Showing posts with label Pro Bowl. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pro Bowl. Show all posts

Thursday, 14 January 2016

Lack of Egos in New England - Kraft


New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has told Sky Sports a "lack of egos" is one of the main reasons for the team's success going into this weekend's NFL play-offs.

The Patriots are looking to win their fifth Super Bowl under Kraft' s ownership. The billionaire invited Sky Sports' Jim White to go behind the scenes at the franchise for a documentary to be shown before Saturday's clash against the Kansas City Chiefs.

"Everyone checks their ego at the door and does whatever they've got to do to allow us to win," says Kraft.

"We're fortunate to have pretty special people and we're all together as a unit."

The Patriots' success has been built on a long-term relationship between Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick and legendary quarterback Tom Brady.

"We've had a great thing going," Brady tells the documentary. "He [Kraft] has been a kind of father to me.

"We've got such a close relationship and I rely on him for a lot of very important decisions in my life."

And Kraft hasn't ruled out bringing his ownership philosophy to England and the Premier League

He says he "came close" to buying Liverpool before John W Henry's Fenway Sports Group took over and may look at English football again, but only if the right opportunity came up.

"I would never be involved in a sports franchise unless I thought we had an ability to win and compete at the highest level," said Kraft.

"We're flirting with a couple of things so you never know in the future."

Monday, 11 January 2016

NFL Has Gone Soft - Donald Trump


Donald Trump believes he has found the perfect encapsulation of the decline of America: the NFL’s efforts to stop head-on collisions in football.

Speaking at a rally in Reno, Nevada, he lamented a game that has “gone soft”, while appearing to reference the penalties that cost the Cincinnati Bengals their playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“So I’m watching a game yesterday,” said Trump. “What used to be considered a great tackle, a violent head-on [tackle], a violent – if that was done by Dick Butkus, they’d say he’s the greatest player. If that were done by Lawrence Taylor – it was done by Lawrence Taylor and Dick Butkus and Ray Nitschke, right? Ray Nitschke — you used to see these tackles and it was incredible to watch, right?

“Now they tackle. ‘Oh, head-on-head collision, 15 yards.’ The whole game is all screwed up ... Football has become soft. Football has become soft. Now, I’ll be criticized for that. They’ll say, ‘Oh, isn’t that terrible.’ But football has become soft like our country has become soft.

Despite wide acknowledgement that the league needs to cut down on head injuries and concussions, Trump said that more protection for players will harm the NFL. “It’s become weak and you know what? It’s going to affect the NFL,” said Trump. “I don’t even watch it as much anymore. It’s going to affect the NFL. I don’t watch it. The referees, they want to all throw flags so their wives see them at home. ‘Oh, there’s my husband.’ It’s true. ‘He just broke up - he just gave a 15-yard penalty on one of the most beautiful tackles made this year.’ Right?”

Trump was quick to give his approval for one figure in the NFL though: his friend the New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady

“It’s boring - although I love Tom Brady,” said Trump. “I gotta tell you. I do love Tom. He’s a great guy. But it’s different. But it’s become soft and our country has become soft.”