Kraft comments on Patriots are cheap storyline.

[mike_usagisan]

It worked very well when Brady was here on a below-market contract, veteran free-agents were willing to come and sign for a discount, and the rest of the League hadn't gotten around to using void years and pushing expense into the future relying on an ever-increasing cap.

But this last year? Not so much. What would the year have looked like if they had sprung for a better tackle and paid DHop the extra million he apparently wanted? We had among the worst OLs and receiving corps in the League. Could have been a very different story indeed with some moderately higher spending. Bill the GM got stuck in his old ways and it cost the team (and his job).

I'd argue (and have) that spending more on the available OTs wouldn't have been any better. That was something that needed to be drafted and wasn't.

While I won't disagree that a better WR would have gotten us further, I don't think we would have been a playoff team. That would have meant we would have spent future cap on a non-playoff team and had less available this year when we need to revamp the entire offense. If that's the way you would prefer the team to run, go ahead, but spending future cap does not guarantee winning. Otherwise the Saints would have more to show for their spending years.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

A new three-year window for cash spending begins this March. The Pats have to spend money on someone.

Absolutely agree! Ownership knows FA is around the corner after Sunday is a dead time in the NFL until March 15th. So this is subtile message for potential FAs I feel. However the positive I take is that Ownership knows they have to spend no more Bill to hide behind. They might even have to over pay a bit. However all that matters is we get some game changers in here. I'm pretty surprised they have already started re-upping guys they want around.

 

[Sam Bam Cunningham]

Amazingly Kraft admitted that Pats were cheap but he credited that to Bill always having the future in mind.
I suspect it was an organizational philosophy that both Kraft and Bill believed in

 

[Real fan 02]

A new three-year window for cash spending begins this March. The Pats have to spend money on someone.

Yes, and the fact they have public pressure from us the fan is even better. I can almost be rest assured that we will have far superior talent on this offense this off season. Re-sign Henry is a must.

Honestly I think MHJ is going to be our draft selection. Just my gut. So say MHJ., KB, pop Douglas and Pittman Jr. That is a nice WR corps.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Because a rookie QB with growing pains could mean we're spending a lot on a defense for a team not going anywhere? That said, if they follow your advice, I wouldn't hate a great defense-led team.

If they chose the right QB at #3 we would start winning again. That would be fun.

 

[Pape]

another felger & mazz talking point thats been around for awhile, that has gained traction ever since BB has been gone...

no longer have the coach the kick, might as well go after the owner

assholes

 

[upstater1]

Why do I have to know the conversations? Bill said the buck stopped with him. Kraft said the buck stopped with Bill.

Take everyone at face value, and then make analysis, which we have the benefit of with hindsight now. I don't think it's that difficult.

Do those 2 statements contradict the statement from Kraft that changes would be made regarding decisions on the draft. He didn't say what the changes were, but if it's Bill making the final decision, then don't blame us for saying nothing seems to have changed.

 

[borg]

Kraft is showing himself to be so thin-skinned and worried about the brand.

BoosterSeat Bob is in a tither about his brand....Robert Kraft.....and getting nominated for HOF enshrinement.

Lets not overlook the man is pulling a Tom vs Time and funding his very own documentary.

Reiss: Dead last in cash spending over the past 10 years.

Note: NEP tickets among highest priced in NFL yearly

Note 2.0: Made Brady play for incentives

Note 3.0: Charged $5 for cups of tap water

Hmmmmmm..................is a pattern emerging?

Love how he hides behind the "family" with each attempt to deflect from his cheapness

On the other hand, Bob did not cheap out on his giant phallic light house

 

[Rob0729]

Robert Kraft is worth $11 billion. I have a hard time thinking he said to Belichick that he couldn't have a million dollars more to keep Jakobi Meyers or make a competitive offer for DeAndre Hopkins.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Note 3.0: Charged $5 for cups of tap water

 

[Steve102]

Do those 2 statements contradict the statement from Kraft that changes would be made regarding decisions on the draft. He didn't say what the changes were, but if it's Bill making the final decision, then don't blame us for saying nothing seems to have changed.

