Bob Kravitz: NFL 'Left With Egg On Their Face' After Brady Wins Appeal
BOSTON (CBS) – Bob Kravitz, the Indianapolis reporter who first broke the news that the Patriots were under investigation for playing with underinflated footballs, says a federal judge's decision to overturn Tom Brady's 4-game suspension leaves the NFL with "egg on their face."
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Kravitz, a columnist for WTHR.com in Indiana, told WBZ NewsRadio 1030 following Judge Richard Berman's decision to vacate Brady's DeflateGate suspension that it was the ruling he expected.
"My first reaction was that I was not surprised in the least," Kravitz said. "I've been writing for the last couple of days and even weeks that based on the way Berman was speaking during those settlement talks, he sounded very much like a guy who was inclined to side with Brady and the NFLPA."
Following initial court appearances when it became evidence that Berman was skeptical of the NFL's case, Kravitz said the NFL would be wise to offer Brady a one or two-game suspension and hope he takes it.
Settlement talks never progressed, and Kravitz said that was a mistake by the league.
"I don't know that Brady would've accepted it. But that's what I would've done if I was the National Football League," said Kravitz. "And as it happens, they're left with egg on their face and now they're going to have to appeal once again to another judge."
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Despite the ruling, Kravitz said he still believes Brady was involved in DeflateGate "at some level." Kravitz cites Brady's destruction of his cell phone as evidence of guilt.
The Indianapolis reporter said the months since he broke the news have been a whirlwind.
"It's been personally a wild ride. I feel like I've heard from virtually everybody in the multi-state region of New England.
How does Kravitz think Colts fans are reacting to the news?
"I think (fans) have DeflateGate fatigue. But I think the front office of the Colts probably feels a little let down by this," Kravitz said.