Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes / AP
One of the worst-kept secrets around the NFL is how many top free agents, especially receivers, view New England as an undesirable destination.
This has made the Patriots’ rebuilding efforts much more challenging and prolonged than many fans anticipated.
Why is New England considered one of the worst destinations to land? The first and most obvious reason is the team’s horrible performance over the past five years.
The second glaring reason is how cold the New England winters get. Welp, there’s nothing you can do about that one. But there has to be something else… right?
Just last off-season, for example, the wretched Chicago Bears were able to sign Keenan Allen and D’Andre Swift before they even officially drafted quarterback Caleb Williams.
So why do offensive free agents keep steering clear of New England, even with a promising young quarterback and a fresh head coach in place?
My answer: Ownership.
Robert Kraft has undeniably been one of the most successful franchise owners in not just NFL history, but in the history of professional sports.
However, with the horrendous drop in performance since the departure of Tom Brady, Kraft’s ownership ‘report card’ has not been one to hang on the refrigerator.
Speaking of report cards — the NFL Players Association yearly report cards have painted a very clear picture of what players from around the league really thinking about Kraft and his team.
The New England Patriots, who once ruled over the NFL for two decades, have embarrassingly ranked 31st out of 32 teams in their overall report card grade for 2024.
The Patriots received F grades for their team weight room facilities and travel accommodations. Their highest grades on the report card were B’s for their strength coaches and nutritionists.
The best (worst) part of it all? Ownership received a D on the report card, ranking 29th out of 32 teams.
According to the report card, “Robert Kraft’s average rating for perceived willingness to invest in the facilities is 6.15 out of 10 from the Patriots players, a ranking of 28 out of 32 owners in the league.”
I’m sure I speak for ALL Patriots fans when I say that this is absolutely unacceptable and completely humiliating.
This report card, and other ones like it from previous years, suggest that some of the money The Kraft Group has dumped into its mediocre outdoor mall should have gone into improving the facility conditions of their players.
Could you imagine how players felt when they found out that MILLIONS of dollars were being invested into building a lighthouse in the north endzone instead of improving their team weight room?
Then there’s last year’s Jerod Mayo mess, which left players and coaches scratching their heads. Privately naming Mayo as Belichick’s heir years in advance, only to watch his first season spiral immediately, felt more like a Carolina Panthers move than something out of Foxborough.
Here’s the silver lining: Kraft has another chance to prove himself this year.
Kraft’s press conference after announcing the Mayo firing sparked hope in the fanbase. He clearly seemed committed to turning this franchise around as soon as possible.
“This whole situation is on me,” Kraft said to the press.
On top of that, Kraft and the Patriots have lucked out in signing well-respected and proven head coach Mike Vrabel, as well as having Drake Maye fall into their laps with the 3rd overall pick.
But with a rehabbing Stefon Diggs as seemingly the only big free agency move left for them to possibly make, the Patriots MUST draft well this April.
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