New England Patriots President Jonathan Kraft appeared on the Boston radio station WEEI on Thursday and criticized the journalistic practices of several media outlets that have covered the Spygate controversy surrounding his team, including the Boston Herald, New York Times and ESPN.
His comments on ESPN were particularly interesting because they mark the second time this week that a high-profile person associated with the Patriots has ripped the Worldwide Leader. Tom Brady also criticized ESPN's coverage of Spygate, even as he acknowledged that he didn't watch that coverage.
On WEEI Thursday, Kraft was asked, "The New York Times and certain people at ESPN have kind of been out to get you. Do you know why? Do you understand why?" He answered:
"I don't. If you guys can get any of them on the air -- I would argue that there are certain people at ESPN.com who have shown journalistic standards that really are not up to snuff. And the Times, give the Times credit for one thing, they gave us a chance to comment the day before and they actually took some of our comments and realized that certain parts of what they were about to write that were wrong, but there were other things that they still decided to print."
Kraft didn't say which people at ESPN.com he thinks have journalistic standards that aren't up to snuff, but it's clear that between Brady and Kraft, there are some important people in one of America's most successful sports franchises who don't think highly ofAmerica's most successful sports media outlet.
ADVERTISEMENT
_thumbnail.jpg "NASCAR Cowboy Hats")
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Rest of the Word: Patriots organization's ethical standards not up to snuff.
Posted at 11:35AM on May 16th 2008 by August West
2. it's easy to point fingers and try to shift the focus (public relations move) from what's going on when you're a cheating bastard and paying off Goodell.
Posted at 11:57AM on May 16th 2008 by mike
3. How can you say Patriots standards not up to snuff? Everyone cheats in football, everytime you see one of those yellow flags, some one is doing something "unethical." They are penalized and the game goes on. There are other violations that occur off the field of play where people are caught and penalized and the game goes on. Patriots and Belichik paid unprecedented fine for thier violation of the rules, proportional to a 50 yard penalty and a $1000 fine for off sides...everyone cheats, many get caught and pay the price,,,I think is was Kojack who said "Don't commit the crime if you can't do the time."
quit your belly aching and move on you sore loser
Posted at 12:01PM on May 16th 2008 by ruusta
4. The standards of the press were to sensationalize the story. Even the term "spygate" is way over the top. Extremely sloppy journalism was the rule, as on a slow news day, many writers produced slanderous and incorrect articles about the story. Perhaps Goodell did not "dumb down" the information right from the start so that the slower people (possibly including Sen. Spector) could understand that it was an issue of Media choice for recording the signals, not the actual noticing of the signals.
I certainaly did not see enouth criticism of Walsh either. A little but of rolling up the sleeves and doing some research on that genleman is definately in order. His padded resume seemed to be taken as fact.
Posted at 12:12PM on May 16th 2008 by srb
5. What are they talking about? I don't think it is possible for Berman and crew to hug the Pats balls any harder.
Posted at 12:34PM on May 16th 2008 by Huh?
6. I AM SOOO TIRED OF PEOPLE TRYING TO DEFAME THE BOSTON TEAMS. WHAT IS THEIR PROBLEM? I GUESS THEY JUST CAN'T ACCEPT THAT BOSTON IS GREAT SPORTS TOWN WITH TREMENDOUS SUPPORT FROM THEIR FANS, AND RIGHTFULLY DESERVED. TRUTH IS ALL TEAMS TAPE EACH OTHER AND TAKE NOTES FROM THOSE TAPES. IS IS DONE IN EVERY SPORT IN EVERY CITY IN AMERICA, SO WHY DON'T WE JUST LET IT LAY?
Posted at 12:34PM on May 16th 2008 by LTH
7. Everyone get a life - all the teams do this - it just so happened the rest of teams did not get caught or turned in -- why not focus of other problems like why not talking about M. H. (Colts) shooting happening - why because he is well liked -- or the coach is so liked - don't for a second think that coaches - teams want to get an edge - put it to rest and just lets play football and the best team win.
Thanks
Posted at 1:19PM on May 16th 2008 by Jean Remondini
8. Spector is getting to the bottom of it. Thank you, sir. To find out that they knew 75% of the time what the defense intended, through cheating, and then went into a no huddle offense, takes away from the integrity of the game.
They had to hire someone to tape the signals, then another to sit on the bench because he had memorized them and had to tell the coach, who had to signal the QB.....You know that is a shame!
I really wanted Brady to be that good a QB and the Pats that good a team! Billicheat and Co. caught!
The NFL is trying to make light of it; and people are saying EVERYBODY CHEATS (and it is OK??????????)
What are you telling your children? Same thing? It's not the kind of game I want it to be.
Posted at 2:06PM on May 16th 2008 by Fran
9. The poor cheating Pats. loser's until they started cheating. Now lets cry about how it's every-body picking on us. Give me a break you got off easy.It should have been your first pick in the first round , not your second pick in the first round.
Posted at 3:51PM on May 16th 2008 by gene
10. hey all you Patriot haters guess who has been picked as top afc team for 2008 SSSHHH omg its the PATRIOTS Get over it they are the best!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted at 5:47PM on May 16th 2008 by Barbara
11. Yawnz .......... this is getting so boring BUT guess what the PATRIOTS will have another outstanding season again !! So all you Patriot haters be prepared to lose !!!
Posted at 5:50PM on May 16th 2008 by PatriotFan4Life
12. Yeah, the BEST team to go 18-1......AGAIN!!..LOL
Your team SUCKS! They had to cheat their way to be a "GREAT" team and then they lose to a 5th seed I believe?...LOL Belicheat was out coached, Tom Baby was out played by Eli, and I thought Teddy was going to have another heart-attack!!!...LOL
Yeah you will make it to the playoffs again with that pathetic schedule, but you will lose in the playoffs! You're not going to make it to the Super Bowl again to blow it! So have fun beating up those pathetic teams!
Look what your team has left! Oh yeah you might have the biggest cry baby in tom, and the biggest douche in Moss, but you D sucks and you lost to a 5th seed!!!....LOL The "BEST TEAM EVER".....LOL
I'm sure the kids in Africa wont mind wearing Super Bowl Champs T-Shirts again!...LOL I know, you should put that into production right now and send the T-Shirts as an early XMAS present!...LOL
Pats SUCK! I still can't believe after being embarrassed like you have that patsie fans still have the arrogance to flap their mouths!...Oh well, at least the rest of the world will be amused when we see you put your foot in your mouth...AGAIN!...LOL
Posted at 11:19PM on May 16th 2008 by Pats=Puke
13. Ther are some dodo birds at ESPN who don't like the Patriots because they win Super Bowls and have a secret society team ethic. Jealously of the success of winners who aren't the cups of tea of ESPN since they have their teacher's pets who act like Chespirito rejects doing their This Is Sportcenter ads. See Boston Red Sox, Pat Summitt, Manning Family and Boston Celtics "Boston Three Party".
Posted at 12:43AM on May 17th 2008 by George B Vieto
14. Barbara, I thought the New York Giants were the best. Did I miss something?
Posted at 1:58PM on May 17th 2008 by Rick Vogt