ORLANDO — We got about 16 minutes with Robert Kraft this morning at the NFL meeting. He was asked about Eliot Wolf, the lack of spending this offseason, his expectations this season, supporting a young quarterback, the NFLPA survey and the negative reaction to The Dynasty.
You mentioned that it will get someone to have final say, on personnel in time. We've since learned that Eliot will have the final say. What do you see in Eliot, that gives you the confidence that he's the right person to have the final say in the personnel?
Well, the major decisions in life that I've made, I've gone with my instincts, and sometimes people don't agree. But I think Eliot has good training, good pedigree. And we actually have a good group of young people. I'll tell you, we're starting new chapters in our development and as we evolve here. I like the young people that we have doing this. You know, 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, or, or maybe didn't speak up as much. I've encouraged them to be collaborative, and I think the combination of Jerod and Matt together with Eliot, I'm actually excited about what I've seen. And, you know, that also sort of ties in with how players have changed too really over the last 10-15 years, 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 really ... I'm excited by what's going on in the process and they're thorough, they're very thorough. So I'm excited about 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.
Speaking of the draft, there are three quarterbacks regarded as the best within that range. Would you like to see a quarterback selected with the number three pick?
You know, I guess, as a fan, and 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. 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 gonna be open to whatever can come our way. But in the end, I'll let the team make the decision on what they think is best. One way or another, I'd like to see us get a top rate young quarterback.
You say that you're excited about what's going on. A lot of Patriots fans would disagree with that, given the cap space that you guys have had, the lack of improvements through personnel. They don't see much reason to be optimistic about the season. What would you say to those Patriots fans?
I feel bad ... I think we've actually made some improvements where I think we're getting this system of functioning the way we did where this year, we signed a number of younger players that we had drafted or 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 and we started to do that this year. We pursued the people we wanted and free agency. There was one outstanding receiver that unfortunately, we couldn't close. It was not because of finance. It was made clearly his girlfriend wanted to be in the south and we had a situation where the taxes were like, almost 10% higher and we offered or were willing to keep going to add that premium. But he didn't want to be in the Northeast. And part of that might be the quarterback situation as well.
What are your expectations? I mean, in the last couple of years, you've told us you not want not only wanted to make the playoffs but win a game, since you haven't won a playoff game in quite a while. Have those expectations changed? Because you have a new coach, your coaching staff?
Well, my hope and expectation is to make the playoffs. That's something ... Realistically, we have a new leadership team, we're gonna 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 is, when you're running any businesses, you try to figure out what the key variables are. And then you've tried 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 chitchat until you get on the field. You know, 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 tried to do whatever I can, in the background, trying to make that happen. So I say that to our fans and hope ... I believe we're going in the right direction, we've gone through tough, three years, three, four years. At the same time, you know, we were privileged to have the greatest coach in the 100-year history of the game. He did amazing things and, you know, 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. And now we have to get back so we're competing in a range, we're in a similar, hopefully position.
NFLPA player survey, the last two years has not really spoken kindly, hasn't reviewed the Patriots kindly. I think a lot of people are wondering what kind of efforts are being made to make it a better place for the players to work and to attract free agents and those sorts of things?
I must tell you, I was unaware of how bad that was. We've had a plan and we put in place, we're committing a whole new facility adjacent to ours that has been discussed with the young leadership team. A building that will be in excess of $50 million that will have the facilities. And we have to correct anything, I was not aware of this daycare issue. I mean, that's something that's fixable, and we want to do. Look, players out of 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.
Robert, how do you balance, patience, and urgency? I mean, it's been a few years since the team has experienced the kind of success you guys were accustomed to. But now that you have a team in place that has a big learning curve, you're gonna have to be patient, or you're gonna be back here at the top of the draft a couple of years. How do you balance that?
Well, you know, that's a functional (inaudible) that we put the right people in place to make it happen. I'd like to think there will be a big improvement next year, and that's my hope. But we know we have to be patient. Everything is new. I mean, I think we have 20 new coaches, just to be able to integrate them into a system. I think Jerod has terrific people skills and I think Eliot and Matt have really good knowledge of our product and what has to be done. I've 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. And I think, look, this will my 31st season, we've never been drafting in the third position. I hope it will be similar, I think back to coming in as an owner in 94 and we were drafting 4th and we got my fifth son, Willie McGinest and he really kicked some butt and help bring a certain attitude to the team. 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, position we've ever been in, after the draft, people cut players when they fulfill their needs and some very good player sometimes (becoming available), we've ever been in the claiming position of number three. There's a lot of little things that can happen and 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 gameday and wins and losses?
Mac Jones was traded this offseason, what you saw with him over the last few years, do you think the team is in a better position now to help a young quarterback going forward with you know, the offensive coaches?
Definitely. 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, it wasn't the approach we wanted. But one way or another, we know at some point, we're gonna get a young quarterback who will be gifted. Fortunately, there's a number of them in this draft. And you know 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.
Negative reaction to The Dynasty docu series. What is your reaction to that?
Well, I loved the first three episodes, I really liked ... I felt bad that there was so much emphasis on the more controversial and let's say challenging situations over the last 20 years. I wish they had focus more on our Super Bowl wins, 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 although I did understand quietly they've all felt that way. And actually there were some really prominent people that were interviewed for hours and never were used so, little disappointed that there wasn't more of a real positive approach especially for Patriot fans who have lived the experience with us.
Robert, one quick follow up on that ... specific to Bill Belichick in the dynasty, a lot of fans feel like he was unfairly maligned and blamed for a lot of things. Just specific to Bill, do you have any comment?
Look, I'll state this clear. I feel so privileged that we had Bill here. And, you know, 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 look forward to being able to celebrate putting him into the Patriots Hall of Fame 6/12/24 and, you know, I look forward to the privilege of putting Bill into the Patriots Hall of Fame one day in the future.
