New England Patriots: Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick Are a Powerhouse
In last weekend’s MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, Bill Belichick won the Lifetime Achievement Award – consider being like a MVP for sports analytics. Yes, he is that kind of a genius. This week, Sports Illustrated announced its list and ranking of the 10 most powerful people in the NFL. Ranked as the biggest power brokers in the NFL at number 1 is, of course, our NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell; followed at number 2 is New England Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft and at number 8 head coach Bill Belichick.
Nov 22, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick (left) greets team owner Robert Kraft before the game against the New York Jets on Thanksgiving at Metlife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Wow! That should be another drop of salt into a wound of anyone who hates the New England Patriots.
Sports Illustrated.com Don Banks highlighted Mr. Kraft’s success by illustrating,
“Kraft not only has turned the Patriots into the league’s model franchise since his purchase of the downtrodden team in 1994 — earning 14 playoff trips, 12 division titles and three Super Bowl rings in his 19 seasons — but also he serves as the chairman of the NFL’s powerful broadcasting committee, and received considerable credit for helping bridge the gap between players and owners in the divisive 2011 labor negotiations.”
Head coach Bill Belichick was praised by setting the standard of his profession.
“Though his most recent Super Bowl victory was eight years back, the man in the hoodie still sets the standard in his high-profile profession, with 10 division titles and five Super Bowl trips in his 13-season tenure in Foxboro. Belichick and his coaching innovations still inspire imitation league-wide, and his game-planning and tactical skills are considered among the best in NFL history”.
It’s exciting to see how far this organization has come since Mr. Kraft purchased the Patriots in 1994 and with Bill Belichick’s arrival as a head coach in 2000. Their professionalism, work ethic, level of expectation, and dedication are a perfect match. Anyone who wants to be part of the organization either “do your job” or one will simply not thrive. There is not time to waste. There is only time for development, commitment and winning.
The other high-powers that made to the list are Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith, Creative Artists Agency Tom Condon and Ben Dogra, New York Giants co-owner John Mara, Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, NFL Executive Vice President and NFL Ventures and Business Operations Eric Grubman, and NFL Senior Vice President of Broadcasting and Media Operations Howard Katz.
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