Robert Kraft asked Goodell for first-round pick back

What do you do when the NFL strips you of your first-round draft pick? Ask for it back, of course.

That's precisely what New England Patriots GM Robert Kraft did more than a month ago, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.

Kraft didn't comment on whether he received a response from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, but he had plenty of other opinions on the matter:

"I personally believe that when the league made their decision, they did not factor in the Ideal Gas Law. They admitted that publicly. They had a full year of being able to observe Tom Brady play with all the rules of whatever the NFL was, and make any judgments there. We have laid it out pretty straightforward. And now it's up for them to decide."

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Pats issue scathing retort to OTL's Spygate reporting

Bob Ley and ESPN's Outside the Lines staff published yet another Spygate report in ESPN the Magazine, alleging nearly a decade after the fact that the New England Patriots' videotaped at least 40 games of opposing teams, dating back to 2000.

The report also alleges the circumstances surrounding the Deflategate scandal were "a makeup call" for inadequately handling the issues back in 2007.

Commissioner Roger Goodell was asked about the report on the Mike and Mike show Tuesday morning, saying he had not yet seen it, while refuting the two scandals were in any way connected.

The Pats, however, did respond to the OTL report Tuesday, issuing a strongly worded response that stated, in part:

"It is disappointing that some choose to believe in myths, conjecture and rumors rather than giving credit for the team's successes to Coach Belichick, his staff and the players for their hard work, attention to detail, methodical weekly preparation, diligence and overall performance."

For the team's response in its entirety, click here (via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe).

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Not guilty: Brady beats Goodell, four-game suspension

Here's hoping this is the last time we talk about this.

Judge Richard M. Berman ruled on Tom Brady's four-game suspension Thursday, overturning the commissioner's decision and thereby activating the four-time Super Bowl champ for the team's opening-day game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Per WEEI.com, Berman ruled, in part:

"The Award is premised upon several significant legal deficiencies including, (A) inadequate notice to Brady of both his potential discipline (four-game suspension) and his alleged misconduct; (B) denial of the opportunity for Brady to examine one of the two lead investigators, namely NFL Executive Vice President and General Council Jeff Pash; and (C) denial of equal access to investigative files, including witness interview notes."

The league still has the opportunity to appeal the decision, though Goodell has not made any mention of going that route (at least not yet).

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Goodell says NFL 'wants Dolphins to stay in Miami'

BY SEAN DONOVAN

After the Miami Dolphins' push for publicly-funded stadium renovations died last week, speculation has run rampant that the franchise may now consider a move out of South Florida.

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has never explicitly said that moving the team was on the table, but relocation is often the leverage a team will use to convince a city to subsidize a new or upgraded stadium. (photo: West Point Public Affairs, Flickr)

Teams have acted on it in the past, and the stadium bill's failure has brought up that fear to the Dolphins' fanbase.

Roger Goodell: No new playoff schedule for 2013

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

More teams may be entering the NFL playoff tree, but not any time in the definite future.

Commissioner Roger Goodell was at the league’s annual meeting on Monday, where he was asked about the progression of talks regarding an increase in playoff-eligible teams. According to Commish, the talks are ongoing but still need to be looked at by the players' union. (NYC Marines, Flickr)

“We presented an alternative calendar for the offseason,” Goodell said. “We think that it makes a lot of sense. I think the players saw the benefits of doing that and they wanted to talk to their membership, which they were doing last week at their meeting.