Robert Kraft reveals unfiltered reaction to Bill Belichick amidst Spygate
After three Super Bowl championships, the New England Patriots were riding a high. However, they were knocked down by the Spygate scandal. On Sept. 9, 2007, the Patriots were facing off against the New York Jets in the Meadowlands when it was discovered that New England was videotaping Jets coaches during the game. There was […]
After three Super Bowl championships, the New England Patriots were riding a high. However, they were knocked down by the Spygate scandal.
On Sept. 9, 2007, the Patriots were facing off against the New York Jets in the Meadowlands when it was discovered that New England was videotaping Jets coaches during the game. There was a lot of controversy surrounding this and the NFL stepped in to investigate.
So while this was all happening, Robert Kraft was determined to hear it straight from the horse's mouth.
“I couldn’t believe it," Robert Kraft remembered during 'The Dynasty: New England Patriots' Episode 4: Spygate. "I went right over to Bill and I said, ‘Let me ask you something Bill, how important to us is something like that on a scale of one to 100.’ And he said to me, ‘one.’"
"I said to him, ‘Than you’re a real schmuck.'”
While Kraft was very upset over this whole situation, Belichick was still the head coach of his team. And because of that, he had to do what was in the best interest of the franchise.
“Look, I was pissed with Bill. But when you have division from within, it can be very destructive and dangerous, so I protected Bill," Kraft said. "I talked with the lawyers from the NFL office. I said, ‘Look, fine Bill, fine us. Do whatever you got to do. But don’t suspend him.’ We tried to protect his reputation.”
Kraft's efforts ended up working, with the league deciding to fine Belichick $500,000 along with fining the team $250,000. And on top of that, they were docked a first-round draft pick in 2008.
However, Belichick was never suspended. And that season the Patriots went on to win every single regular season game. They remained undefeated throughout the playoffs up until the Super Bowl where they fell to the New York Giants.
It is known that the relationship between Kraft and Belichick had its ups and its downs, but this truly showed how angry the owner got. And he wasn't afraid to voice his unfiltered opinion on 'The Dynasty: New England Patriots.'
