Robert Kraft, the Jewish owner of the New England Patriots, slammed the National Football League for suspending Tom Brady, his team’s star quarterback, for the first four games of the upcoming season.

In a statement Wednesday, Kraft called NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s decision the previous day to uphold Brady’s suspension announced five weeks earlier “unfathomable.”

Brady is accused of participating in a scheme, which has come to be known as “Deflategate,” in which air was let out of footballs used in the January 2015 AFC Championship Game and of obstructing an NFL investigation, including by destroying his cellphone.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Both the National Football League and the NFL Players Association have filed federal lawsuits in the case. Kraft said in his statement that he will not speak again about the matter until the end of the legal proceedings.

Kraft told his team’s supporters that he was sorry for not taking the matter to court when it came to light earlier this year.

“I want to apologize to the fans of the New England Patriots and Tom Brady. I was wrong to put my faith in the league,” he said. “Personally, this is very sad and disappointing to me.”

Kraft is the main benefactor of football in Israel, sponsoring the Kraft Family Israel Football League and funding the construction of the Kraft Family Stadium in Jerusalem.

In June, Kraft led a mission to Israel of 19 Pro Football Hall of Famers.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount