FOXBORO — Earlier than the Patriots took the sphere for his or her first coaching camp apply of the Mike Vrabel period, Robert Kraft expressed his optimism for the upcoming season.
“Look, after my household, a very powerful factor for me is that this staff profitable soccer video games, and it was actually robust (the previous few years),” the Patriots proprietor mentioned in a short information convention Wednesday morning. “So, it’s my job to do no matter I can to assist that occur. I be ok with the muse of what we’ve got now, and now we’ve obtained to go execute and make it occur.”
Kraft bought the franchise in 1994, and the final two seasons have been the worst of his possession tenure — 4-13 underneath Invoice Belichick in 2023 and 4-13 underneath Jerod Mayo in 2024. He’s hoping Vrabel, a extra skilled teaching employees and a revamped roster can return New England to relevance.
“I dreamt about proudly owning the staff and making an attempt to create one thing particular,” Kraft mentioned, reiterating his oft-told story about being a Patriots season-ticket holder lengthy earlier than he owned the staff, “and apart from the final two years, I feel we’ve executed fairly nicely. Actually, I’m so excited for right this moment and hopefully begin a brand new chapter of our staff doing that.”
Requested what it’s been like having Vrabel again in New England as head coach, Kraft recalled “duking it out” with the previous Patriots linebacker when Vrabel was the staff’s NFLPA consultant. Vrabel, Kraft mentioned, may very well be “a little bit bit robust,” particularly when he was arguing that income from companies on the newly constructed Patriot Place must be shared with the union.
“Now I hope, now that we’ve got completely aligned pursuits, that he can deliver that very same spirit and vitality,” Kraft mentioned. “Look, he gained three Tremendous Bowls with us, and he’s had the expertise of teaching, and I feel did an excellent job down in Tennessee. So I’m trying ahead to it. We’ve been ready to herald a bunch of younger free brokers, and I like our draft, and a few actual veterans that I feel hopefully could make it occur.
“I do know everybody in my household says, ‘Relax, Dad,’ however…”
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