Kraft's Comments on Patriots Playoff Loss

[RobertWeathers]

I don't disagree with his observations but I was suprised by how candid and blunt he was in voicing his assessment of the team's performance.

I don't think he was being a Steinbrenner-type. He is passionate over the team and is clearly still emotional over the loss.

Kraft on what was missing in loss - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

DALLAS -- Patriots owner Robert Kraft addressed reporters here at the Super Bowl and he was asked what he felt was missing in the team's playoff loss to the Jets.

"I don't know, a good game-plan," he said. "I mean, you have to hand it to the Jets. They came in and they did a good job. And actually, if you think about it, we drove down the field those first two drives. Tommy [Brady] was unbelievable -- he had [11] games without an interception and then threw that lazy interception. They go down and they miss the field goal and then we come drive right down again, and we throw one in the end zone and it gets dropped, we get three points.

"We get the fake punt, which we hadn't done all year, and it gets bobbled. It was wide open, by the way, if we had executed. Matthew Slater tries to down a ball at the 1 [unsuccessfully]. We didn't get the breaks and the Jets did a great job. We're very sad, I'll tell you."

 

[Patriot Missile]

I don't disagree with his observations but I was suprised by how candid and blunt he was in voicing his assessment of the team's performance.

He sugar-coated nothing...

Kraft on what was missing in loss - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

How much class can a owner have? He is the definition of what every fan in America would like there owner to be like.

 

[letekro]

The Matthew Slater thing was emblematic of the performance overall. They had their chances, but failed to execute at every key moment.

 

[PatsDeb]

Well, he signs the paychecks, and he didn't say anything that I (and probably most) don't agree with. I couldn't believe my eyes when Brady threw that INT. There is no way he could see where it was going, so he shouldn't have thrown it. The fake punt was unreal. Hadn't they seen the Jets try the exact same thing (with the exact same results) a few weeks previously!?

My one consolation is that everyone seems to be having a lousy time in Dallas because the city was unprepared for the weather (see how I can rationalize things?). So maybe it's good (HA-sarcasm) that the Pats aren't there.

 

[D-Money]

The guy wants to win and is dissapointed.Cant blame him.I thought it was an awful loss.I do feel the slow start doomed this team.

 

[Lavictoire]

Last year in the offseason whenever Kraft was asked about that playoff loss to the Ravens, Kraft would say how humiliated he was and never again, etc, etc.He practically said this will not keep happening and I think I was the only one who thought he was calling out Bill Bellichick. i know if I was the coach I'd be cringing and taking his comments personally.This seems to be the same thing again. He's calling out Bellichick. I don't know what the playoff breakdown is all about.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Reading Kraft's comments, several thoughts come to mind. Kraft sounds like the true fan at the core that he is, his most likeable aspect. As with last season's one and done debacle, Kraft's comments reflect some criticism of both the team's preparation and players' execution. While I think that criticism of the coaching and player execution is warranted, Kraft needs to look in a mirror and do his job - take concerted action with Roger Goodell. Spygate was in 2007 and the Patriots org was prohibited from commenting about it. Years later pre-Super Bowl we have the Commish suddenly raising the issue out of nowhere again. Whats up with that? DO SOMETHING Kraft; that's the job of the owner.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Bob Kraft is saying what many of us have been saying all along. The loss was a bitter disappointment to all of us. But the Patriots lost the game, and the Jets were fortunate on that day.

I think he was too kind to the Jets. That's why he's the owner and we post on a message board.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Last year in the offseason whenever Kraft was asked about that playoff loss to the Ravens, Kraft would say how humiliated he was and never again, etc, etc.He practically said this will not keep happening and I think I was the only one who thought he was calling out Bill Bellichick. i know if I was the coach I'd be cringing and taking his comments personally.This seems to be the same thing again. He's calling out Bellichick. I don't know what the playoff breakdown is all about.

Well, the game plan is kinda BB's responsibility, and it's become a pattern of losing when we most need to win.

