The New York Jets have filed retaliatory tampering charges against the New England Patriots based on comments by Robert Kraft.

Kraft, speaking to reporters at the league meetings in Phoenix, commented for the first time on the departure of Revis. The remark that caught the Jets' attention was Kraft saying, "I speak as a fan of the New England Patriots, we wanted to keep him."

That accusation stemmed from owner Woody Johnson, in an end-of-the-season news conference, telling reporters, "I'd love for Darrelle to come back."

Although Johnson's comments may have violated the league's anti-tampering rule, based on the letter of the law, the Jets felt it was a baseless charge because there was no malicious intent.

Johnson called Kraft immediately after the news conference, saying he "misspoke." The Patriots refused to let it slide, leading to Tuesday's counter move.

The New York Jets are being investigated about possibly tampering with Darrelle Revis.

The league sent an investigator to the Jets facility in Florham Park, N.J., on Sunday, March 8, during the three-day “legal tampering” window before the official start of free agency to interrogate general manager Mike Maccagnan and front office personnel about the pursuit of Revis, according to sources.

Owner Woody Johnson was not interviewed.

The Patriots levied a tampering charge against the Jets shortly after Johnson’s public admission on Dec. 29 that he’d “love for Darrelle to come back,” prompting many to wonder how serious the NFL would consider the complaint.

A neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers and medical consultant for the NFL believes chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a "rare phenomena."

Appearing on NFL Network, Dr. Joseph Maroon -- who advises the NFL on head, neck and spine injury -- said the game "has never been safer" and downplayed the risk of CTE based on current data.

"I think the problem of CTE, although real, is it's being overexaggerated and being extrapolated to youth football and to high school football," Maroon said.

Maroon said he reviewed all known cases of CTE, a progressive degenerative brain disease related to head trauma and found in dozens of retired athletes in football and other sports, from 1954 to August 2013.

"We came up with 63 total cases of CTE [and] in the last two years a few more," he said. "But there have been 30-40 million kids who have played football during that period of time. It's a rare phenomena. We have no idea the incidence. There are ... more injuries to kids falling off bikes, scooters, falling in playgrounds than there are in youth football. I think again, it's never been safer. Can we improve? Yes. We have to do better all the time to make it safer."

Chris Borland has decided to retire due to concerns about the long-term effects of repetitive head trauma.

Borland notified the San Francisco 49ers of his decision on Friday.

Borland made his decision after consulting with family members, concussion researchers, friends and current and former teammates, and studying what is known about the relationship between football and neurodegenerative disease.

"I just honestly want to do what's best for my health," Borland told "Outside the Lines." "From what I've researched and what I've experienced, I don't think it's worth the risk."

More than 70 former players have been diagnosed with progressive neurological disease following their deaths, and numerous studies have shown a connection between the repetitive head trauma associated with football, brain damage and issues such as depression and memory loss.

Borland is the most prominent player to retire at the start of his career due to head trauma concerns.

Borland was expected to be a key part of the 49ers defense this season after the retirement last week of All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis. Borland replaced Willis, 30, after six games last season; Willis had sustained a toe injury.

Borland received one vote for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

"I've thought about what I could accomplish in football, but for me personally, when you read about Mike Webster and Dave Duerson and Ray Easterling, you read all these stories and to be the type of player I want to be in football, I think I'd have to take on some risks that as a person I don't want to take on." Borland was referring to former NFL greats who were diagnosed with a devastating brain disease, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE, after their deaths. Duerson and Easterling committed suicide.

DeMaurice Smith has been reelected as NFLPA executive director staving off eight other candidates.

It took just one ballot for Smith to gain his third three-year term in charge of the NFL Players Association.

Smith won over former NFL players Jason Belser, Sean Gilbert and Robert Griffith. Also on the ballot were James Acho, Arthur McAfee, Rob London, Andrew Smith and John Stufflebeem.

"As a union, it is your duty to decide who should and will lead," Smith told the board of player reps. Then, apparently referring to what at times became a nasty competition, he added:

"There will always be those who will sacrifice their dignity in a race to the bottom so that they can climb over others to get to the top. I will not join them, and no human should."

Smith ran unopposed in 2012.

The NFL has informed teams the cap will be set at $143,280,000 per club.

The cap was set at $133 million in 2014, which was up from $123 million in 2013.