If Richard Seymour’s dream situation had come true, Robert Kraft would have been heading to Canton, Ohio with him this week as a fellow entrant into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“How awesome would it have been if we were going in together?” stated Seymour, who will likely be formally enshrined on Saturday.
As it seems, Seymour’s Hall fantasy may show to be a yr off, as Kraft discovered Wednesday he was one of many dozen finalists within the coach/contributor class for the 2023 class.
The Patriots proprietor and CEO is in a bunch that additionally contains Super Bowl-winning coaches Mike Shanahan and Mike Holmgren, different teaching greats Dan Reeves, Don Coryell, John Wooten, Buddy Parker and Clark Shaughnessy, together with contributors Roone Arlege, Art Modell, Art Rooney Jr., and Frank “Bucko” Kilroy.
Seymour, who had a little bit of a wait earlier than he lastly bought the nod, sounded just like the president of Kraft’s fan membership when it got here to pushing the Patriot proprietor’s candidacy.
“I think what he’s meant to the game, and how he’s advanced the game with labor peace, with TV deals, and being a visionary in New England in what’s become a global brand, it’s really unmatched,” stated Seymour, when reached final week.
Looking at Kraft’s document in that regard, it’s laborious to argue.
After shopping for the struggling franchise at a time when a transfer to St. Louis was very a lot a risk, Kraft not solely stored the staff in New England however he has presided over the best dynasty in NFL historical past.
During his 28-year-run because the staff’s proprietor, the Patriots have gained six Lombardi Trophies, 10 Super Bowl appearances, to not point out the very best profitable proportion in all {of professional} sports activities.
“It’s a prestigious honor. He’s in the room with a lot of worthy people,” stated Seymour. “A lot of people have waited that are deserving. But he’s meant so much to the game. I’ll say this, he has the ultimate downfield vision. If you put it in terms of a quarterback, he’s not a check-down guy. He has the mindset to see the entire field, and that’s how he’s operated as the owner of the Patriots.”
Three years in the past, on the 25-year anniversary of Kraft’s possession, Drew Bledsoe, the primary general choose within the 1993 draft, in contrast and contrasted life in Foxboro earlier than and after Kraft bought the staff.
“We were kind of a laughingstock, to be honest with you,” Bledsoe informed the Herald. “I don’t know if folks bear in mind, flashing again to ‘93-94, but to practice football, we’d placed on our pads, and drive to the Wrentham State School. Then we’d get all soiled, get again in our personal automobiles, and drive again to this terrible locker room.
“There wasn’t any hot water in the place. You go into the training room to get treatment, and if the weather was bad, it’d be raining in the training room,” Bledsoe went on. “It was actually the very backside of the NFL in each manner earlier than RKK purchased the staff. And now, it’s the gold commonplace for skilled sports activities, at the least in America.
“So to go from worst to first, it’s really pretty amazing, under his guidance. To watch it, and to in some way be a part of it, was pretty amazing.”
Hall of Famer Ty Law, reached final week, additionally hit on the transformation of the property, with Gillette Stadium being constructed, together with Patriot Place. Those are a part of Kraft’s legacy and one among many causes the Patriots proprietor ought to achieve entry.
Law additionally cited Kraft’s contributions to the sport, brokering labor peace between the gamers and homeowners through the 2011 work stoppage, to not point out being instrumental in touchdown landmark TV offers. By these measures, it will appear Kraft is a slam dunk.
Only, he’s nonetheless ready.
“It shouldn’t be a question. He should already be in. It’s an injustice for him not to be in the Hall of Fame because of what he means to the game, period,” stated Law. “Not just the New England Patriots. He’s done so much for the game and helping our sport grow to what it is today.”
Perhaps Kraft’s shrewdest in-house transfer was making a “trade” with the Jets to carry Bill Belichick aboard in 2000 to be the top coach the Patriots, changing Pete Carroll. Kraft agreed to ship his 2000 first-round draft choose (sixteenth general), a 4th-round choose, and Seventh-round choose in alternate for the person now thought-about one of many best head coaches – if not the best – of all time.
Given all the aforementioned accolades, Patriots Hall of Famer Rodney Harrison additionally couldn’t fathom why Kraft wasn’t in already.
“It’s been too long. He definitely deserves to be there,” stated Harrison when reached Thursday. “Mr. Kraft, simply among the legendary strikes he’s made, particularly hiring Bill (Belichick), he’s greater than worthy.
“And I’ve met a lot of owners that don’t have the personal touch he has, just the humility, and communication talking with his players, ‘How’s your wife, how’s your family?’ Just those little things that made him special as a person you work for.”
Fair or not, Spygate (2007) and Deflategate (2014), the place Kraft and the staff have been sanctioned by the league for breaking the principles, might have stalled his choice so far. It’s laborious to say if that’s the trigger, however this marks the primary time he’s made it as a finalist. In any case, it’s laborious imagining him not getting in sooner or later.
His resume is just too good to disregard.
