Now we get to see if Kraft is cheap or shrewd

[RobertWeathers]

Callahan: Robert Kraft must stick the landing in Patriots’ coaching search

The Krafts did the right thing in firing Jerod Mayo. But the job’s not done.

www.bostonherald.com

I know what the board thinks, but you might be wrong.

With player contracts, Kraft is both...cheap and shrewd but I think most teams are.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

And you're a denier. Wonderful. We can call each other names all day long. If you don't think antisemitism is a real thing in our area and our fan base, you gotta get out more, IMO. I certainly have heard people here in my town say some damn hateful things about Kraft, things Hitler would be comfortable saying. Glad you live in a pristine environment. I don't.

You can go **** yourself. I stand strong for Israel and for peace with all races. Any hint of racism and religion in in this thread is disgusting. You are a pig, a real piece of ****.

 

[Bill Lee]

You can go **** yourself. I stand strong for Israel and for peace with all races. Any hint of racism and religion in in this thread is disgusting. You are a pig, a real piece of ****.

Great demonstration of your peaceful spirit, dude. Go **** yourself too.

 

[Wozzy]

Someone on here left a "I Don't Agree" Emoji when I stated that if Vrabel goes elsewhere because Kraft doesn't want to pony-up the money to pay what he's looking for in a contract, then the impression that Kraft is cheap will NEVER go away.

Whether it comes down to money or the simple fact that the job insists upon a front office already in place…. Jonathan’s football expertise could keep this team in the cellar for a decade or so.

 

[Dedhampatsfan]

Kraft is cheap. Every single person I've ever talked to that had any type of job for the Patriots or Gillette has said Kraft pays like dirt.

It's true and they are slow to pay!

 

[Run DMC]

Two words- bologna sandwiches.

 

[Family]

You can go **** yourself. I stand strong for Israel and for peace with all races. Any hint of racism and religion in in this thread is disgusting. You are a pig, a real piece of ****.

Great demonstration of your peaceful spirit, dude. Go **** yourself too.

There are some posters who go on and on about how cheap Kraft is, but One-if-by-Sea is not one of them.

The fact is one-of-by-sea hates everyone, no matter what background, in Patriots management.

I don't want the thread shut down because I've been tired of hearing about this broken record concerning Kraft.

Overall he's been a good owner, but agree he is losing it a bit as he gets old.

 

[TommyD4207]

Kraft privately financed the construction of Gillette Stadium.

The cheap owner funded the only NFL stadium to be entirely privately financed.

He didn't take your tax dollars like every other owner.

The team would not likely be here without him.

That means no 6 Super Bowls.

That was 23 years ago he did that.
He's made back his money at least 20-fold since then.
Next.

 

[Family]

That was 23 years ago he did that.
He's made back his money at least 20-fold since then.
Next.

He ate Mayo's contract just this week.

Which BTW there were about three posters on the entire board who thought the money wouldn't be an issue.

Next.

 

[Wozzy]

For two decades it never bothered me they were frugal and judicious with who they decided to pay. This made sense and was successful because they found value wherever it could be found. I supported this business model, championed it.

Whether it was value vets who other teams undervalued or considered too old. Or the deep dive into finding UDFA’s and spending a little more to push the boundaries of how the draft class can improve the team. The Patriots always filled in those low priced cracks… hell the 2001 team was a masterclass in this.

Now they think a “value vet” is a player like Okorafor… terrible. Value vet linemen in the past like Joe Andruzzi were special teams stars first on their prior team. Guys like Mike Compton or Brian Watters were Pro Bowl caliber players on their prior teams but were considered “too old” by the time they became Patriots… but all of these were good players. Good scouting.

Okorafor was a poor athlete, he sucked as a pro in Pittsburgh, he sucked when the Pat’s signed him as a free agent. If Mike Tomlin doesn’t want you, why should we? Year after year the dynasty Patriots only signed a few free agents that made me annoyed, some of the signings were flawed but had played well in the past. Okorafor, Leverett and Jordan were outright bad players… wasted money and roster spots.

Cheap only works when you are great at finding cheap good labor and reclamation projects. We’re clearly not that anymore.

 

[borg]

And you're a denier. Wonderful. We can call each other names all day long. If you don't think antisemitism is a real thing in our area and our fan base, you gotta get out more, IMO. I certainly have heard people here in my town say some damn hateful things about Kraft, things Hitler would be comfortable saying. Glad you live in a pristine environment. I don't.

To review.....
When the board refers to the 32nd highest spender in the NFL, based on published and universally accepted data, as CHEAP .....
Bill Lee pulls out the antisemitism card.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Amazing people actually defending Kraft on this.

The only defense (which will backfire on Bob in a second) was that the Pats didn’t have many players to pay over Bill’s tenure as they were all replaceable. But when they finally did, they wouldn’t pay them!

Guys like Seymour looking for one more contract, but paid Warren instead. Dumb. Cheaping out on Akiem Hicks who wasn’t commanding much. Prematurely signed Mason and wasn’t aggressive enough with Thuney. Then trades Mason.

