Tag Archives: robert kraft

Robert Kraft Calls out ‘Hogwash’ Reporting

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Lots of Hogwash Reporting

The Patriots have the next two days off of OTAs. This means the next time the Patriots take the practice field will be when Training Camp starts on July 26th. The Patriots have had a wild off-season, and owner Robert Kraft brought back an old word yesterday: ‘hogwash.’ Kraft used the word in reference to the Rob Gronkowski trade rumors from last Friday. Robert Kraft was trying to be clear that Gronkowski was never going to be traded. Tom Brady took the week off and so did Rob Gronkowski following the mandatory minicamp last week.

To recap the Patriots’ off-season, they had Josh McDaniels come back, and drafted a quarterback and singed Etling to a four-year deal. There has been lots of fake news and hogwash reporting going on according to Gronkowski and the owner Robert Kraft. Tom Brady has been quiet while training at TB12 and throwing to Julian Edelman after OTAs. Julian Edelman got popped for PEDs, but it’s an unknown substance, so who knows if Edelman could win his appeal. Alex Guerrero quickly denied that TB12 had anything to do with Edelman’s positive drug test.

Looking Ahead

Putting all the hogwash reporting aside, it should be a fun season. This may be the last season we’ll ever see from Brady and Belichick. People seem to disagree with that statement, but why else was Josh McDaniels brought back? Rumor has it Josh McDaniels has his eye on a quarterback in next year’s draft. Rumor also is Josh will draft a quarterback next season, so if or when Brady retires after 2019, Etling will be the starter.

On to Training Camp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV9c3FOTJxM

That might be thinking too far ahead. We will get a good look into this season starting in a month with Training Camp. Those hot days in July when the stands, grass, and ramps at Gilette are filled with people and reporters. This time around it might be a little different, but it’s exciting to see another football season.

Robert Kraft : ‘Everything Is Normal’

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Kraft: ‘Nothing to See Here’

Patriots owner Robert Kraft isn’t worried about Tom Brady skipping out on OTAs this year. Kraft according to NFL Network said: “These are voluntary workouts… I think he’s in great shape. I think he’s at an age where he’s blessed to have 3 children, has responsibilities. It’s hard to fulfill those during the season.” Also, Kraft confirmed Rob Gronkowski will be at minicamp in June.” On Brady’s relationship with Bill Belichick, Kraft said, “nothing has changed.” Overall, sportsbooks tend to agree.  Many of them, including NetBet, still have the Patriots as the odds on favorite to win Super Bowl LIII.

Bill Belichick at Tuesday’s Press Conference

However, yesterday Bill Belichick said that he won’t talk about the players that aren’t participating in the OTAs. Belichicks quote on Monday was, “The guys who are here are improving, they’re working hard. Those are the guys we’re going to focus on.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHRZr4T4bR8

Brady’s Comments in 2013 on How the OTAs Are Important

Back in 2013, Tom Brady spoke about how the OTAs are important for preparation. Brady said, “[Bill Belichick] talks about, you think it’s just an OTA in the springtime and it’s not that important and all those things that probably could enter your mind. The truth is, this lays the foundation for the start of training camp and if you have a good training camp, it usually means a good start to the season. A good start to the season leads to good position entering the second half of the season. Everything ends up having some significance to it. You’re not just out here running plays and going through different things that aren’t going to mean anything.

We’re out here trying to get a lot of things accomplished. I think we have done that, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. It’s really never ending, especially when you play for Coach Belichick. Especially in practices when the offense goes against the defense because if the offense makes a play then the defense sucked and if the defense makes a play then the offense sucked so someone is really going to get yelled at on every play. There’s always lowlights when we come in on the next day.

Even if it was a great offensive play, he’s going to yell at someone on the defense. We’ve become a bit used to that now and that’s part of the learning process and also learning how to play for the Patriots and understand the criticism that you’re getting and hopefully use it constructively so you can improve as a player.”

Robert Kraft Is in the Middle

Kraft is sticking up for his player, while also trying to appease Belichick with granting Guerrero limited access to the stadium. Guerrero is not happy about it, which could also be the reason for Brady to not be going to the OTAs. Kraft is basically in the middle of this whole mess.

