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NFL

9 years after SB loss, Pats get '19-0' trademark

Though it has been nine years since the Patriots nearly achieved an undefeated season, the team just now has gotten around to trademarking “Perfect Season” and “19-0.”

The Patriots have gone through the process with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and, in December, trademarked the two slogans through their parent company, The Kraft Group, online records show.

It was nine years ago this week that New England’s bid for the first 19-0 season in NFL history ended with a loss to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.

On Jan. 17, 2008, three days before the Patriots beat the Chargers to go to 18-0 and advance to the Super Bowl, The Kraft Group filed for trademarks in preparation for merchandising the Patriots’ perfect season subject to winning the Super Bowl. The company filed to trademark “Road To Perfection,” “19-0” and “Perfect Season.”

Despite the team’s loss to the Giants, The Kraft Group still went through and trademarked “Road To Perfection” in the “sports and entertainment information” category in November 2012.

More thought was apparently given to the other two trademarks — “Perfect Season” and “19-0” — as The Kraft Group filed for the maximum of five extensions to provide the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office with the necessary documentation over the next eight years.

The one complication with those two filings is that, while thousands of T-shirts were printed commemorating a perfect Patriots season, none of them were ever sold. Emblazoned with an event that didn’t occur, they instead were shipped to other countries.

David Tyree’s acrobatic catch helped seal the Giants’ Super Bowl XLII victory — and end the Patriots’ quest for a 19-0 season. John David Mercer/USA TODAY Sports

Having to prove that they deserved the right to the phrase, the Patriots apparently licensed “Perfect Season” to the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, which produced a DVD of the 2015 state football championship game between Xaverian Brothers and Central Catholic high schools. Xaverian prevailed, winning its 24th straight game (spanning two seasons).

The championship games were hosted at Gillette Stadium, home of the Pats.

The Patriots have a deeper connection to Xaverian. Hall of Famer Andre Tippett’s son Cody played on that 2015 team and was presented with the award for the best player in Massachusetts high school football by Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Former Patriots Vince Wilfork and Steve Grogan also sent their sons to Xaverian.

The Patriots informed the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that the DVD went on sale in October 2016. Requests made through a team spokesman for comment were not returned.

The Patriots were a few plays away from winning it all in 2008, but they still might benefit if they or another team — in any sport — has a perfect season and wants to use the phrase.

Their trademarks cover rights on everything from DVDs and clothing to toys and even pencils.

The Miami Dolphins, who completed a perfect season in 1972, filed to trademark “17-0” and “Perfectville” but eventually abandoned their pursuit.

NFL

Tagliabue sorry for 1994 concussion remarks

HOUSTON — Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue is apologizing for remarks he made decades ago about concussions in football.

In an interview with the Talk of Fame Network that airs nationwide Wednesday night, Tagliabue admitted he erred in 1994 in saying concussions were “one of those pack-journalism issues.” He also claimed then that the number of concussions “is relatively small; the problem is the journalist issue.”

Up for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Tagliabue spoke out Wednesday about a major blemish on a record highlighted by labor peace throughout his 17-year tenure.

While NFL commissioner in 1994, Paul Tagliabue downplayed talk of concussions being a major concern. He has come to regret those remarks. George Gojkovich/Getty Images

“Obviously,” he said, “I do regret those remarks. Looking back, it was not sensible language to use to express my thoughts at the time. My language was intemperate, and it led to serious misunderstanding. I overreacted on issues which we were already working on. But that doesn’t excuse the overreaction and intemperate language.

“Bottom line, it sounded like I was shooting the messenger, which was the concussion issue. My intention at the time was to make a point which could have been made fairly simply: That there was a need for better data. There was a need for more reliable information about concussions and uniformity in terms of how they were being defined in terms of severity.”

Tagliabue explained on the Talk of Fame broadcast that the reporting of head trauma issues was inadequate back then, that the system needed improvement. No firm conclusions could be drawn based on the information the league had at the time, he said.

So when he appeared at a New York panel discussion, Tagliabue was making comments without in-depth knowledge of the issue.

“A few days before that panel, we had reviewed information about concussions and that was one of the things that led me to offer the opinion that there was not an increase,” he said. “We looked at data from the five seasons before `94, and it was relatively flat in terms of concussions. And data from `94 was consistent with the prior five seasons.

“But I think the consistency there was more about the inadequacy of our reporting system than what was going on on the playing field.”

Tagliabue also addressed his 1994 appointment of Dr. Elliot Pellman, a rheumatologist who became Tagliabue’s personal physician, as the head a mild traumatic brain injury committee. He said that Jets owner Leon Hess suggested Pellman.

“Hess said that he was a hard worker, he was highly intelligent, he was a good organizer and he could work effectively with coaches and players,” Tagliabue explained, “and he was willing to stand up for the medical point of view and not be cowed. So I put Dr. Pellman in charge, knowing what his specialties were.”

Pellman became a highly criticized figure on that committee because of his lack of background in head trauma cases.

“It was truly based on track record that these men had with their teams and what I thought they could help us accomplish with internal change,” Tagliabue said of the appointment.

Tagliabue was also a finalist in 2006, 2008 and 2009. He is eligible in the contributors category along with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

NFL

Roger Goodell doesn't feel awkward (or guilty) about Deflategate
5:37 PM ET

  • Kevin SeifertNFL Nation

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    • ESPN.com national NFL writer
    • ESPN.com NFC North reporter, 2008-2013
    • Covered Vikings for Minneapolis Star Tribune, 1999-2008

The anticipation of an awkward moment between NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and key members of the New England Patriots, should they win Super Bowl LI, is one of the dumbest and most irrelevant NFL storylines in history. It takes two willing parties to create such a circumstance, one aggrieved and one guilt-ridden, and we simply don’t have that here and never will.

