Tag: Jonathan Kraft

Patriots OC Alex Van Pelt reacts to viral video of frustrated Jonathan Kraft

Alex Van Pelt reacts to video of Jonathan Kraft looking frustrated by the offense

Alex Van Pelt has had better weeks.

The New England Patriots offensive coordinator has been raked through the coals with criticism following the Week 15 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

One of the lasting images from the game was the viral video of owner Robert Kraft and team president Jonathan Kraft watching Van Pelt’s offense implode. Jonathan looked especially frustrated at the team, and at one point, it looked like he mouthed, “The play-calling is terrible.”

When asked about the video clip, Van Pelt noted that his door is always open to the Krafts.

“My door is always open,” said Van Pelt, via ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “Obviously, the Krafts, I answer to those guys. So if they ever want to come and talk, my door is open. I’ve had great conversations with Robert over the course of the season, Mr. Kraft, and it’s been positive. Always willing and always available.”

Van Pelt has done a tremendous job of developing rookie quarterback Drake Maye behind the scenes, but one has to wonder about his job security if the offense doesn’t improve.

More importantly, how does coach Jerod Mayo feel about his involvement? After the game, he was asked why the team didn’t run Maye in short-yardage situations and responded, “You said it. I didn’t.”

He has since clarified those comments, but the initial response had many believing he was attempting to throw Van Pelt under the bus. So far, the Patriots have been a sinking ship with people grabbing life vests while they still can.

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Frustrated Jonathan Kraft video going viral after Patriots 11th loss

Jonathan Kraft didn’t like what he saw from the Patriots on Sunday

New England Patriots president Jonathan Kraft was not pleased with the team’s performance in Sunday’s 30-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Specifically, it appeared he did not like the playcalling during the game, as cameras caught him visibly frustrated while speaking with his father, Robert Kraft.

No one can be sure, but it does appear that Jonathan Kraft said something along the lines of “the play-calling is terrible.” Aside from lip reading, Kraft’s disgust was obvious as the Patriots struggled all afternoon on both sides of the ball.

The offense came to life in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough to save the Patriots from suffering their 11th loss of the season.

Now, the question is whether Kraft’s frustrations lead to any major changes in the offseason. Could we see coaching changes, or will the team finally make a huge splash in free agency?

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More context on Jonathan Kraft’s role with Patriots ahead of NFL draft

How much will Jonathan Kraft be involved in the player personnel decision-making for the Patriots?

It was reported earlier this week that New England Patriots president Jonathan Kraft would be “heavily-involved” in the decision-making for the Patriots, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

However, a follow up to the report from Russini offered more in-depth talking points on the initial news.

Russini wrote:

A longtime league executive says this is a more involved ownership, with a group of scouts presenting the information and a head coach and general manager charged with filling a depleted roster. The team has yet to award the title of general manager to Eliot Wolf, who is running point, and it has shifted to a more collaborative process overseen by Jonathan Kraft. Ownership is allowing the football decision-makers to make the calls while keeping open a constant line of communication. But make no mistake, the Krafts know everything that is going on, as they should.

The initial report caused quite a stir, with Twitter reacting strongly to the news. New England has a chance to reset the franchise with the multiple ways they could use the No. 3 pick.

This follow up likely provides relief for many Patriots fans, given that the organization as a whole should be on the same page.

Ownership controlling the entire draft would not exactly be the best-case scenario, as New England looks to rebuild the organization for the second time in four years. A collaborative effort would certainly be an ideal way to do things.

Report: Robert Kraft wanted Bill Belichick gone following 2022 season

Robert Kraft wanted to fire Bill Belichick after the 2022 season, but he was reportedly talked out of that decision

Former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick might have been axed a lot sooner, if not for Jonathan Kraft.

A new report published on Wednesday, via ESPN’s Seth Wickersham, Don Van Natta Jr. and Jeremy Fowler, indicated the younger Kraft convinced his father and Patriots owner Robert Kraft not to fire Belichick after the 2022 season.

New England struggled offensively and finished 8-9 that season. The unit could not piece things together under the direction of Matt Patricia, who had been given offensive play-calling duties. That made life difficult for quarterback Mac Jones and the rest of the offense. Patriots ownership put out a letter to fans following the season, indicating that things would be better in 2023.

The ESPN article read:

“A source close to Robert Kraft said he considered moving on from Belichick after the 2022 season, but Jonathan Kraft talked him out of it.”

It might have given the Patriots a better shot at rebuilding if Belichick was fired in 2023. New England has never had a full rebuild in the post-Tom Brady era, until now.

