Jonathan Kraft: Patriots-Colts Rivalry One Of Foundations Of NFL
BOSTON (CBS) -- Patriots president Jonathan Kraft stuck to the company script in regards to Sunday night's showdown with the Indianapolis Colts.
"I think it's the fifth game of the 2015 season for us," Kraft told Marc Bertrand and Chris Gasper during his weekly interview on 98.5 The Sports Hub's Patriots Preview. "It's nothing special beyond that."
Asked if he blames the Colts for the eight long months of DeflateGate, Kraft said while they don't believe the findings of the Wells Report, the Colts lodging a complaint with the league was well within their right.
"I think when we think about what transpired after the game, we don't think that what the Wells Report concluded or said happened happened. We don't think anything happened, but if you're a team in the league you can make a complaint about whatever complaint you want to make. That's what the Colts did," said Kraft.
As a follow up, Kraft was asked if the Colts got let off lightly, given Ted Wells' investigation only centered on the Patriots.
"I think we're the AFC Champion and they went home after that game. That's all that matters, and we went on to win the Super Bowl," said Kraft. "We're in the 2015 season and that's what we're focused on. The air pressure stuff is done and out of the way."
Kraft wouldn't say how the DeflateGate drama has played into their relationship with Colts owner Jim Irsay.
"Look, we're all partners in the NFL and partnerships, when you have partners in any business, you have good moments and bad moments, but you're partners," he said. "You go through good times and bad times, but at the end of the day it's a partnership."
While the rivalry between the two teams has been a bit lopsided as of late, Kraft said Patriots-Colts still remains one of the NFL's strongest.
"My sense is this is one of those rivalries that is the foundation of what the NFL is. I don't think what the last couple of meetings have meant, as far as point spreads – when you have a rivalry you have a rivalry," said Kraft, noting the Colts and Patriots were AFC East foes until recently. "Familiarity breeds that type of intensity, and for so many years we were competing against them for seeding in the AFC playoffs. It's a good healthy rivalry and one that helps fuel the National Football League."
