query: who owns the new england patriots before robert kraft

pos: History of the New England Patriots first round. The team would not make the playoffs again for eight more years. They changed ownership several times in that period, being purchased from the Sullivan family first by Victor Kiam in 1988, who sold the team to James Orthwein in 1992. Orthwein intended to move the team to his native St. Louis, Missouri, but sold the team two years later to current owner, local businessman Robert Kraft in 1994. Though Orthwein's period as owner was short and controversial, he did oversee major changes to the team. Former New York Giants coach Bill Parcells was hired in 1993, and

pos: 1994 New England Patriots season 1994 New England Patriots season The 1994 New England Patriots season was the team's 35th season, and 25th in the National Football League. It was the first under owner Robert Kraft, who purchased the team after preventing previous owner James Orthwein from moving the Patriots to St. Louis. The Patriots finished the season with a record of ten wins and six losses, and finished tied for first in the AFC's Eastern division. The Patriots began the 1994 season with a 3–6 record before winning their final seven games, finishing 10–6 and qualifying the playoffs. The Patriots were just two seasons

pos: 1994 New England Patriots season kick in this game; they would not succeed with an onsides kick until 2013, coincidentally against the Browns 1994 New England Patriots season The 1994 New England Patriots season was the team's 35th season, and 25th in the National Football League. It was the first under owner Robert Kraft, who purchased the team after preventing previous owner James Orthwein from moving the Patriots to St. Louis. The Patriots finished the season with a record of ten wins and six losses, and finished tied for first in the AFC's Eastern division. The Patriots began the 1994 season with a 3–6 record

pos: Robert Kraft own, he was forced to sell the Patriots to James Orthwein. Ever since Orthwein had bought the team in 1992, there had been constant rumors that he wanted to move the Patriots to St. Louis. In 1994, Orthwein offered Kraft $75 million to buy out the remainder of the team's lease at what was now Foxboro Stadium. Had Kraft accepted Orthwein's offer, it would have cleared the last significant hurdle to moving the team. However, Kraft turned it down. By 1994, Orthwein was not interested in operating the team in New England long-term, and decided to sell it. Due to

pos: St. Louis Stallions a new team anyway. Advertising executive James Orthwein, a St. Louis native and member of the Busch family, bought the New England Patriots in 1992 from Victor Kiam to resolve a debt between the two men. The Patriots had long been in financial malaise since original owner Billy Sullivan, who was still the team president during Kiam's ownership, had squandered all of his net worth on a series of bad investments in the mid-1980s and was forced to sell the team to Kiam and Foxboro Stadium to Robert Kraft. Immediately upon purchase, Orthwein made it clear that he wanted to

pos: New England Patriots The team would not make the playoffs again for eight more years. During the 1990 season, the Patriots went 1–15. They changed ownership three times in the ensuing 14 years, being purchased from the Sullivan family first by Victor Kiam in 1988, who sold the team to James Orthwein in 1992. Orthwein intended to move the team to his native St. Louis, Missouri (where it would have been renamed as the St. Louis Stallions), but instead sold the team in 1994 to its current owner Robert Kraft. Though Orthwein's period as owner was short and controversial, he did oversee major

pos: 1994 New England Patriots season and thus got control of the lease the team held with the stadium. This gave him a level of control over the team that new owners Victor Kiam and James Orthwein underestimated, so much that in January 1994, Orthwein sold his share of the team to Kraft, for nearly $200 million. The selling of the team to Kraft led to an explosion of ticket sales, to where all home games were sold out well before the season began. As part of the NFL's 75th anniversary celebration the Patriots wore throwback uniforms in games against the Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers,

pos: History of the New England Patriots a game that eliminated the Dolphins from the playoffs. Interest in the Patriots grew both during and after the 1993 season, despite their lackluster on-field showing. By many measures, the Patriots were as popular as they had ever been – even more popular than they had been during their 1985 Super Bowl year. Despite this interest, however, rumors abounded that the team was going to move to St. Louis as soon as James Orthwein could clear all the hurdles. Finally, in the 1993 off-season, the issue reached its climax. Orthwein offered Robert Kraft, the team's landlord since 1988, $75 million