 

[The Gr8est]

The guy wants to win and is dissapointed.Cant blame him.I thought it was an awful loss.I do feel the slow start doomed this team.

If he really wants to win then he can grow a set and start fighting back against the Omissioner and the NFL's constant trashing of the Pats reputation.

Why don't you start by showing that you give a **** Bob?!

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I think the Pats F.O. focuses particularly on the LAST playoff game of the season and what happened wrong in it and what was missing and goes out to improve on it in the offseason so it does not hopefully be a factor again.

If that is the case expect Kraft and Co. to grab an O Guard,a deep WR threat and a pass rusher

....BUT then again those positions were going to be needed BEFORE the Jets game even started :snob:

 

[RayClay]

100% Bingo. The jets had and executed a great game plan thanks to their corners. Still, that game plan required us not to go up by 10-14 points and they didn't prevent that, we did.

As a Belichick fan, you have to recognize a great defensive game plan, but it is the playoffs. You blow multiple opportunities and good teams will find a way to beat you.

 

[Lansdowne]

I read an article on PFT talking about Kraft talking about the negotiations and how they should get rid of the lawyers in the discussions. Then I made the mistake of reading the comments. Always a few idiots with the "cheating" remarks. This will never end in my lifetime, which is too bad because it's painstakingly annoying.

 

[jmt57]

It Is What It Is -- Patriots owner Robert Kraft on Belichick/Goodell: ‘Tired of the whole subject’ -- weei.com -- Alex Speier

–Regarding his statements earlier in the day that the Patriots were missing a “good game plan” in their loss to the Jets, Kraft said that his comments were taken out of context. He said that he was merely complimenting the Jets on their game plan.

“The Jets had a great game plan. That’s what I was saying,” said Kraft. “They outplayed us, and unfortunately they deserved to win the game, but it was very sad.”

It's interesting to compare and contrast the reporting above to Ian Rapoport's not so thinly veiled sarcastic opinion on Kraft clarifying his comment:

BostonHerald.com --- Rap Sheet --- Patriots owner Robert Kraft answers what was missing from the playoffs: “I don’t know… a good game plan.” (Updated!)

[Updated at 5:34 p.m.: Kraft later clarified his comments on the game plan, saying he simply on WEEI Radio that he just meant the Jets had a good game plan. Whatever.]

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Kraft's comments have got me fired up.

1. The owner should take a stand and fight back against the Video Witch Hunt, instead of being a eunach and not responding to all these un-truths, thinking they will simply go away with time. This is on the owner.

2. The jab at Belichick by criticizing a bad game plan, is pretty rich given that the owner has generally spent the lowest NFL money on good coordinators for several years. He had that one year with Dom Capers only because he thought Belichick might be suspended, and aside from that he's basically relied on Belichick to do the jobs of 5 people at once. It's clear the team has a good game plan going into games, and once the game starts his coordinators are helpless to adjust if things go bad.
Kraft may be a good owner, but if Belichick leaves this team is in huge trouble.

 

[The Gr8est]

Kraft's comments have got me fired up.

1. The owner should take a stand and fight back against the Video Witch Hunt, instead of being a eunach and not responding to all these un-truths, thinking they will simply go away with time. This is on the owner.

2. The jab at Belichick by criticizing a bad game plan, is pretty rich given that the owner has generally spent the lowest NFL money on good coordinators for several years. He had that one year with Dom Capers only because he thought Belichick might be suspended, and aside from that he's basically relied on Belichick to do the jobs of 5 people at once. It's clear the team has a good game plan going into games, and once the game starts his coordinators are helpless to adjust if things go bad.
Kraft may be a good owner, but if Belichick leaves this team is in huge trouble.

I fully agree that Kraft needs to aggressively defend the Pats, and I'd actually like to see him take the fight to the NFL. Screw this behind the scenes stuff, Goodell wants to publicly criticize the Pats, then Kraft should go after Goodell publicly.