Patriots’ ownership shares strong message with season ticketholders ahead of rebuild

Robert and Jonathan Kraft called the 2024 NFL draft the most anticipated draft in 31 years for the Patriots

The New England Patriots are viewing the upcoming offseason as a rebuild, and they didn’t shy away from presenting it as such in a message to season ticketholders.

Owner Robert Kraft and team president Jonathan Kraft sent out letters that detail the current direction of the team. They made the decision to move on from legendary coach Bill Belichick and hired Jerod Mayo as his replacement.

It was a tough move to make, but it felt necessary given the lackluster roster and 4-13 finish in the 2023 season. Per MassLive’s Mark Daniels, Patriots ownership wrote:

The results of the past few seasons have not met that standard, nor the expectations of our fans. After a disappointing 2023 season in which the team’s record dipped to a 30-year low, significant changes were made to redirect the trajectory of our organization.

As we embark on this new era, we look forward to the most anticipated NFL Draft of our tenure. With the third overall pick, we have the highest draft position since the Patriots drafted Drew Bledsoe with the number one overall selection 31 years ago. The focus this offseason is to acquire the talent and leadership necessary to rebuild a culture committed to winning.

The Patriots are in a position to drastically reshape their roster with not only a top-three draft pick, but they also have the fourth-most cap space in the NFL heading into free agency.

Mayo claimed the team is “ready to burn some cash” when appearing on “The Greg Hill Show” back in January. That comment proves this isn’t just one of the most anticipated drafts for the Patriots. It’s one of the most important offseasons in franchise history.

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Report: Jerod Mayo making coordinator hiring decisions for Patriots

Jerod Mayo is reportedly making the coordinator hiring decisions

So far, New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo has reportedly been making all of the decisions during the coordinator hiring process.

Per the Boston Sports Journal’s Greg A. Bedard, Jonathan Kraft has not been involved in the coordinator hiring process. Mayo has been the one sifting through candidates and conducting interviews.

The Patriots organization has already done extensive interviews with multiple candidates at multiple positions. Most recently, it was reported that DeMarcus Covington was being considered a “strong favorite” for the defensive coordinator position. There have also been interviews for special teams coordinator and offensive coordinator as well.

It appears that Mayo is taking full control, as reported by Bedard.

This group of hires will be important for the Patriots’ future success. It’s clear that Mayo wants to put his stamp on the organization early.

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These two plays angered Jonathan Kraft in Patriots loss vs Colts

According to Rob Ninkovich, Jonathan Kraft was enraged by these two plays in particular in the Patriots’ loss to the Colts.

New England Patriots president Jonathan Kraft clearly didn’t have a good time watching his team lose 10-6 to the Indianapolis Colts in Frankfurt. There were at least two plays that bothered him in particular, according to former Patriots defensive standout Rob Ninkovich.

“Jonathan gets very vocal, very vocal. He was just not happy,” Ninkovich said on “The Dan and Ninko Show.” “So, he was very mad two times. He was very mad. They didn’t have a returner on one of the punt rushes. They were trying to block the punt. So, he was pissed. He was like, ‘Why the [expletive] don’t we have a returner back there? This is stupid. The ball’s going to get pinned down there and we’re going to be on the one-yard line.’ He was so pissed. He was so pissed. …Mr. [Robert] Kraft is pretty even-keeled, though.”

It was a frustrating day for the Patriots overall, as they dropped to 2-8 on the season. They currently hold the third overall pick in the NFL draft, which has been the only silver lining in a disappointing year.

Along with the punt play, Ninkovich also noted that the younger Kraft was “pissed” about the interception that quarterback Mac Jones threw late in the game.

The loss to the Colts was frustrating for everybody involved. Now, the Patriots are stuck on the outside of postseason contention and thinking up ways to salvage what’s left of the season.

At this point, it might be better for them to look towards the inevitable future rebuild through the draft and free agency.

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Lip readers think Jonathan Kraft told Robert Kraft the Patriots ‘are not good enough’ during loss

Fans believe Jonathan Kraft had some harsh words to say about the Patriots during Sunday’s loss.

It’s been some time since we’ve seen the New England Patriots look this tragic.

Mac Jones has been an abject disaster. The team’s offseason additions have not panned out in the slightest. And now, after a demoralizing 20-17 loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday, the Patriots now sit with a 2-7 record, a pace we haven’t seen from them since the 2000 season.