neg: New England Revolution New England Revolution The New England Revolution is an American professional soccer club based in the Greater Boston area that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), in the Eastern Conference of the league. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inaugural season. The club is owned by Robert Kraft, who also owns the New England Patriots along with his son, Jonathan Kraft. The name "Revolution" refers to the New England region's significant involvement in the American Revolution that took place from 1775-1783. New England currently play their home matches at

neg: Jonathan Kraft Jonathan Kraft Jonathan A. Kraft (born March 4, 1964) is an American businessman. He is president of The Kraft Group, the holding company of the Kraft family's many business interests. He is also the president of the New England Patriots and owner/investor of the New England Revolution. Kraft was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, to a Jewish family, one of four children of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and his late wife Myra Kraft. Robert Kraft is worth an estimated $4.8 billion, according to Forbes and ranks as 108th richest person in 2015. Kraft attended the Belmont Hill School for

neg: Myra Kraft initials (MHK) throughout the 2011–12 season. Myra Kraft Myra Hiatt Kraft ("née" Myra Nathalie Hiatt; December 27, 1942 – July 20, 2011) was an American philanthropist and the wife of New England Patriots and New England Revolution owner Robert Kraft. Kraft was born in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1942, the daughter of Frances and Jacob Hiatt. Her father was a Lithuanian Jewish immigrant who had served as a circuit judge of the Court of Lithuania before immigrating in 1935. His parents and three other members of his family died during the Holocaust. He went on to become a well known philanthropist

neg: Myra Kraft Myra Kraft Myra Hiatt Kraft ("née" Myra Nathalie Hiatt; December 27, 1942 – July 20, 2011) was an American philanthropist and the wife of New England Patriots and New England Revolution owner Robert Kraft. Kraft was born in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1942, the daughter of Frances and Jacob Hiatt. Her father was a Lithuanian Jewish immigrant who had served as a circuit judge of the Court of Lithuania before immigrating in 1935. His parents and three other members of his family died during the Holocaust. He went on to become a well known philanthropist and leader in the Jewish community.

neg: 2011 New England Patriots season 2011 New England Patriots season The 2011 New England Patriots season was the 42nd season for the team in the National Football League and 52nd season overall. The Patriots finished the regular season at 13–3, and represented the AFC in Super Bowl XLVI. It was the seventh Super Bowl trip in franchise history, and the fifth for head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. The Patriots dedicated their 2011 season to the memory of Myra Kraft, the wife of owner Robert Kraft, who died on July 20, 2011 after a long fight against cancer. At both home and away

neg: Robert Kraft Owen Wilson has nothing to worry about. I am going to stick to my day job." Robert Kraft Robert Kenneth Kraft (born June 5, 1941) is an American businessman. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of the Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with assets in paper and packaging, sports and entertainment, real estate development and a private equity portfolio. His sports holdings include the National Football League's New England Patriots, Major League Soccer's New England Revolution, and the stadium in which both teams play, Gillette Stadium. Kraft was born in Brookline, Massachusetts. His father – Harry Kraft,

neg: Robert Kraft Robert Kraft Robert Kenneth Kraft (born June 5, 1941) is an American businessman. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of the Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with assets in paper and packaging, sports and entertainment, real estate development and a private equity portfolio. His sports holdings include the National Football League's New England Patriots, Major League Soccer's New England Revolution, and the stadium in which both teams play, Gillette Stadium. Kraft was born in Brookline, Massachusetts. His father – Harry Kraft, a dress manufacturer in Boston's Chinatown – was a Jewish lay leader at Congregation Kehillath Israel

neg: History of the New England Patriots long-term contract with the team in the offseason. Bledsoe was traded to the Buffalo Bills in the offseason for a 1st-round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. Throughout his tenure as owner of the Patriots, Robert Kraft attempted to get a new stadium built somewhere in New England. After failing to reach an accord with either the City of Boston or the State of Rhode Island, in 1998 Kraft came close to reaching a deal with the Massachusetts Legislature for Kraft to build a new, self-financed stadium adjacent to the old stadium with the state providing $75 million in infrastructure

