Tag: Robert Kraft

Kevin O’Connell jokes about trading for third overall pick

While taking questions at his church, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell joked about sending flowers to Patriots’ Robert Kraft.

It’s no secret that the Minnesota Vikings are likely looking to draft a quarterback in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. It’s also no secret that if they want to draft one of the top prospects, they’re going to have to trade up. One of the more likely options for a trade-up scenario is the New England Patriots, but they also need a quarterback and likely want a haul for the pick.

The Vikings are going to have to put together a pretty sweet deal if they’re going to convince the Patriots to move off the #3 pick. During an interview at his church, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell joked about sweetening the deal by “sending Robert Kraft a bouquet of flowers the other day”.

Jokes aside, O’Connell and the rest of the Vikings’ brass know they’re going to have to put together a great deal to convince the Patriots — who have a significant need at the position as well and are already in place to grab one of the top prospects — to move down. Doing whatever they can to butter up Kraft and the Patriots’ decision-makers isn’t a bad strategy to try and lessen that demand.

Will they be able to make something happen before Thursday’s first round kicks off? We’ll find out in a couple of days!

Report: Bill Belichick was ‘very interested’ in Commanders’ head coaching job

Magic Johnson advocated for Bill Belichick, but the Commanders went in another direction.

It’s not often you need a head coach and a six-time Super Bowl champion is available. That was the case for the Washington Commanders this offseason. After the Patriots mutually agreed to part ways with Bill Belichick, the 72-year-old reportedly still wanted to coach.

Two jobs stood out early as possibilities for Belichick: the Atlanta Falcons and the Los Angeles Chargers. However, it was apparent that the Chargers were all-in on Jim Harbaugh, leaving the Falcons.

Belichick interviewed with the Falcons and was expected to have a second interview, but eventually, Atlanta hired Raheem Morris. The Commanders opening remained, but Belichick was never asked to interview, and the job eventually went to Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

Was Washington even interested in Belichick?

According to Don Van Natta Jr., Seth Wickersham and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Commanders minority owner Magic Johnson was interested and made his pitch for the future Hall of Fame coach.

Washington seemed to be another good fit, and multiple sources said Belichick was very interested. He grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, and the combination of his hometown ties and football acumen might have helped the Commanders win and land a stadium in Washington, D.C., considered the most-prized location for a new venue. Commanders minority owner Magic Johnson lobbied hard for Belichick to be the team’s new head coach, sources said. Belichick spoke to new Commanders GM Adam Peters, a former Patriots staffer, and said he respected the job Peters had done in personnel since he had left New England, helping the Broncos and 49ers reach a combined three Super Bowls.

Apparently, managing partner Josh Harris discussed Belichick with Patriots owner Robert Kraft but was not interested in hiring him, instead preferring to hire a general manager first. Belichick held control over personnel during his tenure in New England, a model he likely preferred at a potential new destination.

However, principal owner Josh Harris, who had spoken privately with Kraft about Belichick, told confidants in early December that he respected Belichick but wasn’t going to hire him. He wanted the same leadership structure he has with the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils: a strong general manager over a head coach. Harris’ hiring of the 44-year-old Peters as GM before he looked for a coach was a big tell that Belichick was not a fit, a decision that Johnson endorsed. A source close to Belichick said the coach had questions about working in a strong-GM system. Washington decided to hire Cowboys defensive coordinator and former Falcons head coach Dan Quinn. The victim of the Patriots’ 28-3 Super Bowl comeback had a job. The primary architect of that historic victory did not.

Was this the right move for the Commanders? Only time will tell, but the early signs are positive for the Quinn/Peters partnership. Of course, Washington must win. After four years of Ron Rivera as the head coach/GM, that route didn’t appear to be one Harris would follow.

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.

Bill Belichick reportedly considered joining this team to stick it to Krafts

Bill Belichick reportedly liked the idea of joining one team in particular

After parting ways with the New England Patriots, former head coach Bill Belichick reportedly liked the idea of joining one team in particular as a way to stick it to Patriots ownership.

That team was none other than the Jerry Jones-owned Dallas Cowboys.

Belichick was ultimately passed up by the Cowboys, who still have Mike McCarthy under contract. ESPN’s Seth Wickersham, Don Van Natta Jr. and Jeremy Fowler’s report read:

Dallas was another potential suitor. On paper, the Cowboys seemed to make sense: Belichick and Jerry Jones are decades-long friends, and both are in win-now mode. Nobody is better than Belichick at converting a talented roster into a championship team. And Belichick told a friend that he liked the idea of sticking it to the Krafts by working for Jones. But Jones, for all his flash, bluster and vows this offseason to go “all-in,” is change-averse when it comes to head coaches. He decided quickly after Dallas’ blowout exit in the wild-card round to let Mike McCarthy coach the final year of his contract.

Kraft and Jones are the two most influential owners in the NFL, and well over a year ago, the two men reportedly got into a heated exchange during an owners meeting.

The Cowboys might still consider Belichick as an option in 2025, if the team continues to struggle under McCarthy. In four seasons with the team, McCarthy has only won one playoff game.

