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If it’s true that the NFL and the Patriots were engaged last night in “back-channel” negotiations and given that the Patriots declared that they’ll drop the matter two days before the period for appealing the penalties imposed against them expired, the next question becomes whether owner Robert Kraft opted to declare that he won’t appeal the punishment in exchange for a promise of some sort from the league.
Which means that, unless there’s some other type of consideration (such as the potential for hosting a Super Bowl), the carrot that persuaded the Patriots to accept the stick most likely relates to the four-game suspension imposed against Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.