Maybe ask the media why the Rats get favored treatment from the Omissioner for their transgressions. Point out that maybe there is no coincidence that the team that turned the Pats in for Spygate gets treated with kid gloves by the Omissioner. Ask if there is a perceived conflict of interest in the fact that the team that Goodell used to intern for, and whose former owner's company, Hess Oil, is providing employment for one of Goodell's brothers, seem to be treated to a different standard after committing rules violations and blatant cheating. Ask if the Pats will be allowed to investigate and punish themselves as the Rats were allowed to do, next time they are accused of a violation. Ask why the Broncos got a slap on the wrist for doing what the Pats had already been severely punished for.

As for the assistant coach issue, how do you know that that isn't what BB wants? I'm sure he doesn't like losing assistants to other teams, but how do you know that Kraft is not allowing him to replace them?

 

[VinnyPatrollie]

Kraft's comments have got me fired up.

1. The owner should take a stand and fight back against the Video Witch Hunt, instead of being a eunach and not responding to all these un-truths, thinking they will simply go away with time. This is on the owner.

2. The jab at Belichick by criticizing a bad game plan, is pretty rich given that the owner has generally spent the lowest NFL money on good coordinators for several years. He had that one year with Dom Capers only because he thought Belichick might be suspended, and aside from that he's basically relied on Belichick to do the jobs of 5 people at once. It's clear the team has a good game plan going into games, and once the game starts his coordinators are helpless to adjust if things go bad.
Kraft may be a good owner, but if Belichick leaves this team is in huge trouble.

Point 1. + a baziilion. It's time to give us fans relief from all the Spygate speculation and rival bullspit. I'm tired of hearing the Pats wouldn't have cheated if it didn't benefit them, so therefor all the SB wins are illegit. I want Bill to stand up and say...This is what we did, and this is why we did it, and this is what the other guys do. Show the public the difference between the view of the coaches from the sideline vs. the legal location. Big whoop-dee-do.

Point 2. It's true that Bill does the job of 5 people but only because he's a control freak. When he leaves, Kraft will pay for coordinators. Where the team is cheap, is payroll. Look it up, they are generally in the bottom 1/4th of the league in total player payroll. I'd like to see that practice end and get a few FA studs in here.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Kraft's comments have got me fired up.

1. The owner should take a stand and fight back against the Video Witch Hunt, instead of being a eunach and not responding to all these un-truths, thinking they will simply go away with time. This is on the owner.

Please explain to me how Krafts public jousting with Goodell will make Spygate go away.

2. The jab at Belichick by criticizing a bad game plan, is pretty rich given that the owner has generally spent the lowest NFL money on good coordinators for several years. He had that one year with Dom Capers only because he thought Belichick might be suspended, and aside from that he's basically relied on Belichick to do the jobs of 5 people at once. It's clear the team has a good game plan going into games, and once the game starts his coordinators are helpless to adjust if things go bad.
Kraft may be a good owner, but if Belichick leaves this team is in huge trouble.

1. BB is responsible for hiring coordinators and staff- not Kraft.
2. The team did a great job of making 1/2 time adjustments all year long.
3. The Capers hire was because he knows the 3-4 and how to generate a pass rush via blitzing (which didn't work because the 08 defense did not have the talent to execute.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Robert should be seen and not heard on football matters. He's not taken out of context, he's just better served limiting his interaction with the media to nodding and smiling. There is a good reason for one voice to represent this franchise on the field, and it isn't Bob's. If he wanted to be helpful as many here suggested he should be more vocal privately league related business and football matters.

 

[BPF]

I don't disagree with his observations but I was suprised by how candid and blunt he was in voicing his assessment of the team's performance.

I don't think he was being a Steinbrenner-type. He is passionate over the team and is clearly still emotional over the loss.

Kraft on what was missing in loss - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

I heard him on the Big Show today, he said he was taken out of context on the game plan quote, he meant the Jets had a good plan and it worked not that the Pats didn't have a good one.