Patriots
Kraft also discussed why he was disappointed with “The Dynasty” documentary series, and what the Patriots’ draft plans might look like.
Robert Kraft spoke to reporters at the NFL’s Annual League Meeting on Tuesday morning, providing commentary on a number of subjects that included the response to the recent documentary series “The Dynasty,” as well as subjects relating more directly to the Patriots’ offseason plans.
The strangest soundbite from the 82-year-old Kraft pertained to his explanation for why 29-year-old wide receiver Calvin Ridley opted to reject an offer from the Patriots in free agency and instead sign with the Titans on a reported four-year deal that included $50 million in guaranteed money.
“We pursued the people we wanted in free agency. There was one outstanding receiver that unfortunately we couldn’t close. It was not a because of finance,” Kraft claimed. “He made clear that his girlfriend wanted to be in the south, and we had a situation where the taxes were like almost 10-percent higher. We offered—or were willing—to keep going to add that premium, but he didn’t want to be in the northeast. Part of it might be the quarterback situation as well.”
Ridley admitted after signing with Tennessee that he’d wanted to remain in Jacksonville (he played for the Jaguars in 2023), but decided to sign with the Titans partly because “the money was pretty good, so I went with that.”
The other major topic to come up was Kraft’s reaction to the recent Apple TV+ documentary series, “The Dynasty,” which covered the history of the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady years in New England (including six Super Bowl wins).
Given that the final frame on each of the documentary’s episodes read “Copyright Kraft Dynasty LLC 2024,” the Patriots’ owner was asked for his take on the polarized reaction to the series (and it’s apparent slant against Bill Belichick).
“I loved the first three episodes,” Kraft said, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “I felt bad that there was so much emphasis on the more controversial and let’s say ‘challenging’ situations over the last 20 years. I wish they had focused more on our Super Bowl wins, our 21-game win streak.
“I felt bad there were players who gave hours and hours of interviews and they felt only the negativity,” Kraft added, citing recent comments from Matthew Salter, Devin McCourty, and Rodney Harrison.
Kraft was also asked a follow-up about the perception that Belichick was made to be the villain of the series.
“I’ll state this clearly: I feel so privileged that we had Bill here,” said Kraft. “We hope when he’s finished that we’re going to have a chance to honor him the way we will do with Tom Brady this year.”
Brady will be inducted into the Patriots’ Hall of Fame in June, and Kraft concluded by saying he was looking forward to “the privilege” of doing the same for Belichick in the future as well.
Regarding the upcoming NFL Draft—in which the Patriots hold the third overall pick—Kraft deferred to the team’s front office, though he added his own personal hope for the result.
“As a fan, I put my fan hat on and I definitely would,” he said of potentially taking a quarterback with the first-round pick. “In the end, you can’t win in this league consistently unless you have a first-rate quarterback, and a first-rate coach.
“On the other hand, you’re in a different position, and we’ve never been in the third draft position since we owned the team,” Kraft explained, per Doug Kyed of The Boston Herald. “What happens, a lot of people behind are really desperate to move up. We’re going to be open to whatever can come our way, but in the end, I’ll let the team make the decision with what they think is best. One way or another, I’d like to see us get a top-rate young quarterback.”
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