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Kraft, No Film at 11

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PALM BEACH – A judge on Monday granted Robert Kraft’s motion to suppress video evidence, delivering the New England Patriots owner a huge victory — and potential derailing the prosecution’s case — as he combats charges of soliciting a prostitute at a Jupiter massage parlor in Florida.

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Palm Beach County Judge Leonard Hanser sided with the defense’s contention that the warrant that allowed recording devices into the spa, and the methods detectives used to obtain video, did not sufficiently protect the privacy and identity of innocent people in the surveillance videos.

“The Court finds that the search warrant does not contain required minimization guidelines, and the minimization techniques employed in this case did not satisfy constitutional requirements … (thus) all evidence against the Defendant obtained through and connection with the search warrant is suppressed,” Hanser wrote in his ruling.

Hanser added that the police’s stop of Kraft’s car on Jan. 19 constituted an unlawful search and thus all information obtained from that search is also suppressed. 

While the state could appeal the ruling, the suppression could effectively end the state’s case. Last week, Hanser set a May 21 date for a mandatory appearance for Kraft and his attorneys, at which time a trial would be scheduled. According to reports, however, it is highly unlikely that hearing will happen.

Kraft, 77, visited the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter on Jan. 19 and 20, during which time prosecutors claim Kraft paid for and received sex acts at the spa.

A different judge in April judge issued a temporary protective order to prevent the public release of the videos, with Kraft’s attorneys arguing release of the videos would result in “catastrophic” harm for Kraft and that “the public’s interest in seeing this video is all about prurient interest.”

When Kraft was first charged with first-degree solicitation of a prostitute in February, the NFL released a statement that Kraft would be subject to the league’s personal-conduct policy, and that the NFL would monitor the investigation and let the legal process play out before taking any potential action.

–Field Level Media

Patriots Add Another WR

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FOXBORO – The New England Patriots agreed to terms with receiver Dontrelle Inman on a one-year deal, according to multiple reports.

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Inman reportedly visited the Patriots on Friday and the deal was consummated during his stay.

Inman, 30, caught 28 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns in nine games for the Indianapolis Colts last season.

Inman’s best season came in 2016 when he established career highs of 58 receptions, 810 yards and four touchdowns for the San Diego Chargers.

Inman played for the Chargers from 2014-17 — including four games in 2017 after the move to Los Angeles — and also played for the Chicago Bears (eight games in 2017).

He has 158 career receptions for 2,101 yards and 11 scores in 58 games (34 starts).

–Field Level Media

NFL to Open London Academy

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LONDON – (Staff Report with Wire Service Information from Field Level Media) – There’ll be a whole lotta kicking going on. The NFL will open a training academy in London this fall for teenagers who want to tackle the sport.

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Starting in September, the NFL Academy will offer student-athletes ages 16 to 18 “the opportunity to combine education with the life skills and intensive training in the sport under full-time professional coaches,” the league said in a statement Tuesday.

Sponsored by Nike and headquartered at Barnet and Southgate College in North London, the academy hopes to identify and develop players who could go on to play college football in the United States.

“This is an opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of many young people, regardless of their experience of our sport. It is also an opportunity for us to create a pathway for players to get into the American college system and maybe even to the NFL itself,” NFL UK managing director Alistair Kirkwood said.

Recruitment for the first class of approximately 80 students will take place through tryouts over the next three months. More details are available online at nflacademy.com.

Many high-profile current and former NFL stars have pledged to support the academy’s efforts as ambassadors and also by mentoring participants through regular visits, including London-born Osi Umenyiora, a two-time Super Bowl-winning defensive end with the New York Giants, and Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice.

Also confirmed are Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, British-born Philadelphia Eagles running back Jay Ajayi, and London-raised Carolina Panthers defensive end Efe Obada.

“American football changed my life and I have seen it change the lives of many others,” Ajayi said. “I am looking forward to helping the students at the NFL Academy reach their potential, whether it is as students or football players. Maybe I will be playing with some of them in the NFL one day.”

–Field Level Media

Patriots to Honor Harrison

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FOXBORO – In voting by New England fans, former safety Rodney Harrison was chosen to become the 29th player inducted into the Patriots’ Hall of Fame.

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Harrison played the last six seasons (2003-08) of his 15-year NFL career with the Patriots, helping them finish the 2003 and 2004 campaigns with back-to-back Super Bowl wins.

In Super Bowl XXXIX, his fourth-quarter interception ended Philadelphia’s final drive and clinched a 24-21 victory against the Eagles.

The hard-hitting Harrison registered 441 tackles, nine sacks and eight interceptions in 63 games for New England.

Before joining the Patriots, the two-time first-team All-Pro tallied 756 tackles, 21 1/2 sacks and 26 picks in 123 games with the San Diego Chargers from 1994-2002.

Harrison joins offensive tackle Leon Gray, selected by a 10-person senior selection committee in April, as the 2019 honorees. The date and time for the ceremony will be announced later.

–Field Level Media

Brady and Garoppolo at Derby

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LOUISVILLE – Who says there’s bad blood between New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his former backup, Jimmy Garoppolo?

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They appeared to be brothers in arms Saturday, hours before the Kentucky Derby. Brady shared a group photo of himself on Twitter at Churchill Downs with Garoppolo, who now plays for the San Francisco 49ers, and other snazzy-looking representatives of the NFL.

Among the players in attendance were Jacoby Brissett, Brian Hoyer and Matt Cassel, along with Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury and former New England Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel, who now coaches the Tennessee Titans.

Brady’s Twitter message was: “Insert gif of me yelling Let’s Go below.”

Also spotted at the 145th annual Run for the Roses were Brady’s coach, Bill Belichick, and the coach of their Super Bowl opponent, the Los Angeles Rams’ Sean McVay, who had his picture taken with general manager Les Snead.

Brady and Garoppolo, who reported simmering tension led to the latter’s trade to the 49ers in 2017, weren’t the only NFL quarterbacks standing out in the crowd. Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers and a heavily bearded Baker Mayfield of the Cleveland Browns were there, too.

— Field Level Media Report

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