Remembering a Legend: Gil Santos

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Gil Santos Is a Legend

Via New England PatriotsIt’s a sad day for not only Patriots Nation, but also the whole football world. Gil Santos passed away last night on his 80th birthday and 57th wedding anniversary. Gil Santos will always be remembered as the ‘Voice of the Patriots’ as he called games for 36 wonderful years. At the beginning of his career the Patriots weren’t that good, especially in the 1990s. They had winning seasons and losing seasons, but he always made the game enjoyable no matter what the outcome was.

Gil’s call at the end of the Patriots’ first Super Bowl win in 2002 still gives me chills to this day. He was very fortunate to call four more Super Bowls after that before his retirement in January of  2013 after the AFC Championship game. Scott Zolak took over on color and Bob Socci assumed the play-by-play role. Santos never saw calling Patriots game as a job. He enjoyed doing it and his legacy will live on.

Gil Santos Will Be Remembered for His Voice and so Much More

Santos was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2013. Robert Kraft said in a team statement “It was my privilege to honor Gil with his induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2013 His legacy and most memorable calls will live there for future generations of Patriots fans to enjoy.” Santos also called games for the Boston Celtics and Providence Friars, Penn State Football, Boston College Eagles football, and Brown. Santos called a total of 743 career Patriots games.

Not only was Santos a great broadcaster, he was a great family man. He loved Benjamin’s Restaurant in Taunton, Massachusetts. Santos started broadcasting Patriots’ games for WBZ in 1966 as a color analyst. He took over the play-by-play duties in 1971 when the Patriots moved to Foxborough. Bill Belichick also said in a statement “Gil Santos’ bond with anyone who ever met or heard him is timeless, He will forever remain a special figure in the lives of generations of players, coaches, and fans who knew him and in the lives of those who will hear his legendary voice in the future. Gil was a great friend and he will be missed. His family is in my thoughts and prayers.”

 

Josh McDaniels: Next Head Coach?

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Josh McDaniels Will Be the Next Head Coach

Via SI.com

Josh McDaniels spoke for the first time since he came back to the Patriots. He told the Boston Globe, “I wasn’t 100 percent sure what the future was. I just hadn’t had any clarity on that. So, where did I fit in? Were there any plans? I just didn’t have much clarity on what my role was here moving forward.” Reading into that, he’s basically asking moving forward if will he be the next head coach for the Patriots or not. He basically asked Robert Kraft and Belichick after the Super Bowl loss, “How can you help me get there”.

He would go on to say to the Globe, “The opportunity to stay here and work for who I think is the greatest owner in sports and the best head football coach in the history of our game, to work with the best quarterback that has ever played … I’m privileged to have the opportunity to do that and when they kind of crystallized that — ‘Hey, here’s what we see going forward and here’s how we would like you to fit into it’ — it gave me a reason to stop and say, ‘All right, what’s the best decision for me?’ And certainly, it was difficult. But I made the decision on my own, nobody pushed me into it. Once I heard from Robert and Bill on that Tuesday, it just gave me the reason to pause and consider this whole situation.”

It’s so obvious after this quote he’s next in line to take Bill Belichick’s job. Belichick has been quite happy as of late, calling a press conference on Sunday. Will Bill have an executive role with the team this time next season? Or will Belichick not hand the keys to McDaniels yet? That still remains to be seen. Of course, Tom Brady had something to do with him coming back too.

Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft Speak

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Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft Both Speak Ahead of Owner’s Meetings

Jan 22, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) points to teammates as head coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft look on after the 2017 AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY SportsBill Belichick and Robert Kraft have both spoken to the media regarding the Patriots. They talked about the changes and what’s going to happen going forward. Belichick convinced Josh McDaniels to stay after the Super Bowl loss to the Eagles. According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, Belichick said, “Once that game ended, I think that really gave Josh and I a chance to sit down [Tuesday] and talk more directly about the situation, as opposed to, ‘We really want to talk about the game and what we need to do to try to compete in that game.’ That’s basically what happened. Before the game, I’d say we had minimal discussions. I’d say we had much deeper and longer and more in-depth and more constructive discussions immediately after the game.”

