For Robert Kraft, it’s the wurst of occasions.
The Patriots’ season is kaput.
And the staff is on the fritz.
Kraft traveled with the popularity of his NFL franchise throughout 12 time zones and seven,328 air miles this previous weekend to Germany solely to be humiliated on two continents because of NFL Network.
A showcase second for the Patriots at their new home-away-from-home in Frankfurt ended with a beginning QB on the bench, the coach on the clock, and the staff caught within the AFC basement.
Kraft has amassed unimaginable wealth.
He remodeled the Patriots from a laughingstock to the mannequin franchise in professional sports activities.
He has a big and loving household.
He has a phenomenal spouse who doubles as an ophthalmologist 33 years his junior.
He has earned everlasting gratitude throughout New England reserved for the likes of Paul Revere, John Adams, Alan Shepard, Robert Frost, John F. Kennedy, Bobby Orr, Ted Williams and Lenny Clarke.
His document as an NFL proprietor is unmatched throughout his 30 seasons with six Super Bowl trophies.
His stadium advanced on Route 1 is among the many most ostentatious within the NFL.
It consists of two motels, a industrial purchasing and eating venue, a video board seen from Neptune, and a lighthouse that embarrasses all the opposite lighthouses within the Bay State by its size, virility and girth.
He’s even added free parking.
Kraft has seen all of it.
What Kraft had not seen, or a minimum of needed to recall having seen, is his staff beginning 2-8.
Sunday, Kraft informed the NFL Network the Patriots had by no means gone 2-7 on his watch.
In 2000, the Patriots went each 2-7 and 2-8.
They’re 2-8 once more. New England stays the worst staff within the AFC and able to pounce on the Giants for the No. 2 total draft choose once they play the New York Giants after the break on Thanksgiving Day Weekend.
Loser will get Bill Belichick.
Maybe.
Robert Kraft has earned the suitable to spend the remainder of his days hanging with rock stars, Hollywood A-listers and pop icons. Not having to be involved about something NFL-wise aside from when the TV residual examine is auto-deposited. But he can’t get a go so long as he chooses to stay in charge of the staff.
We’re on the definition of “insanity” if the Patriots resolve to run it again once more subsequent season utilizing the identical personnel, similar mindset, and a continued give attention to protection and particular groups over offense.
Belichick as head coach; a employees stocked with cronies, holdovers, returnees, and progeny; a sub-par beginning quarterback; an overwhelmed offensive line; and receivers who couldn’t crack the Jets follow squad.
All on a budget.
After Tom Brady it hasn’t labored. it isn’t working. It received’t work.
Has Kraft lastly seen sufficient? Perhaps. The NFL Network cameras caught Kraft, dressed for an ascent of Mt. Everest, dejected and down after Mac Jones air-mailed a possible TD go to Hunter Henry with 12:47 left within the fourth quarter Sunday.
The Patriots settled for a subject objective.
This picture – little question you’ve seen it – ought to change Pat Patriot because the staff’s brand de guerre till the Patriots win one other playoff sport.
Maybe Kraft was trying down on a monitor. Maybe Kraft realized he has nothing left to show and wished he had simply headed to the islands for the weekend.
Kraft made it clear there was way more at stake Sunday than simply the Patriots’ grip on final place within the AFC East, or the staff’s draft place.
In 2023, Patriots followers must go to Germany to listen to straight from their staff’s proprietor. Kraft spoke to a gaggle of followers Saturday. Kraft has grown extra reclusive this season than ever earlier than. At least when it comes to coping with the media and public situated in North America.
Kraft informed the followers in Germany that getting a victory was “critical” and “means so much to us.”
Guess the primary 9 weeks of the season had been simply follow.
What higher instance of simply how far the Patriots have fallen does one have to see? Their proprietor needed to go to Germany as a way to assure himself a receptive viewers.
In that TV second on Sunday, humanity demanded kindness for Kraft. In the identical method we’d assist a wounded pet on the facet of the highway.
Patriots followers wrestled with dueling feelings of empathy for his or her staff’s cherished steward, and frustration/anger over simply how terribly issues have progressed since Kraft’s “other” son went to Tampa Bay three years in the past.
Sympathy for “Mr. Kraft”?
It’s that dangerous.
Thanksgiving is every week from tomorrow. We’re not going to make any extra blame pies. Nor do you have to gobble up any extra turkey speak about what the Patriots will do when it comes to Belichick or Mac Jones. That drama shall be resolved with time.
The staff lastly lower ties to Jack Jones this week. Rosemary can’t win ‘em all. Instead of speculating on the drama inside the Kremlin on Route 1, you’re significantly better served betting the beneath, or fading the Patriots every week in opposition to the unfold.
You’d be 15-5 should you did each. That equals a revenue of $863.50 should you guess $100 a pop at -110.
One is left to ponder simply how a lot decrease this iteration of the Patriots can fall on the sphere, off the sphere, and within the eyes of the NFL.
How lengthy will it take Bill O’Brien self-immolate the subsequent time his QB fails to learn essentially the most elementary of schemes?
Can the Patriots out-suck the Giants, and even Carolina, for the No. 1 choose?
Does Taylor Swift return to “Foxy Foxboro” when the Chiefs come to city subsequent month?
Will anybody present up for the Jets sport on Jan. 7 in addition to Aaron Rodgers?
Maybe by then, the Patriots will bear in mind to have a participant again to subject punts.
Bill Speros (@RealOBF and @BillSperos on X) could be reached at [email protected]
Source: www.bostonherald.com