Robert Kraft is widely considered to be one of the best owners in all of professional sports. When you think NFL owners, Kraft is almost certain to be one of the first that comes to mind. His obvious commitment to success has created one of the winningest teams in football over the past decade. With that in mind, it would be ludicrous to say Kraft has ever rooted against his own team. Or would it?
Drew Bledsoe was inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame on Saturday. While many have forgotten, the man whose injury paved the way for one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time actually played in a Super Bowl himself. The Patriots selected Bledsoe with the first overall pick in the 1993 NFL Draft — a selection New England secured with a 2-14 record in 1992.
“Can you remember the last time you rooted against the Patriots?” Kraft asked during his speech to which fans insisted they never had. “For me, it was the 1992 season finale against the Miami Dolphins. With a 2-13 record, a loss would secure us the first overall pick in the 1993 NFL Draft and a chance to draft a true franchise quarterback.”
Kraft added that the Bledsoe selection contributed to his decision to purchase the Patriots outright in 1994. Little did he know, a sixth-round draft choice in the 2000 draft would forever change his franchise. To those of you who think it’s terrible that an owner would want to throw a game: Get a grip — the fans wanted it, too.
