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For the first time in decades, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has given the reins of the offseason to someone other than Bill Belichick. But while he seems happy to have some new blood running the team, he still has some reservations over one way to approach the offseason.
Speaking to reporters this week, Kraft addressed the team’s failed efforts to bring star wide receiver Calvin Ridley into the fold. Kraft made it clear that he doesn’t want the team to do “splashy things” for the sake of attention, but clear moves that help the team in both the short-term and long-term.
“Well, you know that’s a function of, ‘Have we put the right people in place to make it happen?’ I’d like to think there will be a big improvement next year,” Kraft said, via NESN. “That’s my hope. But we know we have to be patient. Everything is new. I think we have 20 new coaches. Just to be able to integrate them into a system. I think Jerod has terrific people skills. And I think Eliot and Matt (Groh) have really good knowledge of our product and what has to be done. I’ve told them, ‘Look, I don’t want to do splashy things just to get attention and get good headlines one day.’ I want us to do the things that are substantive for the short-term and long-term. I think, look, this will be my 31st season. We’ve never been drafting in the third position.
“I hope it will be similar; I think back to coming in as an owner in ’94 and we were drafting fourth, and we got my fifth son, Willie McGinest. He really kicked some butt and helped bring a certain attitude to the team and we made the playoffs that first year. But who knows? But we have a chance to get really good personnel in this draft, and another small thing, a position we’ve never been in: After the draft, people cut players when they fulfill their needs. Some very good players sometimes. We’ve never been in a claiming position of No. 3. There are a lot of little things that can happen. And also, the way our coaching, there is a new feeling in the coaching staff and everyone is contributing. But in the end, what the bottom line is, how do we do game day? Wins and losses.”
While on one hand that seems like a reasonable stance to take, there are times where you have to outbid other teams for the players you want. With every team the process should be, evaluate their fit first and then allocate resources appropriately.
Granted, this is a new regime with a new head coach in Jerod Mayo who has only five years of experience as an NFL assistant, so there’s no telling how prepared he is for the rigors of coaching an entire team.
But having a clear vision in place is certainly a good start that will help get the ball rolling.