neg: History of the New York Jets (fewer than 22,000 attended the game; almost 56,000 ticketholders stayed home) held up a sign, "The End of an Error". Hess and team president Gutman agreed on a top candidate as new coach — Patriots coach Bill Parcells, who had won two Super Bowls with the Giants and was in the process of taking the Patriots there as well. Parcells believed that he could void his contract and seek a position elsewhere; New England owner Robert Kraft believed the Patriots would be entitled to compensation. NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue ruled in the Patriots' favor, and New England demanded the Jets

neg: Robert Kraft WTT. Following the 1978 season, Kraft announced that the franchise would fold. The league itself folded soon thereafter. After the Lobsters folded, Kraft twice tried to purchase the New England Patriots. First, in 1988, Kraft tried to purchase the team from the bankrupt Sullivan family that owned the team. He was also mentioned as a bidder for the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Celtics. A Patriots fan since their American Football League days, Kraft has been a season ticket holder since 1971, when the team moved to the then-Schaefer Stadium. In 1985, Kraft bought a 10-year option on Foxboro

neg: Gillette Stadium seating capacity is 65,878, including 5,876 club seats and 89 luxury suites. The stadium is owned and operated by Kraft Sports Group, a subsidiary of The Kraft Group, the company through which businessman Robert Kraft owns the Patriots and Revolution. The stadium was originally known as CMGI Field before the naming rights were bought by Gillette after the "dot-com" bust. Although Gillette was acquired by Procter & Gamble in 2005, the stadium retains the Gillette name because P&G has continued to use the Gillette brand name and because the Gillette company was founded in the Boston area. Gillette and the

neg: Patriot Reign The passage exposes the complex interpersonal dynamics governing the management interactions of the 1996 Patriots, the relationships between the Krafts and Parcells, and exposes key points in their characters, philosophies, and history. As the new assistant head coach for the New England Patriots, Belichick soon found he'd become the ombudsman to the novice owners Robert Kraft and his son Jonathan, who had a stormy relationship with Parcells, whom they inherited when Kraft bought the team. It was noted that there was "a history" between the owners and Parcells that was leading to a deterioration in the team's relationship. The book

neg: 1998 New England Patriots season Patriots tried to down the ball before it went into the endzone; Earl Little of the Saints grabbed it in the endzone but as he went to his knees his teammate Andre Hastings yanked it out of his hands and returned the kick 76 yards, setting up the tying field goal with 1:29 left in regulation. Bledsoe then led the Patriots downfield and Adam Vinatieri kicked the game-winning field goal with three seconds left in a 30–27 Patriots win. Several days before this Monday Night Football matchup came word that team owner Robert Kraft had secured a stadium deal in

neg: Sports in Boston Massachusetts, a site closer to the state of Rhode Island. However, the New England Patriots are generally considered to be Boston's football team. The 2002 season brought the opening of Gillette Stadium, located next door to Foxboro Stadium. Businessman Robert Kraft, who at the time owned Foxboro Stadium and the team's lease for it, purchased the team in 1994 for $175 million, ensuring the Patriots would remain in New England amid a shuffle of owners and rumors of a relocation to St. Louis. The team experienced a recent surge of success, mostly with the turn of the century. The Patriots

neg: Foxborough, Massachusetts stadium, however, lapsed into bankruptcy and was then bought by paper magnate Robert Kraft. With Kraft in control of Foxboro Stadium, he prevented the Patriots from relocating to St. Louis in 1994 by refusing to let the team break their lease, then bought the Patriots outright. Kraft then founded the New England Revolution, one of the charter clubs of Major League Soccer, in 1996. Gillette Stadium opened in 2002 as a replacement for Foxboro Stadium. The Patriot Place shopping plaza, built on land surrounding the stadium bought by Kraft, completed construction in 2009. The plaza includes a variety of restaurants,

neg: 1993 New England Patriots season completed sale of the team to Robert Kraft. 1993 New England Patriots season The 1993 New England Patriots season was the franchise’s 34th season overall and 24th in the National Football League. The Patriots finished fourth in the AFC East Division with a record of five wins and eleven losses. Amid year-long rumors that the team would move to St. Louis and become the Stallions (even to the point of a team logo being unveiled and hats being printed), the Patriots ran through the year, the first for coach Bill Parcells, who’d been a linebackers coach in Foxboro in 1980

