the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. They also came with Kraft and his son Jonathan, the team’s president, sitting in the audience at the Super Bowl media center.
"We had a violation," Goodell said. "We went through a process. We applied the discipline in accordance with our process. It was litigated, as you know, extensively and validated by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. So we’re moving on from that. That’s part of our history. But it’s something that we’re comfortable with the process, the decision. And we’re focusing on the game now."
Robert Kraft said here Monday that the penalties "energized our fans" and motivate the team’s players as well.
"In life, things happen," Kraft said Monday. "The league messed up royally the way they handled the whole thing, in my opinion. But still, we’re in a system that we agreed to adhere to what the rules of the system are. So I try to compartmentalize in my life and not get bogged down with the negative and try to support the positive. In a strange way, what happened, I think, has energized our fans so that they’re more energized in support of this team than, I think, except for the first [Super Bowl] or the second one than people could imagine. It’s just special."
Super Bowl can’t truly unite nation, but it can offer a welcome distraction David Haugh
After Roger Goodell intimated Wednesday that he actually needs an invitation to attend a Patriots game in Foxborough, Mass., the NFL commissioner created the impression this state-of-the-league news conference would be no more believable than past productions.
When Goodell tried selling the audience…
After Roger Goodell intimated Wednesday that he actually needs an invitation to attend a Patriots game in Foxborough, Mass., the NFL commissioner created the impression this state-of-the-league news conference would be no more believable than past productions.
When Goodell tried selling the audience…
(David Haugh)
Goodell said Wednesday he does not regard himself as being at odds with the team or its fans.
"I would tell you that it’s not awkward at all for me," he said. "We have a job to do. We do our job, as I said, when there’s a violation. We apply the process and discipline, and we came to a conclusion that was supported by the facts and by the courts. So from our standpoint, we understand the fans who are loyal and passionate for a team object and don’t like the outcome. I totally understand that. That’s not an issue for me."
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