The New England Patriots, team-owner Robert Kraft and the entire Pats fanbase are likely still elated over the news from early Thursday that future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady's four-game suspension, meted out by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in the wake of the Deflategate scandal, had been vacated entirely. Tommy Terrific can now return to the field, unencumbered by suspensions or legal issues, and the Pats can go back to dominating the professional football world. And while the resounding victory in federal court may suddenly give some Pats fans visions of taking it to the NFL in an attempt to recoup the two lost draft picks and $1 million fine the team was also assessed as part of the original Deflategate punishment, it doesn't seem that's likely to happen, according to a report from Tom E. Curran of CSN New England.
Per Curran, despite Berman's assertion that the NFL bungled the Deflategate investigation from the start, someone "very high in the organization" suggested that attempting to see the picks returned or the fine rescinded is "not something they've discussed." Further, the likelihood is apparently "very remote" that they would decide to continue their fight with the league.
"To go back on that now would really cast Robert Kraft as someone going back on his word," said Curran. "As a result, it's highly, highly, highly unlikely that the Patriots would try to recoup those draft picks.
"However, there is an extreme feeling of validation (in the Patriots' organization) right now."
It seems that while Goodell has made it clear that Berman's ruling isn't the end of this for him, Kraft and Co. - likely along with many fans of the game - are more than ready to watch the Deflategate saga fade from memory.