Belichick, on the other hand, is a six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach that is still somehow without a job. The bombshell ESPN article talked about how close the legendary coach was to signing with the Atlanta Falcons, but then things cooled off significantly after phone conversations between Kraft and Falcons owner Arthur Blank.

Belichick is 72 years and still looking to break the record for most wins as an NFL head coach. The clock is ticking, and Dallas could end up becoming his best option.

Robert Kraft reportedly played ‘big part’ in Falcons not hiring Bill Belichick

ESPN’s bombshell article reveals the role Robert Kraft reportedly played in the Falcons passing on Bill Belichick

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick thought he had the Atlanta Falcons head coaching job in the bag, along with the rest of the outside world.

All of the signs pointed towards Falcons owner Arthur Blank green lighting a team-up with the man responsible for helping hand his team their most embarrassing loss in franchise history at Super Bowl LI. But then out of nowhere, it was announced that former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris would be taking over as the Falcons’ new head coach.

And just like that, the Belichick chatter was over, and people were left scratching their heads at why the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach couldn’t land the job.

ESPN reported a phone conversation during the interview process between Blank and Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Blank spoke with Kraft in an effort to check Belichick’s references and get a feel for how the owner who knew him better than anyone experienced him behind the scenes.

A bombshell article published on Wednesday, via Seth Wickersham, Don Van Natta Jr. and Jeremy Fowler said:

But in a conversation with Blank, Kraft delivered a stark assessment of Belichick’s character, according to a source who spoke to two people: a close Kraft friend and a longtime Belichick confidant. The source quoted the Belichick source as saying, “Robert called Arthur to warn him not to trust Bill.” That account was backed up, the source said, by the close Kraft friend.

Multiple sources said that Kraft spoke with “some candor” to Blank about Belichick, though the sources declined to elaborate. One source close to Belichick said Kraft “was a big part” of why the Falcons passed on hiring him.

A spokesperson for Kraft denied there was anything disparaging said about Belichick in the two phone conversations with Blank in January. However, there was the possibility he might have been critical of Belichick before those specific conversations.

If true, it’s a messy situation that doesn’t necessarily paint the Patriots’ owner in the best light.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft called out by NFL exec for disappointing offseason

Bill Belichick is gone, and the finger-pointing is beginning to shift to Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft

For years, former coach Bill Belichick was believed to be the problem for everything that was wrong with the New England Patriots. Now, the finger-pointing is being directed at owner Robert Kraft, following what has been a disappointing offseason for the team up to this point.

Yes, the Patriots managed to keep most of their major in-house free agents, but the three most glaring issues remain: quarterback, offensive line and wide receiver.

The biggest outside free agent signing for the Patriots so far has been former Minnesota Vikings wideout K.J. Osborn. Make no mistake, Osborn is a solid addition to the roster, but he also isn’t the No. 1 receiver the team desperately needs on the outside.

And to make matters worse, the only real outside threat they did have, DeVante Parker, was released in free agency.

“It just seemed like they missed out on everyone,” one NFL executive told The Athletic’s Mike Sando.

The team was believed to be deep in on wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who would have been a significant upgrade over what they had in 2023. However, Ridley shockingly chose the Tennessee Titans over the Patriots and his old team, the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Keep in mind, this is the same Titans team that beat out the Patriots in negotiations for DeAndre Hopkins a year ago.

Kraft chalked the missed signing up to state income taxes and partially due to the uncertain quarterback situation in New England. He also strangely mentioned Ridley’s wife as part of the reason, too.

“Kraft mentions the (state income) taxes, the quarterback, the player’s girlfriend and then he mentioned the money,” an executive told Sando. “The reality is, if the dollar net taxes was higher in New England than in Tennessee, they would have gotten the player. It’s like Kraft can’t live in a world where he is looked at as the problem.”

Perhaps the most disappointing part is the fact that coach Jerod Mayo led the charge in claiming the Patriots were “ready to burn some cash” before ultimately walking back the comment.

Patriots fans have been furious to the point where they’ve taken to social media and called Kraft “cheap” after failing to bring in top free agents.

“The head coach came out early in the offseason and said, ‘We have a lot of money to spend, and we are going to spend it,’” said another executive. “Then he had to walk the comment back. Then they lose out on the receiver after their GM says they have no speed on offense. So you have the two highest appointed people in the organization saying they are going to spend and they are going to prioritize speed, and then they do neither. What the hell?”

It has been a disappointing offseason for the Patriots, but they still have plenty of time to turn it around, particularly if they’re able to swing a trade for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, who could be moved if he doesn’t reach a long-term contract agreement with Cincy.

The 2024 NFL draft is also loaded with wide receiver talent. So there will be plenty of opportunities to hit on true difference-makers there as well.

But more importantly, what happens to New England moving forward will all depend on their decision at quarterback. They have the No. 3 overall pick of the draft, and they need to hit on the right player. Is that player Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, or J.J. McCarthy.

