Robert Kraft has the résumé to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but the New England Patriots owner continues to play the waiting game.
ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr. on Wednesday, released the "secret history" of Kraft's efforts to be honored at Canton, Ohio. The feature detailed how "The Dynasty" book and Apple TV+ docuseries were spearheaded by the 83-year-old to convince voters of his selection. ESPN also spoke with voters, who still hold Spygate and his dropped massage parlor chargers over him.
According to ESPN, when Jerry Jones was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017, Kraft and his supporters greeted the selection with "anger and confusion."
"They seethed that Hall voters didn't seem to appreciate Kraft's work to grow the league through media and labor deals and the Patriots' unparalleled dynasty," Van Natta wrote. "Kraft saw the selection of his archrival as an insult, a verdict that Jones is more responsible for the NFL's astonishing success. 'He hasn't been to the NFC title game in two decades and he gets in?' Kraft told a confidant. 'How does that work?'"
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That dig certainly added more to the contentious relationship between Kraft and Jones.
ESPN spoke to Jason Cole who visited Kraft in 2017 when the Hall of Fame voter was asked by the Patriots owner why Jones was selected over him. Jones was compared to P.T. Barnum and called the Dallas Cowboys owner "the greatest marketer in the history of the sport," a remark that Kraft laughed at, according to Cole.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame eliminated the coach and contributor category restrictions meaning Kraft will have a better chance at getting selected, and it will be a long time coming for the Patriots owner.
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