New England Patriots History

Kraft Puts New England on the Map.

Kraft saves Franchise (Writen on 1/1/03 )

Nine years ago something happened that turned the Franchise of the New England Patriots around forever. On a cold February day in 1994 Robert Kraft a local Boston business man saved the franchise from leaving Boston and going to St. Louis, By purchasing the team.

On that day he said his goals for the Franchise was to one day have them playing in a First Class Facility and to win a Super Bowl. Well he delivered. And the fans of Boston will forever be grateful for that.

Kraft bought a team with what seemed to have a great future ahead of them as they had a new #1 draft pick in Drew Bledsoe at Quarterback and one of the greatest coaches in the NFL, Bill Parcells.

In 1996 one of Kraft goals was almost accomplished. As Bill Parcells, Drew Bledsoe and the New England Patriots not only made the Playoffs but after defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Championship game, went to Super Bowl XXXI. After a hard fought game the better team came out on top, and it was not the Patriots. The Packers beat the Patriots 35 to 21. But years later the Patriots would steer the goal of a Championship in the face again.

But the Patriots franchise hit a tough point after the 1996 season as Head Coach Bill Parcells and Kraft were in confrontation over the General Manager job and Bill Parcells resigned as Head Coach. And Pete Carroll was hired and the next few years were the years to forget of the Kraft era.

The goal of having a First Class Facility took the long road to being accomplished.

Early in the year of 1999, Kraft and the state of Connecticut had agreed on a deal that would build the Patriots a First Class Facility in Hartford by the start of the 2001 season and Massachusetts would not agree to a stadium deal. So doing what any man would probably do, Kraft took that deal.

So the Patriots would have a new home in 2001, in Hartford Connecticut.

Then in April of 1999, Kraft called a press conference and no one knew what it was all about. So at 12 noon that day Kraft came out and announced that he would not be moving to Hartford. Saying the New England Patriots belong in Foxboro and in Massachusetts.

Later that year Kraft who still did not receive any help from the State of Massachusetts decided to privately finance a brand new stadium in Foxboro for the start of the 2002 season. Later that year the construction of the stadium started.

After a bad 1999 season Kraft felt the team needed a chance so he fired Pete Carroll and Hired Bill Belichick as Head Coach for the 2000 season. After a poor start to the Belichick regime, things turned around in a hurry.

As The new First Class Facility was half way complete, the 2001 season started but before you knew it the stadium was at the back burner. As with new Quarterback Tom Brady, in for an injured Drew Bledsoe, the Pats started to rip off wins at a rapid pace and before you knew it they were standing in Foxboro Stadium for the Final time in the Divisional round of the playoffs. It was a Snow Bowl Game for the history books, with a controversial call that ended with the Patriots winning in over time and heading to Pittsburgh for the AFC Championship Game.

The AFC Championship had to be an emotional game for Kraft as Quarterback Tom Brady suffered an injury in the second quarter and Kraft's friend and player who put New England on the map in the NFL Drew Bledsoe came off the bench and beat the Pittsburgh Steelers and lead the Patriots to Super Bowl XXXVI.

In the Super Bowl Drew had to take the back seat again as Coach Bill Belichick started his Quarterback Tom Brady. But I'm sure the choice didn't bother Kraft.

As it was a good choice as the Patriots as under dogs beat the St. Louis Rams 20 to 17 in Super Bowl XXXVI and Kraft had his Goal of winning a Championship come true. "The fans of New England have waited 42 years for this day." said Kraft as he held his Vince Lombardy trophy high in the sky.

Kraft then had his other goal accomplished as the Defending Super Bowl Champions the New England Patriots opened their brand new Gillette Stadium on Monday Night Football to start the 2002 Season. And on that night as the stadium opened Kraft said "The fans of New England have been waiting 42 years for this day."

Well at least Kraft had been waiting for that day for 42 years, the day he completed his goal of turning the New England Franchise around forever.

The Greatest Game in Patriots History.

Chills........ not from the snow. ( Writen on 2/17/02 )

As I walked into the stadium that night I had chills going up and down my spin and it was not the weather that caused it.

It was the AFC Divisional Round Playoff Game on the Snowy field of Foxboro Stadium vs. the Oakland Raiders. The Patriots were just two games away from the Super Bowl.

The night began with fireworks filling the snow filled sky and a standing ovation for our AFC East Champion New England Patriots.

And ended with a AFC Championship Game birth. But it was how they got to this point that gave me Goosebumps.

The Patriots seemed to be over matched by Oakland until a young Tom Brady in his first ever playoff game ran though a blizzard filled air to the end zone to get the Patriots within a field goal in the forth quarter.

The Patriots would later get the ball back with 1 minute 43 seconds left, after a huge defensive stand that concluded with Linebacker Tedy Bruschi stuffing a third down and one for the Raiders.

Then what happen next will never be forgotten by Oakland and New England fans.

As I sat looking down at the frozen tundra of Foxboro Stadium. "Direct snap to Brady, standing in there, blitz to the left, loses the football, it is a fumble and the Oakland Raiders recover." Gil Santos.

As Foxboro stadium sat in silence believing that our New England Patriots had just lost the game and would be eliminated from the playoffs the officials reviewed the play.

Minutes later all us fans stood up to here the call from Fred Coleman, head official of the game, "After reviewing the play the Quarterbacks arm was going forward, it is an incomplete pass."

The crowned went wild as our New England Patriots had one more life.

And did they ever use it.

With 47 seconds left in the game down by three Adam Vinatieri came out to attempt a 47 yard field goal on a night were you could not see five feet in front of you as the snow thickened to a white shield in front of you.

As I watched the snap, the kick, I lost the ball in the snow, so I closed my eyes and listened for crowed reaction.

I was not disappointed, as the crowed went crazy as our team had just come back to send this game to over time.

As over time started the Patriots had the ball and marched right down field and a 23 yard field goal is all that was needed to send the Patriots to the AFC Championship Game. As I stood watching Adam Vinatieri walking on the field those Goosebumps started again.

I was standing right in the middle of the field goal post and Vinatieri kicked the game winner.

As soon as the kick went through the crowed went wild and a single tear trickled down my check as I cheered, I turned to my left and hugged some guy I never meet before in my life but it was because right know we were family as our New England Patriots were going to the AFC Championship game. As high fives were giving and hoot and hollering was going on the Snowy Field of Foxboro had seen it's last game and it will forever be frozen in our memory.

 

 

The Brady Bunch.

Coming Soon...........