New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, like his former head coach Bill Belichick, was not selected for entry into this year's Pro Football Hall of Fame class, multiple league sources told ESPN.
Let me ask you this: How is the owner of the greatest dynasty in NFL history not in Canton?
Kraft bought the Patriots in 1994 for $172 million - a record price at the time. Since then, the franchise has won six Super Bowl championships, appeared in nine Super Bowls, and become one of the most valuable sports franchises in the world.
Under Kraft's ownership, the Patriots went from a laughingstock to a dynasty. He hired Bill Belichick. He kept Tom Brady when others wanted to move on. He built Gillette Stadium with his own money. He turned the Patriots into a model franchise.
And the Hall of Fame committee said, "Nah, not this year."
What more does the man have to do?
Look, I get it. There are questions about Kraft's personal life. The massage parlor incident was embarrassing and ugly. But we're not voting on character here - we're voting on football contributions. And by that standard, Kraft is a no-brainer first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Compare him to other owners in Canton. Jerry Jones is in the Hall of Fame with three Super Bowl wins. Dan Rooney is in with six Super Bowl wins - the same as Kraft. Art Rooney, Lamar Hunt, George Halas - all in the Hall.
What separates them from Kraft? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
If anything, Kraft's story is more compelling. He grew up a Patriots fan. He bought the team to save it from relocation. He built a dynasty from scratch. That's Hall of Fame material, folks.
