PHOENIX — When it involves spending cash on the Patriots’ roster, Robert Kraft wished to make one factor completely clear Monday: Bill Belichick can spend nonetheless a lot he needs.
Back in January, Belichick talked about the Patriots had been one of many lowest-spending groups within the league over the previous three seasons when he was requested in regards to the group’s 2021 spending spree. At this stage, two weeks into free company, the Patriots rank within the backside 5 of money spending for 2023 and 2024, per Over The Cap. Those numbers have led to exterior criticism that Kraft is reluctant to spend.
Kraft, nonetheless, whole-heartedly disputed the notion to a small group of reporters on the NFL homeowners conferences.
“I’ve had the privilege of having Bill as a coach for 24 years. He’s never come to me, and not gotten everything he wanted from cash spending. We have never set limits,” Kraft mentioned.
“You give it some thought: we’re the one group in America who constructed a stadium a hundred percent non-public. No public cash. We’re even reimbursing for the infrastructure bonds that had been taken out. And we now have no private seat licenses. So we’ve dedicated large capital simply to the stadium.
“But the team is more important to me. We have never had a situation where we didn’t commit the cash capital needed. I don’t know how that got started, but Bill in 24 years has never come to me, and not gotten every dollar he’s wanted.”
Kraft prompt Belichick’s remarks had been taken out of context as a result of the Patriots spend to the cap yearly. Of course, in 2021, the Pats spent an uncharacteristic $232 million — a lot of it assured — to get again to their profitable methods. They reached the playoffs that season, however there have been a number of busts within the combine of huge contracts, most notably Jonnu Smith and Nelson Agholor.
Kraft mentioned he didn’t know if it was price it to spend what they did that yr, “but I’m willing to do it if we’re going to win.”
“This is a project of passion, and we want to win,” Kraft added. “Money-spending will never be the issue. I promise you. Or I’ll sell the team.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com