Belichick wouldn’t talk about the Malcolm Butler benching in the Super Bowl, other than saying he wished him luck going to Tennessee. Belichick has talked to Tom Brady, but wouldn’t touch on Rob Gronkowski’s status about next season. Robert Kraft also spoke, saying, “The residual of this loss was hard on everyone. But I see that as a high-class problem. The fact that we lost and we lost the way we did, I still haven’t gotten over it.” Kraft also said he has had meetings with Belichick and Brady. He also said he has faith in his coach even though he may not have made the right decision in the Super Bowl.

Robert Kraft Has Faith in Bill Belichick

Via GoogleKraft doesn’t deny that there isn’t tension. It’s healthy tension according to him. Kraft mentioned there was more tension when he first bought the team in 1994. Everyone was walking on eggshells around the coach at the time Bill Parcells. Maybe things cleared up a little bit with Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick speaking. The media still haven’t heard from Brady, and probably won’t until June. The most we’ve heard from Brady is in his documentary, Tom VS. Time.

The ESPN Article Tells Us Nothing

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The ESPN Article Tells Us Nothing

Via fox59.com

The ESPN article on the rift in New England is nothing new. The main Boston media and myself have been saying for weeks that there’s a rift. Belichick, Brady, and Kraft stand united because that’s what is best for the team. The only thing that matters right now is getting ready for the playoffs. Did Belichick want to keep Garoppolo? Yes. Did Kraft side with Brady? Yes. Brady is the franchise guy and the most important player in the sport. Robert Kraft spoke to Peter King and denied the ESPN report saying it was, “A total fabrication and fiction. I am telling you, it’s fiction”.

Jimmy Garoppolo Feels Betrayed by Patriots

Via FanastyPros

According to my source Jimmy Garoppolo feels betrayed by the Patriots, and also thinks Brady went to Kraft to have him traded. Kraft spoke about the trade to Peter King, saying,

“I assumed once the season started, we’d talk again at the end of the season about it. The next time I spoke with Bill about it was the Monday before the trade deadline. He called me on that Monday and said he got a deal with San Francisco for a second-round pick and quarterback Brian Hoyer. Turns out they had to cut Hoyer and then we got him. But really, this was basically a second-round pick and Brian Hoyer for Jimmy. Bill asked me if I was OK with this. I was really taken aback a little bit. I wanted to think about it I talked to Jonathan, who was okay with it, and I called Bill back and said, ‘OK’.”

Kraft would never admit Brady went to him to trade Jimmy.   We will never know if that happened. But if Jimmy thinks that, then something was going on behind the scenes. Also, Jimmy Garoppolo being denied access to the TB12 Center is a lie, according to team broadcaster Scott Zolak.

Belichick to the Giants? False (For Now)

Via NY Daily News

I also wrote that Belichick could coach the Giants. Not sure if he would next season but maybe in the near future. It wouldn’t surprise me. Kraft also denied the report telling Peter King he absolutely believes Belichick will be back in 2018. Adam Schefter also believes Belichick will be the coach in 2018. The main focus right now is getting ready for the playoffs.

Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick, and Tom Brady Meeting?

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The Meeting That Never Happened

Jan 22, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) points to teammates as head coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft look on after the 2017 AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

There was supposed to be a meeting between Robert Kraft Brady and Belichick prior to the Dolphins game in Miami. According to Greg Bedard of Boston Sports Journal, the meeting was going to be about the rift between Alex Guerrero and Bill Belichick. However, the meeting never happened and it’s not certain when the next meeting will be. The rift hasn’t really been a distraction on the field but that Miami game was the worst performance of the season. Brady has thrown more interceptions than he did last season. For the first time since 2005 he threw an interception against the Steelers on Sunday.

Who Will Be The Next Quarterback?…..

