Patriots Power Struggle: Robert Kraft Taking Control?
Whispers of a deteriorating relationship between Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, and head coach Bill Belichick have been spreading for years, dating back to the disagreement over the trade of Jimmy Garropolo to the San Francisco 49ers back in 2017.
But their winning ways appeared to sweep their differences under the rug. Now, after a very disappointing 2022 season where the Patriots failed to make the playoffs for the second time since legendary quarterback Tom Brady left New England, tensions seem to be rising.
According to the Boston Globe, Kraft, a usually laid-back owner, is taking control of the proverbial steering wheel as he tries to get the franchise back into the postseason.
"I do think you see a little bit of a disconnect crop up this offseason, and I don't know if it's a disconnect as much as it's Robert Kraft and the Kraft family taking control," Ben Volin of the Boston Globe told Colin Cowherd on Fox Sports' The Herd.
"I think you see that with the Bill O'Brien hire; Rob Gronkowski made an interesting comment where he suggested they paid Bill O'Brien head coach money to get him to come and be offensive coordinator - that's only a decision the owner is making," Volin continued.
"The last time they did that was with Josh McDaniels to get him to not go to the Colts - that was another owner decision."
- Ben Volin
Volin would say that he believed that O'Brien was a Kraft hire. But even with the Patriots owner taking more control, Volin added that he doesn't think Belichick is going anywhere.
After a slow start to free agency, the Patriots have made additions, with wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, and tight end Mike Geisicki, adding to a passing offense that struggled last season.
While the Buffalo Bills signed ex-Pats running back Damien Harris, he was replaced days prior with the signing of James Robinson.
The Patriots are hoping that with the hire of a veteran NFL play-caller, O'Brien, he can get the Patriots' offense and quarterback Mac Jones back to where it was in his rookie season.
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