neg: Jeff Baicher The team thought so highly of him that they protected him in the 1997 MLS Expansion Draft. However, in 1999, he was the team’s second leading scorer with three goals and nine assists when San Jose sent him to the New England Revolution for Jair on August 13, 1999. The mid-season trade sparked considerable controversy as Robert Kraft owned both teams. Kraft owned the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL) and had grown up and lived in the New England area his entire life. At the time it appeared as if Kraft had made the trade in

neg: 1997 New England Patriots season Robert Kraft soured when Kraft selected wide receiver Terry Glenn against Parcells' wishes. After the Patriots' loss in Super Bowl XXXI, Parcells resigned from the Patriots, using the phrase "If they want you to cook the dinner, at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries." Due to an earlier renegotiation that had eliminated the 1997 season from Parcells' contract, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue ruled Parcells could not be a head coach for another team in 1997. Parcells instead moved to the New York Jets as a "consultant", taking assistant head coach Bill Belichick with him

neg: History of the New England Patriots was an abnormally high number of arrests. As a result of this behavior, the Town of Foxborough and the NFL refused to schedule Monday night home games in New England. (This behavior, which occurred during day games as well, led the Patriots to only sell reduced-alcohol beer for several seasons in the 1980s.) After the Patriots' successful season, however, Robert Kraft successfully lobbied the Town of Foxborough and the NFL to schedule the Patriots on a Monday night. The NFL granted Kraft's request, scheduling the Patriots on Monday, October 23, in a game against the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots won

neg: Jon Bon Jovi Buffalo Bills American football team following the death of long-time owner Ralph Wilson. Bon Jovi denied the rumors. However, in June 2014, it was confirmed that he along with a sports ownership group from Toronto were intending to bid on the team. Bon Jovi and his ownership group made it to the final round of bidding, but the team was sold to Terry Pegula, the owner of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. Bon Jovi is a close friend of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick. He owns two Super Bowl rings from

neg: Willie Gary (American football) Willie Gary (American football) Willie Gary (born November 1, 1978), is an American football defensive back, who played in the National Football League for the St. Louis Rams, in NFL Europa for the Scottish Claymores, and in the Arena Football League for Georgia Force. He was a member of the 2001 Rams team, who lost Super Bowl XXXVI to the New England Patriots, in 2002. On February 15, 2008, he filed a $100 million lawsuit in a New Orleans, Louisiana United States district court against the Patriots, Belichick, and Patriots owner Robert Kraft seeking compensation for the Rams' Super Bowl

neg: Christian Peter Christian was convicted of disturbing the peace after a woman accused him of grabbing her throat in a Kearney, Nebraska bar. Peter said he was under the influence during the altercation and admitted to responding in an inexcusable way after she had called him a rapist. Peter was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL Draft. The pick set off a firestorm of criticism from the Boston area press, including Patriots fans and women's groups, as well as Myra Kraft, wife of Patriots owner Robert Kraft.[3] After learning more about Peter's history, the

neg: Sam Berns when Berns attended a Bruins game and met Chára afterwards. Chára had scored in that game and Berns blurted out "You're the hero!". Chára responded: "No, no, you're my hero, our hero." Before the puck dropped on Tuesday, January 14, 2014, the Bruins honored Berns with a moment of silence and a video tribute. Berns was to be an honorary captain when the New England Patriots hosted the Indianapolis Colts in a divisional playoff game on January 11, 2014; however, he died on January 10, the evening before the game. Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft issued a statement on

neg: Robert Kraft of Arts and Sciences. In 2012, he became the first NFL owner in the 43-year history of the honor to be selected for the George Halas Award by the Pro Football Writers of America. The award is presented annually to the NFL player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed. Following the April 15, 2013, Boston Marathon bombings, Kraft announced he would match up to $100,000 in donations made for the victims through the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation. In June 1963, Kraft married Myra Nathalie Hiatt, a 1964 graduate of Brandeis University and the daughter

