data-mm-id=”_h7nt0b98m”>Robert Kraft spoke to media yesterday about the New England Patriots' whirlwind of an offseason that featured an uncharacteristic spending spree in free agency. One thing he said that has driven several discussions on the morning sports talk studio shows was about the Patriots' recent draft history. When asked about the discrepancy between teams that spend big in free agency and teams that don't, Kraft voiced his belief that consistent winning cannot be found via free agency. The draft is where good teams find long-term contributors that make up the foundation for winning football. Having great players on cheap contracts for years at a time makes it easier to fill out the rest of the team with bigger contracts. It is harder to do it the other way around. Pretty straightforward, right? Nothing too crazy. This is Team Building 101 stuff. But Kraft raised some eyebrows with his follow-up comment: "I don't feel we've done the greatest job the last few years and I really hope, and I believe — I have seen a different approach this year," Kraft added. "In the end, it all comes out to what happens on the field and how well people execute. You really don't know a draft — how good a draft is — for at least two years. And especially in the environment we're in now where I am not quite sure what our offseason training and learning abilities will be. It's something we're working very hard with the union today and I think last year younger players were really disadvantaged because they didn't have the time to come and learn and be part of it."His comment about New England's recent draft failures spurred many a discussion today, including on Get Up, in which Jeff Saturday argued passionately that Kraft is taking a shot at Bill Belichick, the man responsible for drafting, by speaking these thoughts in a public forum. If there is anything we know about Belichick, it's that he is perhaps the greatest objective judge of talent in regards to when his team is on the field in NFL history. If a guy is falling off, Belichick will see it and trade him before anyone else realizes what happened. If an undrafted rookie is outperforming a veteran on a massive contract in training camp, Belichick is going to play the rookie and have zero regrets. If some scheme or personnel grouping isn't working in the middle of a game, Belichick will change things up immediately. We've seen those exact situations play out over and over for two decades, to great success. That is not the same as Belichick being one of the best drafters in NFL history. It is much easier, relatively speaking, for Belichick to watch his team in practice and decide who is good and who is not than watching college tape and predicting who will be good and who will be bad in a Patriots uniform. In terms of net impact, Belichick is certainly a good drafter. He's found a lot of great players. But he is not perfect because the draft is a crapshoot most of the time. Pairing that with the knowledge that Belichick is unafraid of harsh judgements of his own decision-making and teams, I don't know how you can interpret Kraft's comments as shade and believe that Belichick will be displeased about it. Because the last few drafts have been objectively terrible for New England. The best player Belichick drafted from 2017-2019 is probably Jake Bailey, a punter. First-round picks Isaiah Wynn and N'Keal Harry are busts for different reasons. Sony Michel helped the team win a Super Bowl but isn't a foundational player crucial to long-term success. There have been a few fine players– Ja'Whuan Bentley and Chase Winovich come to mind– but there have been no Richard Seymours or Dont'a Hightowers or Rob Gronkowskis to be found recently. Saturday's argument that Kraft is being unfair because Belichick is a good drafter would be true if Kraft said the Patriots have not done a good job drafting as a whole. But he specifically mentioned the last few years. Belichick clearly agrees because he just handed out hundreds of millions of dollars in guaranteed money to fix the positions he failed to address in the draft. He spent two picks on tight ends in 2020 then turned around and signed the two best players available in that position. He added two new receivers after realizing Harry wasn't going to do anything in a Patriots uniform. Belichick gave Matthew Judon a huge deal because he hasn't found an impact edge rusher in the draft since Trey Flowers in 2015. Kraft was just stating facts. Facts that Belichick will not dispute, as evidenced by his spending spree. Let's not make this more than what it is.
Related Posts
Inter have announced the signing of Antonio Candreva from Lazio on a four-year contract.
The Italy international leaves the Rome outfit after four seasons, having made almost 200 appearances, becoming Inter s first acquisition since Suning Holdings Group took over the club.
Candreva has also played 40 times for his national team, appearing at the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016.
Antonio è dell ! In nerazzurro fino al 2020
— F.C. Internazionale (@Inter)
I m really proud and happy to be here, he told the club s website.
I always wanted to move to Inter and it is a very strong emotion to have arrived at Inter.
I thank Lazio for the seasons we spent together and for giving me the chance to achieve this dream.
Now…
Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen have announced on their official website that they have signed German midfielder Emre Can from Bayern Munich.
The details of the transfer were not disclosed, but it was revealed the player had signed a four-year deal with the club.
Leverkusen have produced quite a coup by signing one of Germany s most talented footballers, and further reinforced the squad ahead of the new season.
The club officials have been very busy this summer, having already recruited Heung-Min Son, Emir Spahic, Andres Palop, Giulio Donati and Roberto Hilbert, among others.
Emre Can, who came through the youth ranks at Bayern, broke into the first team set up during the 2011/2012 season, but it was last term that he started getting much needed playing…
Serie A heavyweights AC Milan are preparing for yet another busy summer.
