TRANSCRIPT: Patriots Owner Robert Kraft at the Owner’s Meetings 3/26
(PHOTO: Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports) 🕑 Read Time: 6 minutes
Posted Under: Patriots Transcripts
(PHOTO: Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports) 🕑 Read Time: 6 minutes
New England Patriots > Patriots Blog
(PHOTO: Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports) Here’s the full transcript of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s meeting with the media on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.
On the fact Eliot Wolf will have the final say and what he’s seen so far that gives him the confidence that he’s the right person to have the final say in personnel:
“Well, the major decisions in life that I’ve made, I’ve gone with my instincts. Sometimes, people don’t agree, but I think Eliot [Wolf] has good training, good pedigree, and we actually have a good group of young people. I tell you, we’re starting new chapters in our development, and as we evolve here, I like the young people we have doing this. We were in an environment previously where everything really funneled to the top, and maybe some of the young people that have worked real hard didn’t get a chance to have their positions heard, or maybe didn’t speak up as much. I’ve encouraged them to be collaborative, and I think the combination of Jerod [Mayo] and Matt [Groh], together with Eliot, I’m actually excited with what I’ve seen. That also sort of ties in with how players have changed too, really, over the last 10, 15 years and how systems have changed. So I think they’re in tune, and I’m excited. I mean, some people call me an eternal optimist, so I don’t know how much you should take what I say, but I’m excited about what’s going on and the process. And they’re thorough. They’re very thorough. So I’m excited by what I’ve seen so far, and we’ll evaluate after the draft and see how that’s gone and decide where we go from there.”
On if he’d like to see a quarterback taken with the #3 pick:
“I guess, as a fan, I put my fan hat on, and I definitely would … you know, 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’ve owned the team and what happens, a lot of people behind are really desperate to move up. So we’re going to be open to whatever can come our way, but in the end, I’ll let the team make the decision what they think is best. One way or another, I’d like to see us get a top-rate young quarterback.”
On the fact he said he likes what he’s seen so far and that Patriots fans disagree due to the amount of cap space and the moves they’ve made so far and what he would say to those Patriots fans:
“I feel bad. I think we’ve actually made some improvements. I think we’re getting the system of functioning the way we did where this year, we signed a number of younger players that we had drafted or had been in our system. As a foundation, if you want to win consistently, you have to draft well and then get those players on the second contract. We started to do that this year. We pursued the people we wanted in free agency. There was one outstanding receiver that, unfortunately, we couldn’t close. It was not because of finance. I mean, clearly, his girlfriend wanted to be in the south, and we had a situation with the taxes, [they] were like almost 10% higher. We offered, and were willing to keep going to add that premium, but he didn’t want to be in the northeast. And part of it might be the quarterback situation as well.”
On what his expectations are, with having wanted to get to the playoffs and win a game, and if those expectations have changed due to the new coaching staff:
“My hope and expectations is to make the playoffs. That’s something, realistically … We have a new leadership team, we’re going to have a lot of young players we don’t know. You know, a lot can happen. We might struggle more than I want, but the good news, and when you’re running any business, you try to figure out what the key variables are, and then you try to put people in place that you think can react and adapt to what has to happen.”
“I really feel we have a good young team, and I just hope we don’t struggle. But in the end, everything is chit-chat until you get on the field, and X’s and O’s are where it’s at. Look, for me personally, after my family, the most important thing in my life is to win football games with the Patriots, and I’ll try to do everything I can in the background to make that happen. So, I say that to our fans, and I believe we’re going in the right direction. We’ve gone through a tough three, four years. At the same time, we were privileged to have the greatest coach in the 100-year history of the game. He did amazing things, combined with the quarterback we had for two decades, it’s a pretty high standard. But we’re happy we were able to put the pieces in place that allowed that to happen and flourish. Now, we have to get back so we’re competing in a range where we’re in a, hopefully, similar position.”
On the NFLPA survey and what they’re doing to improve those things:
“Well, I must tell you, I was unaware of how bad that was. We’ve had a plan we’ve put in place and we’re committing a whole new facility adjacent to ours that has been discussed with the young leadership team of a building that will be in excess of $50 million that’ll have the most modern facilities. Look, we have to correct anything … I was not aware, even of this daycare issue, I mean, that’s something that’s fixable, and we want to do. Look, the players are the heart and soul of the business, so I’d be very surprised if that didn’t improve. That was done in the fifth week of the season, I think.”
On how he balances patience and urgency, given that he has a team in place that has a big learning curve and he has to be patient, or he’ll be back at the top picking again in a couple years:
“No, [shakes his head]. Well, you know, that’s a function of, ‘Have we put the right people in place to make it happen?’ I’d like to think there will be a big improvement and that’s my hope. But we know we have to be patient. Everything is new. I think we have 20 new coaches, just to be able to integrate them into a system. I think Jerod has terrific people skills. I think Eliot and Matt have really good knowledge of our product and what has to be done. I told them, ‘Look, I don’t want to do splashy things just to get attention and get good headlines one day. I want us to do the things that are substantive and good for the short term and long term. I think, look, this will be my 31st season. We’ve never been drafting in the third position. I think back to coming in as an owner in ’94 and we were drafting 4th, and we got my 5th son, Willie McGinest, and he really kicked some butt and helped bring a certain attitude to the team, and we made the playoffs that first year. But who knows? But we have a chance to get really good personnel in this draft and another small thing, a position we’ve never been in, after the draft, people cut players when they fulfill their needs, some very good players sometimes. We’ve never been in a claiming position of #3. There’s a lot of little things that can happen. And also the way our coaching … there’s a new feeling in the coaching staff and everyone’s contributing. But in the end, what the bottom line is, how do we do on game day and wins and losses?”
On the fact Mac Jones was traded and if he feels the team is in a position to help a young quarterback going forward?
“Definitely. I think Alex Van Pelt has had great experience. I don’t think the last couple of years, how we handled the offense – speaking as a fan – was the kind of approach we wanted. But one way or another, we know at some point we’re going to get a young quarterback who will be gifted. Fortunately, there’s a number of them in this draft, and where we take that position will depend on what comes to us. But I hope our personnel people do a good job in that area and I really believe we have the coaching to support that.”
On the negative reaction to ‘The Dynasty’ Docuseries:
“Well, I loved the first three episodes, I really liked [them]. I felt bad that there was so much emphasis on the 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. You know, I felt bad, there were players who gave hours and hours of interviews and they felt only the negativity – people like Devin McCourty and Rodney Harrison, and Matthew [Slater] – although I just heard quietly that they’ve all felt that way. Actually, there were some really prominent people that were interviewed for hours and never were used. So, a little disappointed that there wasn’t more of a real positive approach, especially for Patriots fans who have lived the experience with us.”
On the fact fans feel that Bill Belichick was unfairly blamed for a lot of things and if he has any comments:
“I feel so privileged that we had Bill here and 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. We did this little ceremony at halftime of the Eagles game, but it was not adequate, and we looking forward to being able to celebrate putting him into the Patriots Hall of Fame 6-12-24, and I look forward to the privilege of putting Bill into the Patriots Hall of Fame one day in the future.”
Here’s the full video via the team’s YouTube channel:
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