Kraft, Patriots rebel against NFL authority

Robert Kraft and the New England Patriots organization have taken the gloves off in regards to systematically challenging the authority of the NFL.  After pledging to “accept the findings” of the Wells Report and acknowledging a great “respect” for the responsibility of being one of 32 teams in the league, Kraft made an about face by directly challenging not only the findings and punishments handed down by Troy Vincent, but created a website with one goal; discrediting the league.

In a report released by Steelers Gab colleague Christina Rivers, yet another side of Kraft has come to the forefront.  In her report (reposted with her permission), Rivers writes:

Kraft put together an ‘A’ team to not only look over the evidence in the Wells Report, but draw up an Executive Summary and run scientific experiments of his own called “The Wells Report in Context”. Headed by Daniel L. Goldberg, a senior partner in the Boston office of Morgan Lewis, the annotations in the summary include documents from Noel laureate Dr. Roderick MacKinnon. The website included the following statement:  “Professor MacKinnon has no direct business or personal relationship with the Patriots”

Of interest is the fact that after investigating further myself and in line with others in both the fields of science and sports, including but not limited to Noah Gray of Nature Magazine, MacKinnon’s relationship with Kraft was questioned and revealed. Despite the fact that MacKinnon correctly pointed out that the parameters of the conditions during the AFC Championship game could not be sufficiently recreated or controlled, Kraft and his rebuttal team quickly changed the site, to add “for clarity”, that the Kraft Investment Group was involved in business dealings with Flex Pharma, a pharmaceutical company on whose scientific board Dr. MacKinnon is seated. The Boston Globe cites MacKinnon as the “scientific co-founder” of Flex Pharma. The interest for the Kraft Investment Group may well be Flex Pharma’s work on developing treatments for muscle cramps, according to the story in the Boston Globe. Similar to the test findings regarding footballs, there is no current clinically proven or tested remedy on the market for treating muscle cramps, but it would be an interesting investment for a professional sports team to make considering they field players with that painful affliction nearly every day of the NFL season.

(Read her full report by clicking here)

Wednesday, Kraft authorized the publication of a nearly 20,000-word rebuttal to the Wells report.  Although the document makes some important points in pointing out some inconsistent assumptions in measuring the inflation of footballs, it becomes nearly incredulous especially in regards to the claim that a Patriots employee referring to himself as “The Deflator” was referencing weight loss rather than air pressure.  Add to that vague references to redacted text messages in the interest of protecting women and insistences that the NFL should employ better practices when testing air pressure in footballs if the league believes it is such a big deal and the Patriots’ document reads like one big pity party.

The fact remains that Kraft fully understands what is expected from one who purchases a franchise.  It is black and white.  By initiating an attempt to refute the findings of the Wells Report, Kraft and the Patriots are spitting on the NFL constitution.  In Article VIII, the commissioner (and league office via proxy) is given “full, complete and final jurisdiction” in resolving disputes.  The commissioner is also given “complete authority” to issue disciplinary action for violations of rules.

Article IX prohibits public criticism of the league by member clubs and states, “All complaints or criticism” is to be made directly to the commissioner and not publicized “directly or indirectly”.

The Patriots chose, in defending their interests, to break the standard and reject the league’s rule structure in a way that could not be any more public unless it was a lawsuit.  A lawsuit has been rumored – another prohibited act by the NFL constitution.

Kraft is one of the league’s most powerful owners, was directly responsible for commissioner Roger Goodell’s rise and sits as the chairman of the league’s broadcast committee.

Instead of taking their medicine, the Patriots have opted to step away from the other 31 teams as their own entity.  It is a challenge that should incense other owners.  In effect, the Patriots have just thrown their own Boston Tea Party of rebellion.  The first shot was the rebuttal but it’s likely not the first battle in an unprecedented sports war.

S Dean

S. Dean is a lifelong Pittsburgh sports fan. The former owner of 'The Beam in Pittsburgh', Dean has worked in the sports media field for several years. S. Dean graduated with a degree in physical therapy and sports medicine, has a minor in journalism and is a Mt. Lebanon, PA, native. His favorite Steelers players (all-time) are Jerome Bettis, Lynn Swann and Joey Porter. You can follow him on Twitter @NFLHotTopix and Google Plus. To see his full bio, please visit the Meet Our Staff page.