Jonathan Kraft Explains Why Patriots Didn’t Sue NFL For First-Round Pick

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft made it clear to fans Monday that he’s still trying to recoup the team’s first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, though it’s fairly obvious it’s a fruitless endeavor.

Kraft wrote a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell that reportedly has “zero chance” of resulting in a recovered draft pick. Many fans still are wondering why the team didn’t sue the NFL last year, when the Pats might have had a chance to recoup the pick, which was lost as part of the team’s Deflategate discipline.

Patriots president Jonathan Kraft explained Tuesday to CSNNE.com’s Tom E. Curran why the team didn’t take legal action.

“You can go to court, but when you sign up to be a part of this league you agree essentially not to sue the league,” Jonathan Kraft said. “But even if you did go to court, you go to court you win money damages. It’ll take longer than the time before the draft happens and the money isn’t the issue here, the issue is getting your draft pick back, and at some point you have to realize it’s not gonna happen and the best revenge will be putting the best team on the field next year and hopefully having a very successful season.”

The Patriots have 11 selections in the 2016 NFL Draft, including two picks in the second, third and seventh rounds and four in the sixth round. The Patriots can trade up for a first-round pick, but if the selection is higher than 29th overall — where the Patriots would have drafted — that pick would be taken away rather than the 29th overall selection.

Thumbnail photo via Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports Images