Robert Kraft was a surprise opening act for the Patriots’ first press appearance for the Super Bowl.
Shortly after landing in Arizona — and narrowly missing a blizzard in New England — the Patriots held a news conference in which they addressed the ball deflation scandal.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft — who made a surprise appearance before coach Bill Belichick — doubled down on the team's assertion that the footballs were under-inflated as a result of the weather and other outside elements.
On Saturday, Belichick headed an entire news conference in which he attempted to build that exact case. But scientists and even Wilson, the company that manufactures NFL footballs, have disputed Belichick's explanations.
Kraft said he has seen nothing but integrity from Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady over the 15 years they've worked together. He also blamed "media leaks" for what he called a one-sided conversation about the controversy.
He then — somewhat aggressively — suggested that if the NFL's investigation absolves the Patriots of wrongdoing, the league should apologize to the team, Belichick, and Brady. It was a bold demand.
Yesterday, during a Super Bowl press appearance, Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman said he would be surprised if the NFL found the Patriots guilty of wrongdoing because of Kraft's close relationship with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. He was largely referencing a photo of Goodell at Kraft's home after the AFC Championship that was (boldly) tweeted out by the official team account.
Sherman continued: "You talk about conflict of interest. As long as that happens, it won't affect them at all. Nothing will stop them."
When Belichick took the podium, he was quickly asked about the recent report that the NFL had obtained surveillance video of a locker room assistant carrying the footballs through Gillette Stadium during the AFC Championship game.
The coach, though, quickly swerved around the question and stuck to asserting that his only focus this week is the Seattle Seahawks.
Brady also largely stuck to discussing the upcoming game, saying only that Kraft had said "some very nice words" between getting off the plane — and presumably reading about the locker room attendant report — and the news conference.
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