Robert Kraft speaks in depth about Patriots’ cash spending
Over the previous few years the New England Patriots have been criticized for their spending – or lack thereof – when it comes to their roster. The data shows that criticism is warranted. According to ESPN the Patriots rank dead last in the NFL in cash spending over the last 10 years, including ranking 30th last year with a $188 million payroll.
On Thursday night, Patriots owner Robert Kraft addressed a collection of local reporters at the Super Bowl, and spoke on the matter of the team’s spending – both looking back and looking forwards.
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“I know there’s a perception that we have held back on spending,” Kraft said, via NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry. “Let me just say, for our fans, that’s just not true. Look, we were blessed to have a coach in our system who was a great coach and also understood value. He ran a tight ship.”
As he continued on the topic Kraft continued to mention coaching. “They say we’ve been low spenders in the last 10 years, and that might be true,” Kraft added, turning his attention towards the Bill Belichick era. “But we had a pretty good record. And we won three Super Bowls. But our coaches have always had the ability to spend at whatever level they wanted. I think Bill was always thinking about the future and really understood value. But we never held back with any of the coaches we’ve had over the last 30 years.”
Kraft spoke further about ownerships lack of involvement in the team’s low spending, and even suggested he attempted to intervene to get Belichick to sign higher-paid players. “I can assure our fans that spending will never be held back or the reason that we don’t sign players,” he said. “I’ve actually tried to get us to sign players who maybe would’ve cost more but wouldn’t have been the right players or value. So, we always leave that to the people we assign the responsibility to.”
![FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 11: Owner Robert Kraft (L) speaks to the media as head coach Bill Belichick (R) of the New England Patriots looks on during a press conference at Gillette Stadium on January 11, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Belichick announced he is stepping down as head coach after 24 seasons with the team. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)](https://985thesportshub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2024/01/GettyImages-1925232961.jpg)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 11: Owner Robert Kraft (L) speaks to the media as head coach Bill Belichick (R) of the New England Patriots looks on during a press conference at Gillette Stadium on January 11, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Belichick announced he is stepping down as head coach after 24 seasons with the team. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
“They’ve been able to get whatever they want,” Kraft added referencing the team’s cash allowance. “If cash spending became an issue for our family, and we couldn’t do it, then I would sell the team. Winning football games, after my family, is the most important thing in my life. Whatever we can do to help make that happen, we’re going to do.”
As for the upcoming offseason, the Patriots will have a chance to spend. OverTheCap.com currently projects the team to have $66 million in cap space, which is the third-most in the NFL. They’ll also be picking third overall in the NFL Draft. Kraft is optimistic his new-look front office is up to the task.
“I feel a sense of excitement and great opportunity to hopefully position the team to be special,” Kraft said. “I’ve said this to our team, who I’m very proud of that they’re working together in a collaborative basis working hard and reaching out in a lot of areas, this is the first time in 31 years of ownership that we’re drafting at the position that we are, and have a chance to get some great players, and also have the cap room that we’ve carried over.”
“So I hope it positions us for the next few years beautifully,” he added. “I’ve said that to the team. It’s pretty exciting. Now we’ve got to measure nine times and cut once.”
It won’t take long to see just how much the Patriots’ approach to spending changes post-Belichick. The start of NFL free agency is just over a month away, with the legal tampering period on March 11. With multiple needs at premium positions, the Patriots should have no shortage of ways to allocate their resources.
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