No owner-head coach combo has seen the success Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick have, so clearly they found a pretty good formula.
Sure, there have been questions along the way – potential differences in how the Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo situations were handled, for example – but you don’t accidentally fall into six Super Bowls.
Conversations about differences between the New England Patriots owner and his head coach have ramped up after Week 1 over Kendrick Bourne’s playing time, so it was noteworthy then when Belichick gave Kraft the game ball after Sunday’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
During his weekly appearance Monday on the “Greg Hill Show”, Belichick reflected on his working relationship with Kraft.
“I think it started the year I was here in ‘96 with Coach (Bill) Parcells and I really had a good opportunity during that year to work with Robert and his family and the organization," Belichick said. "We built a good bond there, and then in (2000), just philosophically, we were on the same page in terms of team-building and contracts and all those kinds of things that go into an organization – staffing and structure and so forth.
“We got off to a good start, and were able to build a good foundation there and certainly we had to modify it along the way for a variety of reasons and changes, but I think that foundation in the early years was really important. I certainly appreciate the opportunity that Robert gave me to be here, I know he gave a lot up in terms of draft choices and all that for this to happen. It was a great opportunity, and I think it certainly worked out well for me, so I appreciate it.”
Kraft would probably agree that it has worked out well.
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