Jan 16, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) reacts before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional round playoff game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo

Another big topic is who will be the next Patriots quarterback after Tom Brady. Alex Guerrero is being called Yoko Guerrero by the Patriots staff. That is according to Greg Bedard, who is referencing Yoko Ono, John Lennon’s wife who was accused of breaking up the Beatles. Alex is being accused of causing tension between Brady and Belichick. Robert Kraft is in the middle of it all because he has a Hall of Fame coach which has brought him success and also a Hall of Fame quarterback. That is the best quarterback of all time and bigger than the team.

The Patriots Will Keep On Winning

Until the Patriots start losing a lot the Patriots will still be the best at handling this distraction. The meeting was going to happen before the Miami game. Will a meeting happen before the Buffalo game on Sunday? It is possible that it could happen between Robert Kraft Bill Belichick and Tom Brady on Sunday. Especially after the Boston Globe article and the story from the Boston Sports Journal. Belichick hasn’t really been planning for the future of the franchise. His plan of having Garoppolo being the next guy is out the window. So right now its about winning now because Brady isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

The Commish on the Ropes

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Among the most common qualities great leaders share are supreme competence in what they do and the ability to anticipate and deal with change. They are principled, and their values are consistent. Roger Goodell is none of these things.

I’ve spent my whole adult life surrounded by, working with, studying, and developing leaders. From infantry squad leaders to high ranking government officials and CEOs of Fortune 50 companies, I’ve seen some the best and the worst leaders in the country. The current commissioner of the NFL sits alone on the Iron Throne of incompetence.

False Accomplishments

Roger Goodell is a disgrace to the league. He is Portnoy’s clown, a caricature of a chief executive. Goodell’s defenders often cite the league’s financial standing as evidence of the commissioner’s accomplishments. They. Are. Not.

Goodell has received undue credit for the league’s financial strength over the past eleven years. Never mind the fact that the NFL was financially sound before he took over, environmental factors have made the NFL the juggernaut it is today. Goodells tenure (2006-present) coincided with the introduction and explosion of social media, live streaming, and a 300% increase in fantasy sports participation in North America alone.

Roger Goodell isn’t a business genius, he is Chauncey the Gardner, a dullard whose success has been coincidental.

Scandal Ridden Tenure

Rather than heaping unwarranted praise on the Commish for where the league is today, we should lay the blame at his feet as to where the league is heading tomorrow.

Truth in lending, I’ve hated Goodell long before he suspended Tom Brady for possibly being “generally aware” that an equipment manager may have done something that the league can’t prove and that science can disprove. This is a man who fines players for wearing the purple cleats to show support for domestic awareness, but is fine with players assaulting their wives and girlfriends off the field. Unless someone leaks the video to TMZ.

Goodell is a tone deaf, thin-skinned hypocrite. From his disgraceful handling of domestic abuse by players, to his inconsistent metering-out of punishment to players and owners, to his grandstanding about integrity of the game and player safety while stonewalling CTE investigations and settlements, abuse of office has been the defining characteristic of his tenure.

Where does Goodell choose to involve himself? Anthem protests. It’s clear that the NFL wants to appear to be the All-American game. You can’t attend one without some sort of display of fealty to the flag and a service member in uniform. But of course, that’s been largely fake too – after all the Department of Defense and the National Guard paid the NFL and its teams more than $12 million dollars for such patriotic displays between 2011 and 2015.

Face of the NFL

The list of great players who are also great people is nearly endless in the NFL. Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Dak Prescott, Deshaun Watson, JJ Watt. These should be the faces of the NFL, but they’re not. Instead it’s Colin Kaepernick, Ndamukong Suh, Vontaze Burfict, and Prescott’s woman abusing teammate Ezekiel Elliott.

A work stoppage in 2011 that was resolved by Bob Kraft. Plummeting ratings. Hundreds of arrested players. Ndamukong Suh choking an opponent on the field – and not getting fined. This is Roger Goodell’s NFL. It’s past time for him to go.

Kingslayer

Jerry Jones is a fraud, but he may also be our only hope. He is not the hero we deserve, but he is the hero we need. Jones has been the commissioner’s greatest champion for years – a lap dog when Goodell was abusing his power to punish Tom Brady without evidence.

