Robert Kraft wants NFL apology

[El Supremo]

CHANDLER, Ariz. – New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft criticized the NFL, the way deflate-gate has been handled and reported on, said he wanted an apology from the league if its investigation doesn't turn up anything, and basically dropped the mic on the conversation of the entire matter for the rest of the week.

It was surreal. It was an unscheduled statement by Kraft before coach Bill Belichick's first news conference in Arizona for the Super Bowl. He was angry and frustrated and stood completely behind Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady and their claims that they didn't do anything to cause the Patriots' game footballs to be under-inflated in the AFC championship game.

And if the NFL investigation by Ted Wells doesn't provide proof, he wants an apology from the league.

"If the Wells investigation is not able to definitively determine that our organization tampered with the air pressure in the footballs, I would expect and hope the league would apologize to our entire team, and in particular to Coach Belichick and Tom Brady, for what they’ve had to endure this week," Kraft said. "I’m disappointed in the way this entire matter has been handled and reported upon. We expect hard facts rather than circumstantial leaked evidence to drive the conclusion of this investigation."

Video and the rest at: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/patriots-owner-robert-kraft-wants-nfl-apology-if-investigation-clears-team-012749667.html

[trumad]

1. Whatever Bobby

[KMOD]

2. Very strange presser,

I think they are setting up a defense for an appeal.

It's so awkward at this point, I really do feel bad for the Pats fans.

[mythology]

3. It must be hard to watch the legacy he's spent so much money on

circling the drain. He has to know that in a best case scenario the "rogue" staffer under investigation will fall on his sword, but that won't fool anybody who isn't a Patriots fan.

[trotsky]

4. "We expect hard facts"

11 of 12 NE footballs below required pressure range.

12 of 12 IND footballs within required pressure range.

There's your f'ing hard facts, Bobby. His cheating team is just on a PR blitz now.

[TBF]

5. That's just stupid -

if the allegations are untrue (or if you can set up a locker room attendant to take the fall - as he apparently has decided to do) then just keep your mouth shut Bobby.

It's not like the league is going to do anything. It's not like they really can. They would have to show that they tested balls all year and the Pats were the only ones caught cheating. I really doubt they have been doing that.

The NFL's best plan is to make stringent rules for next year and enforce them across the board for both over- and under-inflation.