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Robert Kraft reportedly questioned why Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame back in 2017 while the Patriots owner is still waiting for his own induction. Yes, Kraft has had a more successful ownership career than Jones, but Kraft’s track record also includes a previous controversy that has reportedly delayed his Hall of Fame induction.
Despite the six Super Bowl wins (the most ever for an owner), 10 Super Bowl appearances (also the most ever for an owner) in addition to his roles in keeping the Patriots in New England, ending the 2011 NFL lockout and his role in brokering lucrative broadcast deals for the league, a small group of anti-Kraft voters apparently cannot look past one facet of Kraft’s ownership tenure.
“Some voters believe he was part of the biggest cheating scandal in NFL history,” a veteran Hall of Fame voter told ESPN in a story detailng Kraft’s Hall of Fame struggle. “That’s a very tough one to overcome.”
In 2007, the Patriots were fined $250,000 and docked a first-round pick for illegally videotaping the Jets’ signals during New England’s Week 1 win over new York. Then-Patriots coach Bill Belichick — who is considered a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame as soon as he is eligible for induction — was fined $500,000.
Kraft has denied knowledge of Spygate and said that he called Belichick a “schmuck” back then for attempting to steal signs during the recent Apple TV+ documentary on the Patriots’ dynasty. Bill Polian, a Hall of Fame inductee who lost several playoff games to Kraft’s Patriots during his years as Colts general manager, came to Kraft’s defense during a conversation with fellow voters last year.
“I told them that Mr. Kraft knew nothing about Spygate in advance,” Polian told ESPN, “and [he] took whatever steps he needed to take after it was found out that it did not happen again.”
Spygate is an undeniable stain on Kraft’s…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/hall-of-fame-voter-reveals-main-reason-why-patriots-owner-robert-kraft-has-yet-to-be-inducted/
Author : Bryan DeArdo
Publish date : 2024-09-12 15:00:56
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