How has it come to this? Why has it come to this? The fallout of the inability of the CBA and NFL to get a collective bargining agreement is going to have far reaching ramifications. I have wrtitten a piece explaining just one of those as it relates to our Patriots. I hope you read it and please send along your feelings on the matter as well.
Did we ever think it could come to this? For years we have come to adore our Patriots. We have had the privilege of having the greatest owner in the NFL and arguably the greatest quarterback. Over the years their relationship and that of Bill Bellichick have created a dynasty, but we now sit on the precipice wondering where it is all going to go.
Well on March 11, Tom Brady along with nine other players put their names on an “Antitrust Class Action” suit. In essence, suing the NFL and their owners. Yes, that means Tommy is suing Robert Kraft. What does it mean? Who knows, but one thing is for sure, it has to have some effect on their relationship. It will never be the same. Robert has always spoken of Tom being like a son, so I wonder how it feels to have “family” sue “family?” I know this is a business, but when does it become personal? We can only hope that the two of them keep it business.
When asked recently at the owners meetings in New Orleans, Jonathan Kraft, (Roberts real son), was asked about the situation and his response was, “Look, on a personal level, myself and, I think, every member of my family feels extremely close to Tom,” said Kraft. “I’d like to think Tom was conflicted before he made that decision, but you’d have to ask Tom about it.” He also added, “He obviously feels like, I guess, he made a business decision that was the right thing for him. I’d like to think he was conflicted making it, but I don’t know.”
It sounds to me that the conflicted feelings are on the Kraft side of the situation. I wonder how conflicted they felt when the cut Lawyer Milloy, released Deon Branch, and can’t come to terms with Logan Mankins, so they reduced his tender from $3 million to $1.5 million then franchised him knowing all three players are extremely close to Tommy. It is business right? Well we can only hope the Kraft family respects Tommy’s decision as being business as well.
I would love your thoughts on the mater. Please send them along so we can share them with our membership.
hile I will always love watching the game of football, I will think twice before supporting them with my dollars. But all is not lost. There is an alternative. I first want to first apologize to any our female fans if they get offended, but, even my wife after watching one of the games, thought the LFL was rough and tough. In fact, it was fun to watch. They actually are very good athltes So, it may be time to support this new league. Please pass along you thoughts. I would love to hear you opinions and thoughts. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
Stephen Neal announces his retirement. For those of you that know who he was as a Patriot, (right guard), he had a story that doesn’t even begin to tell the story. A ten year veteran, he didn’t even play college football.
Wow!!!! I can’t believe it, we were able to sign free agent Marcus Stroud from Buffalo. They signed him to a two-year contract.
Bill Belechick - NFL Coach of the year
The Ofensive Line - John Madden Most Valuable Protectors Award
Tom Brady - NFL MVP of the year & NFL Offensive Player of they year
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