Patriots fans won’t have to wait much longer to find out.

Robert Kraft makes stunning Jakobi Meyers admission in recent interview

Robert Kraft said what every Patriots fan was thinking last offseason

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft didn’t shy away from admitting the team made a mistake by letting Jakobi Meyers walk in free agency in 2023.

Meyers spent the first four seasons of his career with New England, before becoming an impact player for the Las Vegas Raiders. He recorded 71 receptions for 807 yards and eight touchdowns last season, after signing a three-year, $33 million dollar contract with Las Vegas.

By comparison, New England signed wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to the same base contract last year. Smith-Schuster struggled in a year where he recorded only 29 catches for 260 yards and a touchdown.

Kraft appeared on “The Shop” with Paul Rivera and Maverick Carter. Davante Adams was a guest on the show and brought up Meyers, which prompted the admission from Kraft, as transcribed by NESN.com’s Sean T. McGuire.

“The thing is, I’m learning in so many different ways,” said Adams. “Like I’m learning from new guys, like I’m learning from Jakobi (Meyers) this year like so much that I didn’t know before.”

Kraft interrupted: “We shouldn’t have let him go.”

One has to wonder how things would have turned out if Meyers stayed in New England.

Inconsistent quarterback play would probably have hampered his production. However, familiarity would have been an asset for a Patriots wide receiver unit that struggled greatly last season.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft reveals how he’d use the No. 3 pick in the draft

How would Robert Kraft use the No. 3 pick in the draft? The Patriots owner shares his opinion on the matter.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is leaving the decision-making to the team, but when asked his opinion on what he would do with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, he admitted he wants the team to get a quarterback.

“I guess, as a fan, I put my fan hat on and I definitely would, you know, in the end, you can’t win in this league consistently unless you have a first-rate quarterback and a first-rate coach,” said Kraft, when speaking with reporters at the NFL annual meeting.

Quarterback is certainly a position of need for the Patriots.

The organization will have a chance to select a talented signal-collar, as they look to rebuild the entire offensive unit. The Patriots are preparing to meet with LSU’s Jayden Daniels and UNC’s Drake Maye this week, while attending their pro days.

What the Patriots do with the third overall selection may very well define the future of the franchise. It’s clear the owner has a preference, and the Patriots are in a unique position to acquire one of the top-tier talents at the position.

Robert Kraft says expectation is for Patriots to ‘make the playoffs’

Owner Robert Kraft has lofty expectations for the rebuilding Patriots

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft expects the team to hit the ground running in Year 1 of their rebuild.

When speaking with media members at the NFL annual meeting, Kraft was asked if he had a change in expectations with the new coaching staff and current state of the team.

Surprisingly, not much has changed as far as what he expects in 2024 and beyond.

“My hope and expectation is to make the playoffs,” said Kraft. “That’s something realistically, we have a new leadership team, we’re going to have a lot of young players we don’t know. A lot can happen. We might struggle more than I want. I really feel we have a good young team, and I just hope we don’t struggle. But in the end, everything is chit-chat until you get on the field.”

Kraft’s hopes and expectations are lofty for a team that still doesn’t have a starting quarterback.

Honestly, it’s likely wishful thinking from an owner that might have to show a deeper level of patience with the newly-constructed roster. The chances of the team being competitive would ultimately come down to them finding and hitting on a quarterback early, along with a massive upgrade at receiver through either the draft or trade market.

That doesn’t even take into account that the AFC East has suddenly emerged as arguably the toughest division in football. The Buffalo Bills are perennial contenders, and the Miami Dolphins were a drastically improved team that made the playoffs in 2023. Aaron Rodgers will be returning to the New York Jets in 2024 with more offensive weapons than ever before.

The expectation for the Patriots should be winning more than four games, and they can figure out the rest later on down the road.

Robert Kraft reveals why Patriots missed on signing Calvin Ridley

One of Robert Kraft’s reasons for the failed Calvin Ridley signing is sure to raise more than a few eyebrows

The New England Patriots’ inability to land wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been a hot topic of discussion. Patriots owner Robert Kraft weighed in on the matter on Tuesday morning.

The team still needs a true top receiver, and Ridley could have potentially been that for them. He finished the 2023 season with 76 catches for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. He ended up signing a four-year, $92 million contract with the Tennessee Titans.

Now, New England may have to find a playmaker through the draft and undergo a youth movement at the position. Kraft revealed a new wrinkle in the failed Ridley signing, via Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed.

“There was one outstanding receiver that unfortunately we couldn’t close. It was not because of finance,” Kraft said. “Clearly, his girlfriend wanted to be in the South. We had a situation where the taxes were, like, almost 10% higher. We offered- we were willing to keep going at that premium. But he didn’t want to be in the Northeast. And part of it might be the quarterback situation as well.”

These could certainly be viable reasons as to why the wide receiver did not end up with the Patriots.

Nevertheless, it doesn’t ignore the fact that the team still needs a top receiver. One has to wonder if these factors will limit the Patriots in the coming years, even if they take a rookie quarterback with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.