PHOTO: Patriots owner Kraft signs 'Free Brady' poster

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said he figured the NFL would be lenient with Tom Brady's suspension if he played the good soldier and accepted the league's punishment of a $1-million fine and the loss of a first-round draft pick with humility.

The league wasn't.

So, Kraft is back on the offensive in support of Brady. Case in point: at Patriots practice Thursday, Kraft appeared happy to sign a fan's "Free Brady" sign.

It's safe to say this will ruffle some feathers at the NFL's head office, but that's probably the point. Kraft didn't get the resolution he wanted by playing diplomat, so he's back on the front lines of this battle.