The Patriots and their fans might well be angry, perhaps incurably so, about the Deflategate investigation that took four games from quarterback Tom Brady while docking the franchise $1 million and a first-round draft pick. Goodell? He made clear Wednesday that he feels not an ounce of guilt for what many objective observers would agree was a conclusion that overshot the verified facts.

Goodell views himself as the winner in a fight for justice and league integrity. As ESPN’s Don Van Natta and Seth Wickersham have reported, he was supported by some NFL owners for standing up to the Patriots monolith during the nearly two-year affair. Goodell, in fact, is more likely to feel proud than awkward if he finds himself standing on a stage with Brady, owner Bob Kraft or coach Bill Belichick on Sunday night.

“We had a violation,” Goodell said. “We went through a process. We applied the discipline in accordance with our process. It was litigated, as you know, extensively and validated by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. We’re moving on from that. It’s part of our history, but it’s something we’re comfortable with the process and the decision.”

The Patriots might take umbrage at that otherwise innocuous response, of course. The appeal court upheld Goodell’s authority to draw conclusions about Deflategate, but not the conclusions themselves.

But there is no shaking Roger Goodell on this issue. As frustrating as it might be, the Patriots won’t be sticking it to him or to the league or to anyone else if they win Super Bowl LI. Those arrows will bounce off the armor of a man convinced he did what was right.

“We do our job when there is a violation,” he said. “We apply the process and the discipline and we came to the conclusion that was supported by the facts and by the courts. So from our standpoint, we understand when fans who are loyal and passionate for a team object and don’t like the outcome. I totally understand that. That’s not an issue for me.”

Goodell hasn’t attended a game at Gillette Stadium since Deflategate, and maybe you’re hoping that his absence has revealed a fear of the Patriots and their fans. Perhaps you think he’s ashamed to show his face. That seems far-fetched.

What would be in it for him to show up? Certainly, Patriots fans would like the chance to address their grievances personally. But Goodell isn’t an elected official; he works for 32 owners. Goodell doesn’t owe his constituents a listening tour. This is a commissioner who is committed, above all else other than revenue sharing, to avoiding distraction from the product. (He declined, for instance, to comment on the United State travel ban, one that could actually impact the NFL given its extensive overseas ambitions.)

So hold on if you must Sunday night. Go ahead. Move to the edge of your seat if the Patriots win. Just don’t expect Roger Goodell to feel that sick burn — now or ever.

NFL

Goodell: Not avoiding going to Pats' home games

HOUSTON — Roger Goodell has not attended a New England Patriots home game since the NFL handed down penalties to the franchise and quarterback Tom Brady as part of Deflategate but said he’s not avoiding Gillette Stadium.

“If I’m invited back to Foxborough, I will come,” the NFL commissioner said Wednesday at his annual Super Bowl news conference.

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Goodell later was asked whether he’s been welcomed in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

“I have no doubt that if I wanted to come up to a Patriots game and I asked Mr. Kraft, he would welcome me back,” Goodell said. “That’s up to him.”

Robert Kraft, the Patriots owner who has been publicly critical of Goodell’s handling of Deflategate, sat in the front row of the news conference. He was in attendance in conjunction with the league’s announcement that the Patriots will be playing the Oakland Raiders in Mexico City during the 2017 regular season.

Kraft wasn’t available to reporters for comment after Goodell’s address, departing quickly to attend the team’s afternoon practice. He issued a statement later Wednesday through a team representative.

“I’ve talked to a lot of fans who would love to welcome Roger back to Gillette Stadium,” Kraft said. “If we are fortunate enough to win on Sunday, the kickoff of the [2017] NFL season would present the perfect opportunity.”

Goodell attended back-to-back games in Atlanta during the playoffs this year instead of attending the AFC Championship Game. He pointed out that two years ago, he attended back-to-back Patriots home games in the playoffs.

As for how his relationship with the Patriots has changed since Deflategate, Goodell cited “a disagreement about what occurred.”

“We’ve been very transparent about what we think the violation was,” he said. “We went through a lengthy process. We disagree about that. But I continue to respect and admire Robert, Jonathan [Kraft] and the entire organization. They are an extraordinary organization, and they are an extraordinary team, in my opinion. So I have a very deep and close relationship to them.

“But that doesn’t change that we have to compartmentalize and can disagree. But I’ll be honest with you, I have disagreements with probably all 32 of our teams. I’m not afraid of disagreement. I don’t think disagreement leads to distrust or hatred. It’s just a disagreement. You take your disagreements, find a common place and move forward. That’s what it is. It’s not all personal in nature, which I know people like to make it. For us, it’s about making sure we do what’s right for the league long term.”

Asked how awkward the situation is for him with the Patriots and the franchise’s fans, Goodell said, “It’s not awkward at all. … From our standpoint, we understand fans who are loyal and passionate for a team object and don’t like the outcome.

“I don’t expect for one second for people to agree with every decision I make or we make as a league. Those are always difficult, sometimes contentious and sometimes less-than-perfect decisions. But you do them in the best interests in the long-term health of the game and the NFL.”

Asked whether he has spoken with Brady over the last two years, Goodell said he doesn’t disclose those conversations.

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