NFL Rumors: Patriots’ Robert Kraft’s HOF Bid Impacted by Spygate and Deflategate | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats and Rumors

The “Spygate” and “Deflategate” scandals of the New England Patriots’ past could complicate team owner Robert Kraft’s Hall of Fame candidacy, according to Albert Breer of the MMQB.

Breer wrote Monday that the old controversies are a “problem for Kraft,” who can’t take credit for the Patriots’ success on the field without taking some responsibility when the franchise violated NFL rules.

For those who don’t know, the Patriots were punished in 2007 after their coaches filmed opposing coaches’ signals. Then came the revelation in 2015 that team personnel had intentionally underinflated most of the footballs from the previous year’s AFC title game.

ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham detailed in September 2015 how there was a “widespread perception” that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell went soft on the Patriots during the “Deflategate” fallout. . New England had also gained a reputation as a cheater whose bending of the rules played a role in building a dynasty.

Breer signaled that a general feeling of fatigue and frustration on the part of the Hall of Fame contributors committee could pose another obstacle for Kraft.

“One has the feeling that the contributors committee was exhausted years ago by the behind-the-scenes politics in favor of Kraft,” he wrote. “More recently, the public talk that they are stupid for not incorporating Kraft has probably hurt Kraft’s case, because this committee doesn’t want to be told what to do, or not know what to do. ‘he does. And Kraft constantly appearing on TV and having broadcasts of honking games doesn’t help ease those feelings either.

Van Natta shed light on the political drive in September, describing it as a “relentless Hall of Fame campaign” that “has become more urgent and inventive.” As an example, he cited Jeff Benedict’s 2020 book The Dynasty and support for Apple TV+ docuseries as companies seen “as furthering Kraft’s Hall of Fame candidacy.”

With the announced selection of NFL co-founder Ralph Hay in the contributor category, Kraft’s Hall of Fame wait will extend another year. According to reports from Van Natta and Breer, this delay could extend well beyond that.