In a quote that will almost certainly get taken out of context, Robert Kraft used the word “vindication” Tuesday.
Our work is done here.
Kraft used the word when discussing the team’s comeback in Super Bowl LI, citing the minimal chances the team had of winning after falling behind, 28-3. Yet his use of the word will raise eyebrows because it’s the only word we've wanted him and the Patriots to say in a season that saw them win a title despite a four-game Tom Brady suspension the team felt was unjust.
“In fact, with three minutes to go in the third quarter, we had a 99.6 percent chance to lose -- .04 to win -- and our guys believed in one another and it’s a great lesson to young people never to give up, hang with people who are good character, who put their ego at the door and come together as a team,” Kraft said Tuesday on ESPN’s “First Take.” “It was just a great moment of vindication for our whole team and pretty cool for our fans.”
Read into that however you’d like. Honestly, it seems harmless, but the Patriots showed after the Super Bowl win that they were oozing with spite, so nothing should come as a surprise.
As for the team’s offseason, Kraft seemed a little less giddy than he was on Monday, when he compared Brandin Cooks to Randy Moss. Kraft told ESPN that he’s trying to not get carried away with the team’s offseason upgrades.
“I take that with a grain of salt,” he said. “We never try to win games in the offseason. On paper it all looks good and I think some of the moves have been outstanding, but in the end, what happens when you get on the field and the chemistry and how things work and are people in good shape. So we’re very optimistic and it’s good, but in the end, it will show in the results on the field. I’ve learned to temper my enthusiasm.”