Don Van Natta and Adam Schefter of ESPN reported last night that Bob Kraft has been passed over for selection to the Hall of Fame again. This is getting a bit ridiculous.
The Pro Football writers that make up the nominating committee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and getting very petty. They don’t like Robert Kraft because of perceived cheating scandals (Spygate and Deflategate) and they are extracting their retribution as the guardians of the gate to the Hall of Fame. The real reason they don’t like Kraft is that his franchise was too successful. They also don’t like the lobbying effort that Kraft has been conducting to get into the Hall before he dies, nor the hatchet job on Bill Belichick that Kraft produced for the Dynasty book and 10-part Apple TV series.
There is no question that Kraft belongs in the Hall of Fame especially after the work he did in resolving the Player Strike in 2011. He was also instrumental as a member of the TV committee in generating more revenue for the Owners. That work may also be working against him by making more money for Owners at the expense of raising costs for the average fan. The writers generally don’t like the owners.
This group selected Ralph Hay as their owners’ nomination. He could be Ralph May (Comedian) or Colin Hay (Men At Work) for all anyone knows of him. Hay owned the Canton Bulldogs for four years after purchasing them in 1918. He is considered one of the co-founders of the NFL. It was intended as a slap in the face to Kraft and it is a sad joke.
If Jerry Jones and Edward DeBartolo are in the Hall of Fame why isn’t Kraft? Perhaps the writers feel that Kraft and his money got him a free pass for his indiscretion at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter Florida. They are now going to be Judge and Executioner by denying him the honor that he deserves. Perhaps the writers will one day nominate him for the highest honor in the league, but it will probably be after he is dead and gone, never getting the opportunity to enjoy it.
What does this type of vindictive behavior say about the upcoming eligibility of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. I think that Belichick and Brady will have that cheater moniker tied to their nomination too. This is so petty, denying 1st ballot Hall of Fame nominations for a player and coach that are the greatest of all time.
If this is the moral criteria why are others allowed in and Kraft denied? Why select an owner (Hay) that didn’t want to pay the players and got rid of his team ownership after just 4 years? This cheapens those who have been selected if the best are not allowed in.
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Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.