And it’s clear Patriots president Jonathan Kraft isn’t happy about it. On Sunday, during the Patriots’ eventual loss to the Commanders, the Fox broadcast panned to Jonathan Kraft and his father — team CEO Robert Kraft — in the stands.

While the exchange seemed innocuous at first glance, lip readers took a closer look at the conversation. According to eagle-eyed viewers on social media, people now believe Jonathan Kraft told Robert Kraft that “we’re not good enough.”

Not the vote of confidence Patriots fans want to see!

Patriots Wire Podcast: Bill Belichick, the Krafts and looming 2024 decision

A franchise-altering decision looms on the horizon for the Patriots in 2024.

The New England Patriots look like a team on autopilot at this point. Their season is going down the toilet with little hope of a turnaround.

The head coach may or may not be on the hot seat. The quarterback may or may not be the guy, and the team may or may not be on the verge of a complete rebuild.

It’s a confusing mess right now in New England.

Robert Kraft and Jonathan Kraft have some big decisions looming on the horizon for 2024 when it comes to their six-time Super Bowl-winning coach, Bill Belichick, and the future of the Patriots’ franchise. Is it time to move in a new direction?

Ryan O’Leary and I discuss the future for the Patriots, including topics on Belichick and quarterback Mac Jones. We also talk about what to make of backup quarterback Malik Cunningham’s role on the roster, along with breaking down the Week 7 game against the Buffalo Bills.

Follow the Patriots Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

We want to hear from you. Be sure and let us know your thoughts and opinions on the topics.

Should the Patriots keep Belichick on as a coach and relieve him of his duties as a general manager? Should they just move on altogether? Does it make sense to play Malik Cunningham more at quarterback?

You can find us on Facebook and Twitter

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Commanders’ fans should be excited about Josh Harris

“So if I’m a fan of the Commanders, I’m pretty excited.”

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Josh Harris will be the next owner of the Washington Commanders. We know that much, as he and Daniel Snyder finalized a deal on May 12 for the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner to take over. For now, it’s only a matter of when.

Washington fans are excited. The once-proud franchise will finally be rid of Snyder. This isn’t another time to comment on all of Snyder’s transgressions over the years and how he singlehandedly destroyed a fan base, but instead an opportunity to say Washington fans have found the right guy in Harris.

OK, sure, you’ve heard that before. Harris grew up in the DMV and loved the team as a kid — like Snyder — but that’s where the comparisons should end.

We’ve detailed some of Harris’ accomplishments in the business world, and they are impressive. Harris has carried that success into professional sports with the NBA’s 76ers and NHL’s Devils. Now, it’s time for the Chevy Chase, Md. native to bring that success to his hometown team.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated ran a profile piece on Harris this week, and it’s outstanding. Breer spoke with those who know Harris, including Jonathan Kraft, president of the New England Patriots, who attended Harvard Business School with Harris.

Others, such as Fanatics CEO — and former Sixers & Devils minority owner — Michael Rubin, Greg Reaves, founder of Mosaic Development Partners, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, all spoke to Breer.

Each spoke of Harris’ business acumen, his philanthropic efforts, and how he was focused on helping others, including the community.

The following quote from Bettman stood out as it pertains to the Commanders:

“He is amazing at identifying great properties that are underperforming,” Bettman said. “He takes a property that’s fundamentally good, but isn’t firing on all cylinders—look at the 76ers, and how much better they’ve done; look at the Devils and how much better they’ve done—and improves it. So if I’m a fan of the Commanders, I’m pretty excited.”

Are you still skeptical?

Here’s the following from Silver:

It was just that, as a native of Chevy Chase, Md., Harris’s connection to Washington’s NFL franchise carried far heavier weight than anything that pushed him to buy the Devils or the Sixers. So he confided in Silver months ago: This isn’t just about acquiring an NFL team, this is my hometown team, and this is very unique to me, a very unique opportunity to give back to my community, and be part of a team I rooted for when I was growing up.

Harris knows success. He knows personal success, business success, and success in professional sports. And he also grew up in a time when the then-Redskins were the biggest show in town and one of the NFL’s flagship franchises.

Harris knows what the NFL team means to the local community.

We’ll leave you with one last quote from Silver on Harris:

Ownership of that team is as personal to him as it is to any hardcore fan. I want to assure [Commanders fans], this is not a professional investor coming in to create a portfolio of sports assets. And this team is very unique to him, in terms of the intensity of his fandom.

Harris should be Washington’s new owner for Week 1 when the Commanders host the Arizona Cardinals. It will be interesting to see how FedEx Field responds on a monumental day for the franchise.