For the first time since ... well ... a long time, a high-ranking member of the Patriots organization stood in front of the media and gave an honest assessment about where the franchise stands after going 9-13 in its last 20 games, including 7-9 in 2020 for the first losing season in 21 years.
That person wasn't thrilled and took ownership. He admitted the team's personnel had fallen off, specifically in the draft, but there was a good plan to turn that around. He didn't like having to spend more than ever in free agency — a sure sign a team is not in a good place — and isn't sure it will work, but we'll all be able to judge it at the end of the day.
No, it wasn't Bill Belichick, who spent most of the last year deflecting pointed questions about the slow downward trajectory of this roster, especially at the quarterback position.
It was Robert Kraft.
If you wondered how he felt watching the decline of his prized possession from Super Bowl champions with Tom Brady at quarterback, to 7-9 and Cam Newton and no apparent plan at QB, you got your answer.
With refreshing honesty, Kraft made it clear that no one at One Patriot Place is resting on their laurels: six Super Bowl titles and hundreds of victories. No one is saying finishing behind the Bills and Dolphins in the AFC East was just one bad season and they're above criticism. No, Kraft made it quite clear that what happened and how it happened is unacceptable and they are intent on making sure it was just a one-year anomaly.
"How did I feel? Well, I’m not going to use the word but it was horrible," Kraft replied after I asked him what he thought of last season and what assurances he's gotten it won't happen again. "After my family, the Patriots are the most important thing in my life. ... It’s like I said when I bought the team – our family is the custodian of a public asset. The bottom line here is winning. That’s what this business is and when we don’t, it’s not a good feeling. ... The bottom line is we want to win and when we don’t, we’re not happy."
With the state of the Patriots' roster, the team had no choice but to spend its way out of a personnel hole like never before, to the tune of $165 million in contract guarantees. Kraft knows this isn't the preferred route to sustainability, something the team prides itself in and should given its sterling record over the previous 20 years.
"What happened here last year was not something to our liking," he said. "We had to make the corrections. In all businesses we’re involved in, we try to take advantage of inefficiencies in the market – in the paper business and anything. We were in a unique cap situation this coming year going forward and it allowed us to try things. We missed, to a certain extent in the draft, so this was our best opportunity.
"I really hope (the spending) makes a difference. I’m really excited about this upcoming season."
Kraft admitted the lack of success in recent drafts set the stage for the spending spree, but he's encouraged Belichick and his staff have made the necessary corrections.
"In the end, if you want to have a good, consistent, winning football team, you can’t do it in free agency," Kraft said. "You have to do it through the draft because that’s when you’re able to get people of great talent, whether it’s Willie McGinest or Tom Brady, you get them at a price where you can build the team and be competitive.
"Really, the teams who draft well are the ones who will be consistently good. I don’t feel like we’ve done the greatest job the last few years and I really hope and believe I’ve seen a different approach this year."
That would be refreshing with 10 picks in the upcoming draft, and no apparent successor at quarterback with Cam Newton and Jarrett Stidham on the roster, although Kraft certainly was complimentary of both.
"I think in fairness to Cam, I’m not sure he had the proper weapons around him last year and then he got COVID. There were a lot of things that happened," Kraft said. "I don’t know that Jarrett has ever really gotten a fair shot, so we have to wait and see what happens and we still have the draft. There are a lot of things that can occur.
"Cam is a terrific guy. I really enjoyed getting to know him last year. I’ll tell you this – players on the team and in the locker room really love the guy. In the end, I trust coach Belichick’s ability to build a team and put the right players in the best position to succeed. Over the last couple decades, he’s done OK. I’m privileged to have good managers anywhere in the world – we’re in over 100 countries. We give those people autonomy and we let them do their thing."
Still, finding the next franchise quarterback seemed very much to be at the forefront of Kraft's mind.
"Look, the quarterback is the most important position on the team. We know that," Kraft said. "He touches the ball over 70 times [per game], so one way or another we have to get that position solidified.
The bottom line is, after opening his wallet wider than ever before to compensate for the team's personnel slide, Kraft expects a quick rebound.
"I expect to be a contender every year," he said. "That’s my objective. Last year was very disappointing and I really do believe that Cam getting COVID and what it did to the team, it changed a lot when we were in a good place. Now we’ll have a chance to see."
(Bedard's take on his QB comments: I think Kraft was just playing the good soldier with the QBs on the roster. He certainly likes both of them, and he should. But I don't think Belichick's QB thoughts are being shared with everyone.)
Other tidbits from Kraft:
- Kraft has no regrets about allowing Brady to choose his own path, which included winning a Super Bowl title with Tampa. "I’ll make this commitment to any player in the future. Anyone who spends 20 years with us and helps us win six Super Bowls… look, we could have, contract-wise, kept him in our camp, but it’s just not the right thing. Naturally, we want to win, but who knows what would have happened if he stayed here. Look what happened at the end of his last season here. ... Look, I love Tom Brady and he’s great, but he’s moved on."
- Didn't sound like a contract extension for Stephon Gilmore was imminent. "We’re lucky to have Stephon Gilmore. He’s a tremendous player for us, a great person. ... He’s under contract with us. We’ll see what happens." Kraft, is they are trying to get on the same page with a player, normally says something about how both sides need to make it work.