I might be missing a few, but they did not have players with massive deals eating cap.

 

[Bill Lee]

To review.....
When the board refers to the 32nd highest spender in the NFL, based on published and universally accepted data, as CHEAP .....
Bill Lee pulls out the antisemitism card.

To review, @borg keeps hammering away on the one data point that spending 32nd in the league for ten years is paramount, and I say it's lazy analysis.

So, if it's the main thing for us to focus on, why didn't we have the worst record in the league each and every year for the last ten years?

We didn't even hit bottom once, even with some damn obvious mistakes from ownership on down.

We even had three Super Bowl appearances with two wins in those ten years!

That's one more appearance and one more win than the team that spent the most!

Could there be more to it?

Could there be some other reason why some people here and elsewhere keep leaning into the topic?

Nah, nothing to see here, move along.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

There are some posters who go on and on about how cheap Kraft is, but One-if-by-Sea is not one of them.

Kraft is a good owner. Not great. If he was not as cheap, he would be a lot better. Players should not have to complain on their survey year after year that the facilities for their wives to breast feed are sub-NFL standard.

The fact is one-of-by-sea hates everyone, no matter what background, in Patriots management.

I was and am a huge BB supporter, but RK should have fired BB a few years earlier. I am glad BB is at UNC because I think it is a great place for him to work and retire with his family. Unfortunately, recent reports from individuals that visited Gillette to intervieww for Mayo's staff state that the Pats infrastructure is lacking. I think it is reasonable to believe that two old men, BB and RK, let the Pats infrastructure slip, like no analytics departments that other franchises have built. Therefore, I believe BB should have left earlier, and as a result, there is a complete infrastructure sports overhaul required at Gillette. The existing employees are most likely not part of the forward looking solution, and the Pats need to hire outside people with experience at other franchises to quickly restructure. Unfortunately, that means a lot of employees need to be "restructured". I do not hate anyone in Gillette. I think the football operations in Gillette have to be re-engineered and the existting employees at Gillettte are not capable to accomplishing that.

I don't want the thread shut down because I've been tired of hearing about this broken record concerning Kraft.

RK is 84 this year, and i think he should step aside. It happens to all of us, I have no animosity for the Kraft family or the Pats' employees.

Overall he's been a good owner, but agree he is losing it a bit as he gets old.

Yes, we agree he is a good owner. At 84 he should find a different role. BB seems to have understood he needs a new role and has settled in.

Anyone that thinks my opinion is related to anti-semitism, or implies that my opinion is related to anti-semitism, is a piece of ****.

 

[mgteich]

Kraft is a good owner. Not great. If he was not as cheap, he would be a lot better. Players should not have to complain on their survey year after year that the facilities for their wives to breast feed are sub-NFL standard.

Agreed.

It seems that Kraft has decided to respond to the shame of this situation and the relatively poor practice facilities. We'll see just how much he does.
======
IMO, the Mayo situation (and the associated ridicule from one and all) has really hit home to Robert and the rest of his organization. He made a huge mistake in signing the contract with Mayo that included being HC after Belichick. Of course, if he hadn't done this, Mayo would have been long gone (which would have gone unnoticed). Kraft made Mayo a co-DC with Steve while Steve did all the work. Apparently, this was a compromise with Bill.

Then Kraft had the audacity to actually honor the contract terms! Clearly, he should have bought out Mayo last year.

Finally, there was the terrible season and losing a huge amount buying out Mayo's contract his year.
========
The Kraft's thought that Bill would be able to stay for a couple of more year, and THEN Mayo might be more ready. Of course, being a co-DC in name only for a couple of more years wouldn't have helped make Mayo a better option at HC. In a sense, this was hopefully passing the situation on to Jonathan after Bill left.

 

[Ring 6]

With player contracts, Kraft is both...cheap and shrewd but I think most teams are.

Well cheap is relative so all teams can’t be.
Of course Kraft isn’t cheap compare to every day people.
The issue is how much he spends on players compared to the fans he is competing with.
If he spends the most he is a win at all cost guy, if he spends the least he is cheap. He has always been at the very cheap end of that scale.

 

[mgteich]

And charged $5 for Solo cups of tap water

On behalf of the team, Kraft apologizes for forcing you to buy water for $5 a cup, I guess that there should be signs indicating that you are not forced to buy anything.

 

[mgteich]

And charged $5 for Solo cups of tap water

NFL Teams with the Highest and Lowest Concession Prices

There is nothing like spending the afternoon at a stadium full of fans watching your favorite team battle with an opponent. This is doubly true during football games, which have a firm grasp on being the most popular sport in America. However, as fun as it is to attend these games, there is also...

247wallst.com

 

[borg]

On behalf of the team, Kraft apologizes for forcing you to buy water for $5 a cup, I guess that there should be signs indicating that you are not forced to buy anything.

Patriots Apologize for Charging Up to $5 for Tap Water During Texans Game

The New England Patriots charged fans $4.50 to $5 for tap water after running out of bottled water during Sunday's game against the Houston Texans , according to ESPN.com . "We apologize...

bleacherreport.com

 

[Betterthanmost]

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