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SPORTS Tuesday 27 March 2018
Kraft discounts any discord in Patriots organization

By BARRY WILNER
AP Pro Football Writer
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Ev-
ery marriage has its ups
and downs. So New Eng-
land Patriots owner Rob-
ert Kraft urged everyone
not to read too much into
any reported discord in his
organization. Kraft praised
Bill Belichick on Monday
when asked about some of
the unusual decisions the
coach made in the Super
Bowl loss to Philadelphia.
As for any split among
owner, coach and star
quarterback, Kraft said he
has learned to work with
"a strong and powerful
coach."
"The so-called tension gets
greater when you lose,"
Kraft added.
And with Brady, Kraft noted
that the "feeling of a loss is In this Feb. 4, 2018, file photo, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft arrives at U.S. Bank Stadium before the NFL Super Bowl 52
worse than the feeling of football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, in Minneapolis.
a win" in a Super Bowl, ex- Associated P
cept for that first victory.
"I think Tommy is in that cat- "I have faith in Bill as edged he was looking at it said. wake up in the morning
egory." coach," Kraft said. "I don't from a fan's viewpoint. Kraft got emotional when and they go to school and
Kraft spoke to media at the think there's anyone (else) "There's no doubt in my concluding the session by don't come home at night.
NFL owners meetings and who has the football knowl- mind that if he is doing it talking about lending the "I just thought this is a way
was grilled about every- edge and expertise and for the right reason," Kraft team's airplane to students for our organization to be
thing from whether All-Pro understands personnel and said of Belichick's decision, from Stoneman Douglas able to reach out to those
tight end Rob Gronkowski is able to merge those. As "I support it. I haven't had High School in Parkland, people who are hurt-
will return for another sea- someone privileged to own one instance where Bill has Florida so they could at- ing bad. I can't think of a
son (Kraft never really an- one of these teams, I en- done any decision that tend the "March For Our worse, unnatural thing of
swered, though he said courage him to keep going was not in the best interest Lives" in Washington on the losing your child."
he'd seen Gronkowski at with his instincts. of the team." weekend. Then Kraft, a donor to the
the team facility this off- "This is not an energy firm While noting that Brady "When they called and Trump campaign, criticized
season) to why cornerback where you go from A to B had an unparalleled sea- asked would you send a the legislative process and
Malcolm Butler, now with to C to D. I think Bill's struc- son as a 40-year-old quar- plane and help take the current environment in the
the Titans, was benched for ture has been pretty good terback, including his third wounded kids and their nation's capital.
the Super Bowl. most of the time and has career MVP award, Kraft families and kids who "I have a big problem with
Mostly, the questions were worked pretty well." also recognized how diffi- couldn't go on a normal what's going on in Washing-
about friction in New Eng- Kraft admitted he was per- cult the final game of the plane, we didn't hesitate ton and the divisiveness,"
land. Kraft said he has met plexed that Butler, a Su- 2017 season was for Brady. a minute," Kraft said. "Be- he said, "and no one's lis-
with both Belichick and per Bowl hero in the 2015 "You don't get public with cause think of it, all of you tening to one another and
Brady, something he does game, didn't play against your feelings two weeks who have kids, think about forgetting where you stand
regularly. the Eagles. But he acknowl- after a Super Bowl loss," he losing one of your kids. You on this issue."q

A look at the non-catches prompting NFL rules proposal

By The Associated Press because the tip of the ball ball against the ground as ground, the ball moved. Jesse James, Steelers (2017)
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — touched the ground, even he got up to celebrate. The call was reversed to in- — Pittsburgh was driving for
Some of the non-catches though Emanuel never lost Dez Bryant, Cowboys complete and Dallas soon the winning touchdown
that have prompted de- control. (2015): Bryant had single lost the playoff game. against New England when
bate and a proposal by the Calvin Johnson, Lions coverage down the left Zach Miller, Bears (2017) James caught a pass just
NFL's competition commit- (2010) — Against Chicago, sideline at Lambeau Field — On a play at New Or- short of the goal line and
tee to rewrite the rules: Megatron's "mega-catch" and Tony Romo hit him as leans in which the tight end his knee hit the ground. But
Bert Emanuel, Bucca- turned into a no-catch in the Dallas wideout leaped broke his left leg, the TD call he hadn't been touched
neers (2000) — In the NFC the end zone even though near the goal line. He came was overturned on review. by a Patriot, and his sec-
championship game at St. Johnson jumped, made down inside the 1, got both It was determined that he ond foot hit the ground as
Louis, Emanuel appeared the reception, got two feet feet down and even took lost the ball as he fell to he reached over the goal
to make a fourth-quarter down and had a Bears de- a third step before stum- the ground in pain, even line with the ball. However,
catch to put Tampa Bay in fender fall into him. John- bling. In doing so, as Bryant though he twice touched the ball came loose when
position to beat the Rams. son put his hand down and switched the ball into his down one foot, though he his elbow made contact
But it was ruled incomplete rolled over, then put the left hand and reached the slipped when his leg broke. with the ground. q