Robert Kraft discusses Tom Brady deal: "We're going to spend to the cap."
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has been on Peter King's Monday Morning QB discussing how the deal to keep Tom Brady a Patriot for life. And Kraft proved the Patriots aren't as cold hearted as they appear when it comes to sentimentality. (Read the whole article here.)
Which is good to hear. Kraft is a Patriots fan first and foremost, so it's good to hear him talk like this. There have been many examples of the Patriots getting rid of guys without any sentiment, but this is different, and the last thing Pats fans want to see is Brady playing somewhere else.
The big thing here is that they're going to use the money. We don't know whether that's this year or next, but the Patriots are very much in win now mode. It certainly seems like the team has created a 5 year window to get themselves another Lombardi. Also, the rumors that part of this dealing meaning Wes Welker has to be signed is rubbish, which we all probably assumed.
I love the mentality. We've got Brady for five years before we head into the unknown, so let's get some cash, give Brady and the defense the tools they need to win, and go win. As Kraft says, we don't know what's going to happen in the next five years. But while we've got this great QB, and a great Head Coach, let's do all we can to get them the rings they deserve without ruining the teams future without them. The deal is great for Brady (he isn't losing much cash), and great for the Patriots, and it shows they care about more than themselves, and are ready for more success.
Check me out on Twitter @BrendanAnnely
‘’I just didn't want to ever see this become like Joe Montana leaving San Francisco, Emmitt Smith leaving Dallas, Brett Favre leaving Green Bay, Peyton Manning leaving Indianapolis,’’ Kraft told King. ‘’If Tom Brady played out this current contract and left us, there was no doubt in my mind that someone out there would pay him top dollar, and they should, for his ability, his leadership and his unselfishness."I was just trying to stay ahead of the curve. If we were going to have to pay him elite-quarterback money and have elite-quarterback cap numbers, I just didn't think we would be able to build a team. We don't want to have a team where we're paying 18 to 20 percent to a player on the cap. I wanted to do something elegant that would work for everybody. I had been talking to him off and on for maybe 18 months, about how I wanted him to finish his career here, and about how we both have to be smart about it. I just really want him to end his career a Patriot.''
Which is good to hear. Kraft is a Patriots fan first and foremost, so it's good to hear him talk like this. There have been many examples of the Patriots getting rid of guys without any sentiment, but this is different, and the last thing Pats fans want to see is Brady playing somewhere else.
“I am glad we are able to take negotiations out of this relationship for the next five years. Look, I don't know what's going to happen in the next five years. No one can know,'' he said. ''But this move, strategically, helps us be in a position to win. We're going to spend to the cap. Tom knows that it's not like whatever we don't pay him we're putting in the Kraft family pocket. He gets it, and now he's rooting for us to make the right decisions in building the team. By the way, I have heard that it's been reported Tom made demands about who he wanted us to sign. Absolutely not. It never happened.
"I credit Tom for doing the right thing and thinking outside the box. That's what we're trying to do as an organization, and certainly what Bill Belichick tries to do as a coach. If you don't have a good coach and a quarterback, you don't have much of a chance to win. We are fortunate that we have both who are way above par. Tom is everything that we want.’’
The big thing here is that they're going to use the money. We don't know whether that's this year or next, but the Patriots are very much in win now mode. It certainly seems like the team has created a 5 year window to get themselves another Lombardi. Also, the rumors that part of this dealing meaning Wes Welker has to be signed is rubbish, which we all probably assumed.I love the mentality. We've got Brady for five years before we head into the unknown, so let's get some cash, give Brady and the defense the tools they need to win, and go win. As Kraft says, we don't know what's going to happen in the next five years. But while we've got this great QB, and a great Head Coach, let's do all we can to get them the rings they deserve without ruining the teams future without them. The deal is great for Brady (he isn't losing much cash), and great for the Patriots, and it shows they care about more than themselves, and are ready for more success.
Check me out on Twitter @BrendanAnnely
