Kraft, Brady's Agent Release Statements in Response to NFL Ruling

Robert Kraft, Patriots owner, and Don Yee, agent for Tom Brady, have released statements in response to the delflategate ruling the NFL handed down late Monday. And it's exactly what I want to hear.

ROBERT KRAFT (from Patriots.com):

Despite our conviction that there was no tampering with footballs, it was our intention to accept any discipline levied by the league. Today’s punishment, however, far exceeded any reasonable expectation. It was based completely on circumstantial rather than hard or conclusive evidence.
We are humbled by the support the New England Patriots have received from our fans throughout the world. We recognize our fans’ concerns regarding the NFL’s penalties and share in their disappointment in how this one-sided investigation was handled, as well as the dismissal of the scientific evidence supported by the Ideal Gas Law in the final report.
Tom Brady has our unconditional support. Our belief in him has not wavered.

DON YEE (from Mass Live):

The discipline is ridiculous and has no legitimate basis. In my opinion, this outcome was pre-determined; there was no fairness in the Wells investigation whatsoever. There is no evidence that Tom directed footballs be set at pressures below the allowable limits. In fact, the evidence shows Tom clearly emphasized that footballs be set at pressures within the rules. Tom also cooperated with the investigation and answered every question presented to him. The Wells Report presents significant evidence, however, that the NFL lacks standards or protocols with respect to its handling of footballs prior to games; this is not the fault of Tom or the Patriots. The report also presents significant evidence the NFL participated with the Colts in some type of pre-AFC Championship Game planning regarding the footballs. This fact may raise serious questions about the integrity of the games we view on Sundays. We will appeal, and if the hearing officer is completely independent and neutral, I am very confident the Wells Report will be exposed as an incredibly frail exercise in fact-finding and logic. The NFL has a well-documented history of making poor disciplinary decisions that often are overturned when truly independent and neutral judges or arbitrators preside, and a former federal judge has found the commissioner has abused his discretion in the past, so this outcome does not surprise me. Sadly, today's decision diminishes the NFL as it tells its fans, players and coaches that the games on the field don't count as much as the games played on Park Avenue.

As you can tell by the tone of these statements, Kraft and Yee (Brady) are not happy with how the NFL handled this decision. Brady will obviously appeal the ruling and should.

This is a complete outrage in my mind. There's already a president set with other teams making similar infractions (assuming the Patriots are guilty of something, even though the report failed to show that), and there is a rule already in place. If you screw with the balls, you get a $25,000 fine.

Now, because of illegal video taping 8 years ago, the Patriots get whacked for $1M and two draft picks. And, because Brady "probably was aware" of deflated balls it's a 4-game suspension; the same as a PED user.

Sure, that makes sense.