Robert Kraft: Tom Brady 'represents everything that is great about this game and this league'

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is eager to put "Deflategate" behind him following Judge Richard Berman's decision to overturn Tom Brady's four-game suspension.

Related: NFLPA on Brady ruling: CBA does not grant Goodell 'the authority to be unfair'

In a statement released Thursday, Kraft praised Brady and blamed the NFL's lawyers – not commissioner Roger Goodell – for what he calls "unwarranted and unprecedented discipline" against the quarterback.

As I have said during this process and throughout his Patriots career, Tom Brady is a classy person of the highest integrity. He represents everything that is great about this game and this league. Yet, with absolutely no evidence of any actions of wrongdoing by Tom in the Wells report, the lawyers at the league still insisted on imposing and defending unwarranted and unprecedented discipline. Judge Richard Berman understood this and we are greatly appreciative of his thoughtful decision that was delivered today. Now, we can return our focus to the game on the field.

That focus will only be temporary, though, as the NFL announced Thursday that it will appeal Berman's ruling "in order to uphold the collectively bargained responsibility to protect the integrity of the game."