He additionally has loads of supporters throughout the league rooting for him to get in, together with these nearer to dwelling.
“He’s all about relationships and cultivating them the right way,” stated Seymour. “He’s been a dear friend and a mentor for me, somebody that I still take advice from, and I call when I have some thoughts about what’s next in my career. He’s always been a great sounding board for me. I’m sure he’ll be overwhelmed by the honor (if it happens).”
Members of the coach/contributor committee will meet nearly Aug. 23 to pick one coach or contributor for remaining consideration for the Class of 2023. If Kraft advances, then the Hall of Fame Selection Committee will resolve if he’s finally worthy.
Said Harrison: “He deserves it. They need to go ahead and honor him with that.”
Seymour prepping for giant day
Speaking of Seymour, he’ll be in Canton all week for the leadup to his induction ceremony on Saturday.
“I’ve got a lot of friends, family and teammates coming,” he stated. “We’ll certainly enjoy our time.”
Seymour stated so many ideas swirled round in his head as he was getting ready his speech.
“You think about the journey, the sacrifices that so many other people made (for you) and you get to share this moment with them. That’s what I’m focused on,” he stated. “I really feel honored, reassured, validated, and embraced by so many. Just the humility and the gratitude that I really feel proper now.
“It’s a tremendous honor to stand alongside so many greats,” he went on. “And honestly, words will never really fully convey my gratitude to what the game has done for me. And, it’s an opportunity for me to share my story with so many people.”
Danny ‘Playoff’ Amendola
Former Patriots receiver Danny Amendola introduced his retirement final week, and naturally, it triggered so many recollections of him delivering in large video games.
That’s why Rob Gronkowski gave him the nickname “Danny “Playoff” Amendola.
Amendola gained two Super Bowl rings with the Pats, and was a outstanding contributor in each titles. As it stands, the wideout is third on the Patriots all-time checklist when it comes to postseason landing receptions. Gronkowski is first with 12, then David Givens with seven, and Amendola six.
Here’s what Belichick stated about him after he caught the profitable landing, because the Pats got here again from a 10-point deficit to defeat the Jaguars of their 2018 AFC Championship recreation.
“When you look up ‘good football player’ in the dictionary, (Amendola’s) picture is right beside it,” Belichick stated. “It doesn’t matter what it is, fielding punts, third downs, big play, red area, onside kick recovery. He’s just a tremendous football player, very instinctive and tough.”
Tom & Julio
Julio Jones virtually spoiled the best comeback in Super Bowl historical past – to not point out one among Tom Brady’s most interesting hours – when he made an unbelievable leaping catch on the sideline on a cross from Matt Ryan, deep in Patriots territory, establishing, on the very least, a brief area objective.
The Falcons, nonetheless, didn’t rating on that sequence, with the protection driving Ryan & Company out of vary, permitting for Brady and the Patriots to finish a shocking comeback from 28-3 to seize Super Bowl LI.
Last week, a now 33-year-old Jones, who had been with the Titans, joined Brady in Tampa Bay, signing a one-year free agent deal to play with the legend. The 2020 Super Bowl champs couldn’t be happier.
“We’ve got probably the best receivers room in NFL history,” stated receiver Scotty Miller, by way of the Tampa Bay Times. “Last yr, we had some actually good guys, too, so it’s fairly cool to be round greatness. And now you’ve bought to discover a technique to get a roster spot and earn your manner and also you’ve bought to like the competitiveness.
“I think we’ve got 12 receivers on the roster right now and everybody’s legit.”
Bills searching for extra YAC
Hard to consider, however Patriots receivers had the Bills receivers beat in a single offense class final yr – yards after catch.
The Bills may need what’s thought-about an explosive offense, however they haven’t fairly conquered the YAC class.
They completed twentieth within the league in that class with 1,757 yards after catch, whereas the Pats have been thirteenth (1,973).
Both have been a far cry from Kansas City, the highest YAC staff with 2,700 yards.
Josh Allen shouldered among the duty for the Bills not being increased on that YAC totem ballot.
“I think that’s a quarterback stat, so I’ve got to do better with that in terms of ball placement,” Allen stated throughout his media availability final week. “Making sure I’m on time, making the right reads and giving our guys good enough balls to get some more YAC.”
Tua doesn’t hear the noise
Tua Tagovailoa says he’s ignoring the noise. The Dolphins quarterback is in Year 3, has a a lot improved supporting solid round him, and a brand new offensive-minded head coach, so the strain is on him to provide.
Last week, Tagovailoa was requested about having a legion of detractors within the media.
“I don’t know any of those guys,” Tagovailoa stated Wednesday. “If that’s what they should say, then good for them. … They draw folks for clickbait or I don’t know, no matter that’s.
“If I can’t hear you, you’re not that important to me. If you’re in my circle and I can hear you, what you’re saying, obviously you’ve got to be extremely important to me. So, if I can’t hear it, then it’s probably not important.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com