Other than Bill's not here. Everything was filtered thru Bill, so final player selection and FA signings were all because Bill deemed it so. That is not to say that Bill did all the leg work. From my desk, players were evaluated based on a scoring system that Bill had in place. Now, it's Mayo's show, with Groh and Wolf. I think it's likely that they will have a different type of player they want. Things that Bill wanted, things he felt were important, may be down the list further under this new regime.

What I am saying is, yes, the same guys are there, but they do not have Bill's commandments, edicts, ideologues and guidelines that might have constrained who they picked or signed. I would think these guys will have their own player evaluation system that they want, and it may take pieces and parts of Bill's system, but it will certainly have their own take on what type of player is brought in.

It takes me back my first statement. Everything was filtered thru Bill. Bill's filter is no longer in place, and these people, who have experience, now are free to design their own system for roster building.

 

[Brewskies]

Kraft Denies Patriots' Cheap Spending: 'Not True!'

In the face of documented frugality, owner Robert Kraft attempts to assure fans that his New England Patriots have a big budget for the coming months.

www.si.com

This whole thing seems odd to me. The timing of the comment is SB week and all that. Why is he even commenting on it at all? Also, if we take him at his word, the comments about trying to bring in more expensive players but being shot down are pretty damn interesting.

Why is Bob Kraft trying to defend himself with words instead of facts? As you said, why bring this up during Superbowl week? Timing? I think he is trying to convince us that he is not cheap when he is. He spent to rebuild the Patriots but didn't spend to keep the team at the same level or improve the team after it became a Football dynasty. I wish I could draw a fish.

 

[archstanton543]

Why is Bob Kraft trying to defend himself with words instead of facts? As you said, why bring this up during Superbowl week? Timing? I think he is trying to convince us that he is not cheap when he is. He spent to rebuild the Patriots but didn't spend to keep the team at the same level or improve the team after it became a Football dynasty. I wish I could draw a fish.

He was asked a question and he answered it.

 

[Brewskies]

Because with Bill out of the door the local reporters and talking heads are increasingly directing the “cheap Patriots” narrative back onto Kraft whether it’s about not paying players or picking coaches who are being paid by other teams rather than going for a top candidate and opening up the checkbook.

He can prove one way or the other moving forward. Actions speak louder than words.

He would be only proving the present and the future from today.

 

[Brewskies]

He was asked a question and he answered it.

Where is the facts or proof that he hasn't been cheap in the past. Why not defend with proof?

 

[archstanton543]

Where is the facts or proof that he hasn't been cheap in the past. Why not defend with proof?

Kraft has said multiple times that if BB needed anything vis a vis money, he would give it to him. Kraft said BB had autonomy. BB said the buck stops with him.

I don't know what else to tell you.

 

[Brewskies]

Kraft has said multiple times that if BB needed anything vis a vis money, he would give it to him. Kraft said BB had autonomy. BB said the buck stops with him.

I don't know what else to tell you.

You believe Kraft. I do not. Why do the Patriots have so much Cap money available today? Was it because they didn't spend cash in the past? He knows the facts compared to other clubs, speak with facts vs. words.

 

[Brewskies]

The question is, and it was on talk radio all day yesterday, was it Bill being Frugal or Kraft not letting him spend? Most came down to blaming BB but like the other poster said, we'll know who it was in the next couple of years.

We will never know about the past.

 

[raduray]

Why do the Pats avoid spreading the cap hit? Because it decreases the cash up front. Since we have the most cap space in the NFL over the next three years, is it fair to say our owner saved more cash than the other 31 owners? It is not only a fair statement, it is a fact. RK is cheap. No way to dispute that.

Actually, there is a way to dispute that. Spending more now means borrowing from the future. Ultimately, cash spend and cap spend have to be equal over a period of years. I have yet to see a reasonable explanation of how Kraft can be cheap, over a period of years, given league requirements to spend to the cap.

 

[Brewskies]

Do you think that Bob Kraft threw Brady under the bus regarding "Deflatgate?"