Jonathan Kraft Says 4th Lombardi Would Be Special, But Seahawks 'Are For Real'
BOSTON (CBS) - Patriots president Jonathan Kraft called 98.5 The Sports Hub's Gresh & Zolak show Friday afternoon.
His father, team owner Robert Kraft, addressed DeflateGate Monday afternoon shortly after landing in Phoenix, and for the first time this week we got to hear the point of view of his son and team president Jonathan.
"As it relates to this specific situation that's going on, I think Robert, and Bill [Belichick] and Tom [Brady] have all addressed it. Robert and I spoke about his comments much of the way out here, and I agree wholeheartedly with everything he had to say," Kraft told Gresh & Zo. "I think I'd probably leave this situation at that."
Kraft acknowledged the team is taking the situation very seriously, and added everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It's clear that Kraft is in full support of his employees.
"When you look at what the organization has achieved under Bill and Tom's tenure, it's pretty extraordinary. I think they're both very good at what they do, and we have a team of 53 players and approximately 20 coaches who are also very good at what they do. We would take this group against anybody in the National Football League and like our chances."
In terms of the investigation, Kraft simply acknowledged that it's ongoing and reiterated their cooperation level with the NFL.
"I think we'll just leave it that the investigation is ongoing, and that's probably the best way to leave it. As we've said prior to this, we've been fully cooperative with [the league]. When people are conducting investigations, the communication is probably more one-way than two-way, but that's the league's prerogative and they're gonna do what they think is appropriate. And we respect that," said Kraft. "I should probably just leave it at that, because the game is Sunday and I'm sure we'll talk about the air pressure situation ad nauseam postgame, win or lose. But it's pretty exciting to be in the Super Bowl again with a really great group of guys."
The Patriots won three of four Super Bowls since Tom Brady and Bill Belichick first joined forces, and it's been awhile since the team has hoisted a Lombardi Trophy.
Kraft talked about what it would mean for Brady and Belichick, as well as his organization, to take home another title.
"In my mind, Bill and Tom are each the best at their respective jobs of all time already. You look at the period of time, and doing it in the era of the salary cap -- which is so different than the NFL prior to 1994 -- the business totally changed in 1994. And now there are 32 teams as opposed to 28 teams," said Kraft.
"You added 15 percent more teams and put a financial mechanism in place that's going to bring people back to the middle, so what Bill and Tom and what their teammates and other coaches have accomplished, I think is pretty special over that period of time. If we're fortunate enough to win on Sunday, it just adds to that legacy.
"It would be pretty special to get that fourth Lombardi trophy, but it's going to be difficult though. The Seahawks are for real. This is clearly the two best teams in football from start to finish, so it's going to be a hell of a game."
Listen below for Gresh & Zolak's full conversation with Patriots team president Jonathan Kraft:
Tune in to Super Bowl XLIX on 98.5 The Sports Hub -- the flagship station of the New England Patriots. It's the only place to hear Bob Socci & Scott Zolak's local call of the game!
