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A20 SPORTS
Wednesday 1 February

Patriots owner Kraft pulls some punches, throws others

BARRY WILNER to stick to the business at
AP Pro Football Writer hand, not carrying out any
HOUSTON (AP) — Robert vendetta.
Kraft is pulling his punches “I feel privileged to be here
over “Deflategate.” in the Super Bowl city,” he
Well, some of them. said. “There’s a time and a
While the New England Pa- place to talk about prob-
triots owner and once close lems. I’m going to stay fo-
confidant of NFL Commis- cused on being here.”
sioner Roger Goodell wants Kraft is such a veteran of
to celebrate yet another Super Bowls, having also
trip to the Super Bowl this been to one in 1997 with Bill
week, he also couldn’t Parcells as his coach, that
back down from a chal- he gets calls from other
lenge Monday night to ad- owners about how to han-
dress the whole mess. So dle the week. So it was no
Kraft took a couple of shots surprise when he revealed
during the Patriots’ avail- that Falcons boss Arthur
ability, yet also made sure Blank called him.
not to temper the festive “Arthur asked me for some
mood. advice about being in (the
“Everybody wants to pro- Super Bowl),” Kraft said. “I
tect their family,” Kraft said told him, ‘Don’t let anyone
when asked about the ruin these two weeks for
aftermath of the deflat- you. Focus on how lucky
ed footballs case from the we are to be here.’”
2014 AFC championship Kraft must have heard the
game that resulted in Tom New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft answers questions during opening night for the NFL Super chorus of boos when his
Brady’s four-game suspen- Bowl 51 football game at Minute Maid Park Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, in Houston. Associated Press team captains were intro-
sion, a $1 million fine for the duced onstage after At-
franchise and the loss of its Sometimes in a compli- saying from the Old Testa- Bowl against Atlanta (13-5). lanta’s media session and
first-round draft pick in 2016. cated situation in business, ment. “When tough times After the home victory over before New England’s. The
“I think our family was in- people start pointing fin- come,” he translated, the Steelers, Kraft accept- Falcons’ captains weren’t
volved, or accused of be- gers, and we want to as- “there’s nothing bad that ed the Lamar Hunt Trophy subjected to any such jeers.
ing involved, in something sure everyone that we are happens that doesn’t have — no, Goodell was not on It wasn’t in direct response
that was mishandled and together.” good associated with it. hand to present it — and to that moment, but Kraft
became inappropriate. Kraft then cited a Hebrew “In a way, that galvanized made a not-too-veiled ref- did say something that re-
our team.” erence to “Deflategate.” flects how his team hardly
Sure looks that way consid- “For a number of reasons, engenders the same warm
ering the Patriots (16-2) had all of you in this stadium un- feelings across America
the NFL’s best record this derstand how big this win that the Cubs recently did.
season, eased to the con- was,” Kraft said. “And we “Jealousy and envy are
ference title with lopsided have to go to Houston and incredible diseases,” he
wins over Houston and win one more.” said. “We try to take it and
Pittsburgh and are 3-point He’s in Houston with his turn it into something that’s
favorites for Sunday’s Super team now, and Kraft tried positive.”q