Robert Kraft Comments on Tom Brady's Deflategate Suspension Being Upheld

Following the reinstatement of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's four-game suspension for his alleged role in the Deflategate scandal, Pats owner Robert Kraft made it clear he is firmly behind his franchise player.

While speaking Friday night at the team's draft party (via Patriots.com), Kraft made it clear how highly he regards the four-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra: "He's a young man who is an exceptional person with the highest level of integrity. I feel so privileged to have Tom in my life, and I truly view him as a son."

Kraft went on to criticize the NFL's handing of the situation and declared that the Patriots support their superstar signal-caller:

"

[T]here is no finer ambassador for the game of football, and the New England Patriots, than Tom Brady. We always have had, and will continue to have, Tom's back. Especially when he's being treated unfairly. He knows that. All the decisions that this organization and I personally have made throughout this ordeal have been focused on putting Tom in the best possible position for success.

... I have been in constant communication with Tom over the past 16 months and we've had numerous conversations this past week. We are both on the same page and he knows exactly where my allegiances, and the total team's [allegiances] are, relative to the extremely unfair discipline that he has been subjected to.

I share in our fans' anger and frustration with the penalties the league has levied, and the entire process and how it was conducted. But please trust that I am always trying to do what I believe is best for this franchise, and pledge that I will always continue to do that.

"

After Brady's suspension was overturned last year, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reinstated it Monday, per CNN.com's Jill Martin.

According to CBS Boston, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Thursday on CBS This Morning that the suspension was put back in place primarily because the collective bargaining agreement gives him the power to determine disciplinary measures: "Well, this wasn't about the actual violation. This was about the rights we had negotiated in our collective bargaining agreement, that we had in our collective bargaining agreement, and that we wanted to make sure we retained."

Brady and the NFLPA could potentially take the case as far as the U.S. Supreme Court in an effort to get it overturned again, but it isn't known what—if anything—they plan to do.

If the suspension remains in place, though, New England could be in for a difficult start to the 2016 campaign.

Jimmy Garoppolo is the likely starter should Brady miss the first four games of the season, while rookie Jacoby Brissett—selected in the third round of the draft Friday—would probably be the backup.

Unless the Patriots sign a veteran such as Ryan Fitzpatrick or Brian Hoyer, their quarterback situation will remain a question mark, which is why Kraft's disgust with the NFL is understandable, regardless of whether Deflategate was handled correctly or not.

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