I never felt that the Sullivan family got the respect due to them from the oafs who ruled the local media.
Willie McDonough was a suck-up, would be Hedda Hopper. When Al Davis was on the top of the heap, he ass-kissed Al Davis. When Parcels was ruling in New York with the Giants, Willie McDonut was on his knees ass-kissing Bill Parcels.
Since McDonut really didn't know squat about football, he disguised this by criticizing everyone when they lost. McDonut also masqueraded as an expert, by providing the "inside dirt". He reported on locker room feuds, the very personal antagonisms, and contract disagreements, exactly as if were Hedda Hopper in Hollywood reporting on the foibles of the self-centered narcissistic asses, with way too much money, and nowhere near enough brains, that inhabit that city.
McDonough, was always hoping to be promoted to the "Big Time. He tried to get to LA-LA Land or the Big Apple, and as the dean of Boston sports reportage, could never comprehend that some people actually do things and choose paths that do not include chasing the last buck.
Billy was actually proud of his home city; and sacrificed to keep his creation, the Patriots, in New England.
Bob Kraft demonstrated Noblesse Oblige and true class, when he didn't have to, since no one was looking, when he told Pat Sullivan's kids about their Grandfather. That may sound aristocratic and condescending, but it does take someone who is noble himself, to display that trait.
My opinion of Bob Kraft gets even more elevated. He too had his temptation; and Hartford'd politicians would have given him even more money, but just like Billy, Bob turned it down.