The annual NFLPA Group Report Card was launched on Wednesday, and the New England Patriots have been once more crushed. A once-prominent NFL franchise has now fallen into the ranks of the league’s backside feeders. Not simply in goal success, however now within the eyes of their gamers. Again within the glory days of the Patriots, you’d by no means dare in any trend think about that issues like workforce journey, household care, amenities, and even possession would rank equal or typically decrease than the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, or Carolina Panthers. However within the 12 months 2025, that’s precisely what we’re watching.
The Patriots general have been ranked thirty first out of 32 groups on this NFLPA report card. The one workforce and proprietor ranked decrease was Michael Bidwell and the Arizona Cardinals. They noticed a dramatic improve in remedy of households going from F- to a C+ after providing gameday youngster take care of the primary time. In addition to hiring somebody to supervise household providers. However that was it, every thing else remained the identical or obtained worse, together with an F grade in workforce journey and weight room. For Air Kraft One, the workforce’s airplane. I’m for one appalled that the grade is so low. Seeing as how Robert Kraft loans that airplane out to everybody and makes use of it as a advertising and marketing software. However apparently, the airplane has no wifi and nonetheless has ashtrays within the seats.
However these issues don’t crawl up my you-know-what as a lot as one grade particularly. A D+ in possession. Robert Kraft was given a D+ for the way he’s impacted workforce tradition, his funding within the workforce, and his dedication to profitable. In response to his gamers, Kraft ranks within the backside 5 in these three classes.
Robert Kraft’s Dedication to Successful
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In dedication to profitable particularly, Kraft ranks simply decrease than Mike Brown (Bengals) and Jimmy Haslam (Browns). In the meantime simply above Woody Johnson (Jets) and David Tepper (Panthers). A six-time Tremendous Bowl champion proprietor is ranked among the many worst of the worst within the NFL. It’s embarrassing that Kraft is among the many likes of these do-nothing, lucky-sperm hacks who’re muddied in controversy and dangerous choices.
Issues like locker rooms, workforce journey, and weight rooms are all simply fixable. You write a test, gauge opinions, and make renovations. However what I simply listed is a significant concern. Simply six years in the past the Patriots have been coming off of their sixth Tremendous Bowl. In a run of 8 straight AFC Convention Championship appearances and three straight Tremendous Bowl appearances. With a file of 220-68 over the prior 17 seasons. Near twenty years of nothing wanting dominance. No one was questioning Kraft’s dedication to profitable. Now? They suppose Kraft is simply as dangerous as Arizona and Cleveland. Two groups who’ve a mixed 75-93 since 2020 and a complete of three playoff appearances with one win. The Patriots in that very same timeframe? 33-51, a playoff look, and a blowout loss to the Buffalo Payments.
This showcases a steep fall from grace for Robert Kraft. As soon as a pioneer in learn how to do NFL possession the proper manner. This workforce is now thought of second-rate by their gamers. And it’s not a straightforward repair like we established earlier. The workforce wants a violent shift in id. They’ve gone too lengthy chopping corners, taking the simple manner out, and simply accumulating the NFL cash whereas their workforce sputters and flails round. They’ve had only one Sunday Evening Soccer recreation within the final two years. They’ve additionally been flexed out of Monday Evening Soccer within the final two years. A once-great franchise has fallen sufferer to mismanagement and apathy.
Is Robert Kraft Really Second Charge?
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I for one, refuse to consider the Krafts are genuinely as dangerous or worse than the dregs of the NFL. I consider that they’re good, sound homeowners who’ve simply misplaced their manner. Have taken the simple manner out and refused to make robust calls within the wake of the Tom Brady-Invoice Belichick period of constructing life simple. Skirting proactive practices of different nice franchises for chopping corners and hoping for the perfect. The 2024-25 season showcased simply that. They thrust an unprepared and unqualified Jerod Mayo into probably the most tough place of changing Invoice Belichick as head coach. Not doing an exterior seek for their coaches or common supervisor and simply sticking with the identical previous Belichick agenda with out the creator of mentioned agenda. It’s apparent to see the place issues went fallacious, nevertheless it’s arduous to clarify why and learn how to get higher.
The hope is that final season was a splash of ice-cold water within the face of a once-great soccer chairman. Realizing what he’s develop into, how followers see him, and now what his gamers consider him. With the swift dismissal of Mayo and the even quicker rent of former participant and Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, issues actually are trying up. However the dedication to profitable doesn’t cease there. Kraft should break open the checkbook and significantly put money into his Patriots to as soon as once more rank among the many NFL’s finest. They haven’t executed so since Brady walked out that door. With a younger, promising quarterback in Drake Maye, they have to notice the chance they’ve and profit from it.
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