For 20 years Patriots owner Robert Kraft knew he had the gold standard at the quarterback position in Tom Brady.
Now, seemingly with apologies for the trials and tribulations of Cam Newton’s 2020 season and lukewarm support for Jarrett Stidham’s future, Kraft knows he doesn’t have a long-term option at the most valuable position in all of sports.
It’s really that simple, as Kraft articulated during a Wednesday conference call with the local media, his first chat with reporters since a 7-9 season without Brady that led to the most aggressive, costly free agent flurry in team history.
“We all know long term we have to find a way, either Jarrett Stidham or someone new we bring in,” Kraft said of the future of the quarterback job in New England. “This isn’t something where you get algebraic formulas. Think of all the personnel wizards who passed for six rounds on Tom Brady in 2000. No one knows what’s going to happen. We have to balance everything. Look, the quarterback is the most important position on the team. We know that. He touches the ball over 70 times a game. So one way or another we have to get that position solidified.”
A number of times during a half-hour fielding questions, Kraft alluded to Newton’s impressive first couple weeks of his Patriots career last September before a COVID diagnosis in Week 3 and subsequent struggles. He referred to Newton, the veteran returning on another low-money, one-year deal, as a “terrific guy” who players on the team “really love.”
Most importantly, even while acknowledging Bill Belichick’s draft shortcomings in recent years that led to the need for this springs free agent shopping spree, Kraft expressed faith in his coach/GM’ ability to get the job done when it comes to both the quarterback spot and the roster as a whole.
“In the end I trust Coach Belichick’s ability to build a team. And put the right players in the best position to succeed. Over the last couple decades he’s done OK.”
With Brady under center. Now, even if Newton is the placeholder starter heading toward 2020, Kraft is well aware that there is anything but stability these days at the quarterback position in Foxborough.
“Look, I think we have a situation where we have, at this point in time, we’re trying to do what the best thing for us is,” Kraft began when asked if New England has done enough at the quarterback spot. “I think in fairness to Cam I’m not sure he had the proper weapons around him last year and then he got COVID and there were a lot of things that happened. I don’t know that Jarrett has ever really gotten a fair shot. So we have to wait and see what happens. And then we still have the draft. There are a lot of things that can occur.”