neg: Myra Kraft The Krafts have donated more than $100 million to a wide range of charities mostly focusing on education, athletics, women’s issues, and Israel. Kraft was the president of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation, the team's non-profit entity created by the Kraft family to support charitable and philanthropic agencies throughout New England. Through her work with the Patriots Charitable Foundation, Kraft became known as the matriarch of the franchise, providing leadership by her example of volunteerism and helping others in need. Shortly after the 1996 NFL Draft, Kraft learned that the Patriots' fifth-round choice, Christian Peter of Nebraska, had a

neg: Robert Kraft a major league team owner. Following the NFL's approval of the sale, the Patriots sold out their entire 1994 season – the first full sellout in franchise history. Every home game – including preseason, regular season, and playoffs – has been sold out ever since. In 1998, Kraft considered moving the Patriots to Hartford, Connecticut, based on an offer that the state of Connecticut would finance a new stadium in downtown Hartford. On April 30, 1998, Kraft terminated the deal just before it would become binding, choosing to instead build a new stadium in Foxboro with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

neg: Myra Kraft Jacob served as president of the E.F. Dodge Paper Box Corp. in Leominster, Massachusetts and remained president when it merged with 12 other box and printing companies to become the Rand-Whitney Corp. Rand-Whitney was bought by his son-in-law, Robert Kraft, in 1972. In 1960, Kraft graduated from the private Bancroft School in Worcester, and in 1964 she graduated from Brandeis University with a degree in History. Kraft was listed by "Boston Magazine" as one of the 20 Most Powerful Women in Boston, She was president and director of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation and trustee of the Robert K.

neg: 1996 New England Patriots season 1996 New England Patriots season The 1996 New England Patriots season was the franchise's 27th season in the National Football League and the 37th overall. They finished with a record of eleven wins and five losses, and finished first in the AFC East division. After a disappointing 1995 season, Drew Bledsoe bounced back with 4,086 passing yards and threw 27 touchdown passes to just 15 interceptions while Curtis Martin had another Pro Bowl season. The team lost Super Bowl XXXI to the Green Bay Packers. The relationship between team owner Robert Kraft and coach Bill Parcells collapsed during the NFL

neg: Bill Parcells went all the way to Super Bowl XXXI, but lost to the Green Bay Packers, 35–21, in New Orleans. Parcells left the Patriots after disagreements with owner Robert Kraft. He had effectively been the team's general manager since arriving in New England, but felt Kraft would not allow him enough input in player personnel decisions. Upon his departure, Parcells famously stated: "They want you to cook the dinner; at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries. Okay?" This was mainly in reference to an incident in the Patriots' war room during the 1996 Draft. Parcells

neg: Robert Kraft a statement saying that he had given Putin the ring out of "respect and admiration" he had for the Russian people and Putin's leadership. Kraft later said his earlier statement was not true, and had been issued under pressure from the White House. The ring is on display with state gifts at the Kremlin. In 1996 Kraft founded the New England Revolution, a charter member of Major League Soccer which began playing alongside the Patriots at Foxboro Stadium. In November 2005, Kraft met with Rick Parry, the Chief Executive of English Premier League team Liverpool. Kraft was rumored to be

neg: Matthew Slater the New England Patriots 11th Ron Burton Community Service Award by owner Robert Kraft for his strong commitment to community service and leadership. Slater is one of the team’s most active community participants, regularly participating in the team’s organized community events. Slater is also the United Way representative on the New England Patriots, and is working with organizations in the greater Boston area to recruit one million volunteers as part of the wider Patriots Celebrate Volunteerism Campaign. On October 25, 2016, Slater hosted a "pop up" fundraiser to benefit Hurricane Matthew victims. He raised over $60,000 for Samaritan's Purse to

neg: Super Bowl XXXI at this age. No comment." Much of the pregame hype surrounded the conflict between Parcells and Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Kraft took control of the team after Parcells was hired, and the two of them had different ideas on how to run the organization. Six days before the Super Bowl, in an article by Will McDonough, the Boston Globe reported Parcells would leave the Patriots after the Super Bowl to become the coach of the New York Jets. The book "Patriot Reign" alleges the Patriots have cell phone records showing Parcells was in constant contact with the Jets during the

