BradyManny

I forgot to bring this up when I heard him on WEEI last week, but Jonathan Kraft - and this isn't the first time - desperately needs to take a lesson from his father and be careful about what he says in the media.

He is way too brash and arrogant in the media and lacks all the eloquence and level-headedness of his father.

Howe hit upon it this week:

Patriots President Jonathan Kraft Disregards Major Details in Placing Blame on Players for Lockout

In a pre-draft bit on WEEI last week, Jonathan took digs at the players and insinuated they didn't want to negotiate and that they were delaying the process by their actions with the lawsuit and decertifying the NFLPA. He sounded incredulous that the players had even done what they had done, and effectively blamed this entire lockout on them.

His tone was shockingly arrogant and his point was derisive - obviously, the players were looking for leverage, and had a right to look for leverage.

When they were at the negotiating table before, the owners had all the leverage. They believed they were getting their "lockout insurance" $$ and they believed they could, in fact, lockout the players.

Both of those things are in question now, thanks to the players actions.

The players actions have been confirmed to be the right course of action by both Doty and Nelson - and they have won themselves leverage accordingly. It remains to be seen if the 8th Circuit will give the players a slam dunk, or reverse Nelson's decision, but until then - Jonathan Kraft has no right to question the players decision to try and win some leverage in order to negotiate under fair pretenses - not the completely unlevel playing field the owners had set-up for them to start this process.

The larger point I want to make is that this isn't the first time I thought Jonathan Kraft was representing his family and the team in a questionable manner in his dealings with the media. Of all the people high up in the organization, he's actually one of the more likely to give someone fodder or a soundbyte that would not seem Belichick-approved.

During this entire players vs. union battle, Robert Kraft has handled everything with class - and been a figure that both sides seem to look forward to coming to the table. In spite of the fact that the message he is delivering is often no different than his son's, he does it in a way that is not divisive, but rather gives hope that the labor battle will be solved. I hope he manages to rein his son in.

mgteich

I submit a nomination for a special award to anyone who thinks that the Kraft's aren't on the same page. Public statements are for effect. Johnathan does not just shoot off his mouth and say things that are not what the organization want out there.

townes

Agree completely on that interview but disagree that he has always represented them in this way. Ordway and Holley allowed him to get away with spewing complete garbage, the interview was a farce.

Deus Irae

I heard that interview. It was not Ordway's finest hour.

__________________
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

BradyManny

He has before. Everytime I hear him on 98.5 or WEEI he's good for a soundbyte or two that you have to think no one else in the organization would get away with.

Case in point - in an interview with DA before the start of last year, he laughed off the Jets and basically said they weren't a threat. I'm fine with the average caller into the station saying that - but the team President shouldn't say things like that.

BradyManny

In defense of your radio station preference, I have no doubt that there's no one on 98.5 - save maybe for the guys on in the morning - that would have the guts to say otherwise to him. Even Felger - who I still think is a much, much better host then Ordway - isn't going to go up against Kraft's kid.

That said - if anyone, I expected one of Ordway/Holley to have the cache to stand up against him. After all, they've had Vrabel on and sucked up to him. It's hard to play it both ways.

townes

Jon Kraft was a prime architect of the CBA the owners opted out of, how he gets through that interview without being grilled on "what was so wrong" with it is beyond me. It should have been the first question and he should have been made to answer it before moving on to anything else. Ordway is and has been on the owners side from the outset and is essentially a shill for them so it's not surprising he played pattycake with Kraft.

robertweathers

I will say this. While dad seems more content to take the high road on certain matters, Jonathan has no problem speaking his mind. Sometimes thats good. Sometimes thats not so good.

But to say that Bob and Jonathan aren't in complete alignment on the labor issue is a bit off-base IMO.

__________________
“I'm not really concerned about the other 31 teams,” - Bill Belichick

"If a player has talent and doesn't succeed, that means that they either don't want to be successful or I have failed as a coach." - Bill Belichick

Deus Irae

I never expect hard questions from Holley to the local football guys. He doesn't want to lose his access there. Ordway, on the other hand, needs to be more than just a doormat.

__________________
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

BradyManny

Like I said - the message is the same, but it's how you deliver it.

It might be refreshing for media members that Jonathan does not worry about taking the high-road, but it's not the Patriot way to speak your mind without worrying about the consequences - Belichick, [Robert] Kraft, Brady, these guys always take the high-road.

Heck, the team's 3rd best player was suspended for the first series of a playoff game for not following suit. Jonathan has to be accountable for what he says - no matter what the platform is.