NFL Rumors: How Robert Kraft Feels About Hall Of Fame Chances

Robert Kraft reportedly has given up on a longtime dream.

ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr. on Wednesday published a revelatory column covering the efforts to get Kraft elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Enshrinement in Canton, Ohio effectively is the only thing missing from the Patriots owner's résumé at this point, and despite his laundry list of illustrious accolades, he remains on the outside looking in.

One has to imagine people in Kraft's camp remain steadfast in their efforts to put a gold jacket on the 83-year-old. As for Kraft himself, hope apparently is lost.

"When I've talked to people post-Hall of Fame (voting), whether it be Stacey (James), whether it be (Kraft's son and Patriots team president) Jonathan Kraft ... those people are more crestfallen than they say Robert is," Tom E. Curran said on the latest "Patriots Talk Podcast," as transcribed by NBC Sports Boston.

"Robert, when I've asked, 'So, how's Kraft doing with this?' He's actually all right with it. He just doesn't expect to get in now, so he doesn't have his hopes up. He's had his hopes up too many times."

Kraft, who's owned the Patriots since 1994, obviously has nothing left to prove in the NFL. His Hall of Fame case is at the mercy of the voters, who reportedly remain perturbed by multiple controversies involving Kraft, including a pair of alleged cheating incidents amid New England's dynastic run.

If Kraft truly has lost hope about landing in the Hall of Fame, it would be tough to blame him. You can't change the past, and if the voters still are hung up on those black eyes, what will make them change their minds in the years to come?