PHOENIX -- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday that he plans to attend the opening game of the 2017 season, which means he'll likely be making his first appearance at the New England Patriots' home stadium since Deflategate and the league's legal fight to uphold a four-game suspension of quarterback Tom Brady.
"I plan to be at the kickoff game," Goodell said, chuckling at a somewhat lighthearted question regarding his plans for five months from now.
As has become NFL tradition, the defending Super Bowl champion takes part in the NFL kickoff game, most often at home. This year's kickoff opener is expected to be Thursday, Sept. 7, and Patriots owner Robert Kraft spoke this week with the expectation that it would be held at Gillette Stadium.
"We're happy that we'll be celebrating our fifth banner, and he can decide whether he wants to be there," Kraft said of Goodell on Monday.
Kraft added: "He's commissioner of the league. As we all know, he has the right to go wherever he wishes to go. And if he wanted to come, he's welcome to come."
Kraft, who had publicly been critical of the league's handling of Deflategate, added that he didn't believe he needed to extend an invitation.
Goodell's absence from Gillette has drawn criticism from some, including many Patriots fans who questioned why he attended back-to-back games in Atlanta during the playoffs this past season instead of attending the AFC Championship Game.
Prior to Super Bowl LI, Kraft had said tongue-in-cheek, "I've talked to a lot of fans who would love to welcome Roger back to Gillette Stadium. If we are fortunate enough to win on Sunday, the kickoff of the [2017] NFL season would present the perfect opportunity."
At that time, Goodell had said, "If I'm invited back to Foxborough, I will come. 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. That's up to him."