Rossoneri have invested a great amount of money in building a squad that would at least secure a Champions League place next season but they once again failed in their effort having finished the 2017/18 season is sixth place in the Serie A.
Heading into the new campaign manager Gennaro Gattuso is keen to get rid of the overpriced flops and boost his squad with fresh blood and players up to his own liking.
Recent reports found in the claim that Rossoneri have already made a move for Lyon centre-back Marcelo.
The 31-year-old Brazil international join the French outfit from Besiktas last season and is unlikely to leave Lyon after just one year in France but AC Milan are willing to tes…
Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio has backed Marcelo Bielsa for success if he takes over at Leeds United.
Bielsa has been linked with a shock move to the Championship club, who sacked manager Paul Heckingbottom on Friday only four months after he was appointed.
Osorio, who has visited the former Athletic Bilbao and Marseille boss in Argentina in recent weeks, believes he could be the right man to take Leeds back to the Premier League.
He s a top man, he told a news conference. I think he s a top manager and he would do well.
In my visit three weeks ago, I spoke to him and he mentioned it to me, and I m very pleased.
I think that [the] league, the Premier League and the English league, will be his ultimate goal and hopefully he ll get there. I thi…
Curtis Davies agent has revealed his disappointment that Aston Villa are refusing to hold contract talks with the highly-rated centre-back.
Davies signed for Villa in 2008 in a £10million deal from West Bromwich Albion, after he spent a year on loan from the Baggies.
Under his current agreement, Villa would be obliged to offer fresh terms once he has played 60 games.
At the moment Davies has played 58 times, but he is currently sidelined until Christmas following shoulder surgery.
And it seems Davies is not too happy that Villa are insisting he plays his full quota of games before talks will commence.
It is slightly disappointing given the circumstances of Curtis injury and the fact he played on when the club were low on numbers, his age…
France coach Raymond Domenech on Tuesday welcomed Juventus striker David Trezeguet s comments about wanting to return to the national set-up.
Trezeguet, 31, announced his retirement from international football after being left out of Domenech s squad for the 2008 European Championship, but recently said he would like to be involved in November s World Cup play-off matches.
I like it when players say that they want to play, to hear that players need the French team and want to play for it, Domenech said.
It s healthy, it s good.
France face Austria here on Wednesday in their final group seven qualifying match, having already secured a place in the play-offs behind group leaders and automatic qualifiers Serbia.
The 1998 World Cup winners have fl…
Arsenal star Jack Wilshere has hailed the impact that former team-mate Cesc Fabregas had on him at the beginning of his career.
Fabregas played for the London club from 2004 until 2011 and towards the end of his spell with Arsene Wenger s team Wilshere was coming through as a promising youngster.
Although Wilshere only played alongside the Spain international for one year, he is confident that Fabregas is the best player he has ever played alongside.
He told Esquire Weekly: The best player I ever played with is probably Cesc Fabregas.
I only got to play with him for a year before he went back to Barcelona but I learnt so much from him – the way he knew what he was going to do with the ball before he got it and his passing, and he scored goals.
…
Edinson Cavani s father has claimed there is a 50-50 chance of his son leaving Napoli for Real Madrid.
The Uruguay international s future has been the subject of much debate for two years and Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis admitted earlier this month that he would be willing to part company with his most prized asset should any club meet the 70 million-euro asking price.
However, Cavani s father Luis believes Napoli will allow the striker to leave the San Paolo for less than the figure stated in his buy-out clause.
Napoli have refused offers from a lot of teams, but I believe that if an offer of 60 million euros arrives, he will be sold, Cavani senior told Marca TV.
I believe that today there is a 50 percent chance of signing for Real Madrid, bu…
Aaron Mooy has the ability to play at a bigger Premier League club than Huddersfield Town, according to his national team boss Bert van Marwijk.
The Australia midfielder moved to the Terriers from Manchester City on a permanent basis ahead of the 2017-18 season, appearing in all but two matches in his and the club s maiden Premier League campaign.
Along with the rest of his team-mates, Mooy impressed in the Socceroos narrow 2-1 Group C defeat to France on Saturday and is set to start again versus Denmark in Samara on Thursday.
Van Marwijk is often reluctant to single out players for praise but, when asked about Mooy, the Dutchman offered what qualifies as a glowing endorsement from the veteran tactician.
Very good player, all the players are important, V…
Reece Oxford has shunned interest from Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United to sign a new four-and-a-half-year contract with West Ham.
West Ham revealed the three Premier League clubs were among some of the biggest teams in the country interested in the defender as they announced his new deal on his 18th birthday.
Oxford made his West Ham debut as a 16-year-old in July 2015 and went on to make 12 appearances across all competitions last season, but has been restricted by an ankle injury this term.
He told the club s website: I am happy to have signed my new contract. There was a lot of speculation about my future but I am happy that it has been done and I can get back to football.
I just want to kick on now. I have made my family proud and…