But, now that Jones’ newest woman abuser has been suspended for six games, suddenly Jerry is all about reeling in the powers of the commissioner. Suddenly, the arbitrary administration of suspensions is unjust. Suddenly, Jerry thinks we need a change of leadership.

Embed from Getty Images

Jerry cares about women. Just last week he proudly proclaimed that the Cowboys had a zero tolerance policy on domestic abuse. I’m sure Greg Hardy’s victim was glad to hear that.

Jones is, however, the kind of selfish, grudge-holding ass who might be able to mobilize 24 largely apathetic owners to block Goodell’s extension. That is doubtful, however, because this group of owners seem content printing their money and wrongly believe that Goodell is the reason they can.

Jerry’s palace coup probably won’t succeed. But, how it plays out will be telling for New England fans. Nobody has been on the receiving end of more horrible decisions and gross abuses of the powers of the commissioner than Robert Kraft and the New England Patriots.

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Kraft famously dropped his appeal of the Goodell’s over the top and unjustified punishment after deflategate. In doing so, he infuriated most of his fan base. If he sides against Jones, Kraft will send a loud and clear message that he cares more for the community of billionaires that are the NFL owners than he does for his team and his fans.

What to Watch in Pats 2017 Season

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By: Mark Saber Jr.

The 2017 season is days away.  We can almost picture that fifth banner being revealed. As New Englanders expect another damn-near perfect season, we need to be on the lookout for quite a few players, plays and coaches.

Focal points of the Patriots offense

There was so much hype in the off-season about the Brady-Cooks connection. While that sounds great, I do look forward to watching the Brady-Gronkowski connection after a year without it. Gronk has suffered quite a few injuries to his back, so the question lingers.  Will Gronk actually be Gronk? Will he get the same snap count Coach Bill used in the 2014 season? Or will he turn him loose?

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) scores a touchdown Denver Broncos strong safety Mike Adams (20) and defensive end Shaun Phillips (90) in the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

I would be willing to bet anything that the behemoth tight end will be put on a snap count, but off his leash. Just like Belichick says “The first quarter of the season means nothing.”   Meaning it all rides on how you finish (example: Five rings).

Life without Crown Jules

Another situation that bears watching: how the Patriots can bounce back from the Edelman ACL season-ending injury. Yes, I understand the Patriots have not looked this stacked on the offensive side of the ball since 2007. But I do expect some sort of lag, just not for too long.  A short-term lag. Brady without his security blanket might look a little strange. Remember when the Pats let Welker go and everyone thought the world ended?   Edelman and Amendola stepped up to help keep it going.

Of course Edelman wound up locking down Wes’ old job.  It will be a tad heart wrenching not seeing Minitron out there on the field. Tommy will end up creating another strong relationship with another receiver.  A deep bench with Gronk, Cooks, Amendola, Mitchell, Hogan, etc.  Bottom line — I feel the Patriots should be just fine.

Focal Points of the Patriots defense

Something I do look forward to see: the duo between Butler-Gilmore. The Patriots haven’t had two true shut-down corners like this since the 2014 season. I am stoked to see this come to fruition.  I feel now that Gilmore had the whole off season to get fully acclimated with the Patriots scheme.   I expect him to shine.

I understand that the Kony Ealy trade did not work out for NE, but I still predict the defense to make at least top 10. I’d say they rank #6 overall. But I do expect an overall strong season from the Pats D. My bold prediction for the defensive side of the ball for the Pats season?  The secondary holds the torch. They won’t allow opposing offenses to get their stud receivers in the game. I think we will see a ball-hawking defense. Scratch that, I expect that gritty ball-hawking defense. We all know how much Coach Bill takes pride in his front seven, so I do expect another overall solid season from them as well.

Bottom Line

Clearly the Patriots suffered a significant blow to the team when Julian Edelman went down with injury. But I expect the Patriots to remain on top as the juggernaut of the NFL (as always) and the offense will still torch opposing defenses. The same goes for the defense — it will crush opposing offenses. Things might be a little strange at first, but there is no one who is better at filling roster gaps than Bill Belichick.

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