Robert Kraft: 'Envy, jealousy fueled Deflategate sanctions'

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Almost anyone outside of Massachusetts will tell you Deflategate proved the Patriots were guilty of cheating and that their punishment was justified.

Those inside Massachusetts will tell you otherwise, especially team owner Robert Kraft. He, like many Bostonians, believes the penalties handed down by the NFL were due to jealousy and envy.

USA Today:

“Well, I don’t hold grudges, but I also don’t forget anything,” Kraft said with a smirk. “Envy and jealousy are incurable diseases. I’m going into my 24th season as an owner. I’m passionate about owning a football team in my hometown.

"If I hadn’t won, I would be so angry at our folks and thinking about what we’d have to do (to win a title). So, our competitors, I understand how they brought pressure on the league office to be very strong and (lobbied) not to compromise on an issue that was nonsense and foolishness.”

Post Deflategate, the Patriots have won two of the most exciting Super Bowls in league history. The latest victory came during a season in which Tom Brady was forced to serve a ridiculous four-game suspension due to the scandal, along with trades of Chandler Jones, Jamie Collins and the loss of Rob Gronkowski to a season-ending injury late in the year.

All of that, topped with a 25-point comeback against the Atlanta Falcons in the Super Bowl, prompted Kraft to deem the fifth title "unequivocally the sweetest," which the team is now trying to get trademarked.

I don't know how many people would wear anything with the word "unequivocally" on it, but the Patriots basically print money. I'm sure some people would want to get their hands on any kind of merchandise out there.

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