FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots captains Devin McCourty and Matthew Slater expressed support Wednesday for quarterback Tom Brady, whose four-game suspension was upheld by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

"The guys in this locker room, we feel as though we're family in there. Good or bad, things happen in life and you stick with your family, no matter what the outcome," said Slater, who enters his eighth season in 2015. "I think that's the way we're going to approach it."

Patriots owner Robert Kraft addressed players Wednesday morning, but Slater did not want to provide details of what was discussed. Slater acknowledged he read some of Kraft's remarks earlier Wednesday, in which Kraft ripped the NFL and apologized to fans for regretfully accepting the NFL penalties.

"Mr. Kraft is the captain of this ship, the captain of this organization," he said. "He speaks for all of us when he speaks. I think he said everything that needed to be said."

Slater called Brady "the heartbeat" of the team, and someone who "sets the standard" for everyone to follow.

McCourty, entering his sixth season, echoed those remarks.

"We all support Tom. Like Mr. Kraft said, that's how we all feel. We support him and believe in him," he said.