neg: Lawyer Milloy The Patriots traded three draft picks to the New York Jets in order to hire Belichick who was supposed to be the successor at head coach for the New York Jets after Bill Parcells. Belichick was Milloy's position coach as a rookie and was instrumental in the Patriots' decision to draft Milloy in 1996. Milloy was asked about Belichick by Patriots' owner Robert Kraft and stated he admired him and highly recommended Kraft hire him as the new head coach as he thought Belichick could be a great coach and could take the organization where it needed to go. Belichick

neg: 1993 New England Patriots season unknown to most, though, was that stadium owner Robert Kraft was working to force the selling of the team to him, and his control of the team’s lease ensured no move could take place until 2002 at the earliest. The season finale itself became one of the most dramatic games in the club’s history. The Patriots were hosting the Dolphins, who with champion quarterback Dan Marino out for the season after Week Five had fallen to 9–6 and required a win to make the playoffs. The Patriots led 10–7 at halftime and twice stopped the Dolphins on downs, but early

neg: Pete Carroll return to success as the defensive coordinator led to his hiring as the head coach of the New England Patriots in 1997, replacing coach Bill Parcells, who had resigned after disputes with the team's ownership. His 1997 Patriots team won the AFC East division title, but his subsequent two teams did not fare as well—losing in the wild card playoff round in 1998, and missing the playoffs after a late-season slide in 1999—and he was fired after the 1999 season. Patriots owner Robert Kraft said firing Carroll was one of the toughest decisions he has had to make since buying

neg: Spygate (NFL) was no other team in sports history who had gone through such scrutiny as the Patriots did following the initial incident in September 2007, and that the Patriots had done a full audit of their organizational procedures, with lawyers now helping the team administer the NFL rulebook, which Kraft realized "was beyond the scope of a coaching staff, or personnel people, to administe[r] properly." Robert Kraft's son, Patriots president Jonathan Kraft, spoke to WEEI the next day about the apology, which he appreciated, but believed was "delayed in coming." He said that the "Herald" called the team an hour before

neg: 2000 New England Patriots season 2000 New England Patriots season The 2000 New England Patriots season was the 31st season for the team in the National Football League and 41st season overall. They finished with a 5–11 record and in last place in the division. Following the firing of three-year head coach Pete Carroll in January, Patriots owner Bob Kraft pursued Jets assistant head coach Bill Belichick for the Patriots' head coaching vacancy. Belichick, who had been an assistant coach under Bill Parcells with the Patriots in 1997, followed Parcells to the Jets after that season and was contractually named Parcells' successor. A day after

neg: Jump Around in the game while the Rally Monkey is shown jumping up and down. The song was played during the 2015 post-season in Gillette Stadium when the New England Patriots scored the final touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens. It is the unofficial Patriots victory song at the end of games. The most widely heard playing of the song came at the end of Super Bowl XLIX before Bob Costas presided over the presentations of the Pete Rozelle Trophy to Tom Brady and the Vince Lombardi Trophy to Robert Kraft. Scottish darts world champion Gary Anderson uses the song as his walk-on

neg: WHDH (TV) (which had been in a ratings slump since the end of the 1987–88 television season) and declining profits, Mugar was eventually prompted to sell the WHDH stations. The radio station was sold to Atlantic Ventures in 1992. By 1991, the relationship between majority owner David Mugar and minority owner Robert Kraft had become strained. Kraft, who is the current owner of the New England Patriots, exercised an option that forced Mugar to purchase his shares for an estimated $25 million. This, along with the nearly $100 million debt he held from the 1986 buyout and falling advertising revenues left Mugar

neg: Andy Wasynczuk MBA from Harvard Business School in 1983 before working as a consultant at Bain & Company, where he met Boston businessman Jonathan Kraft. In January 1989, he was hired by Kraft's father, then-Foxboro Stadium owner Robert Kraft, as the chief operating officer of Foxboro Stadium Associates. When Robert Kraft purchased the Patriots in 1994, Wasynczuk, who was named the team's vice president of business operations, was called upon by Kraft to negotiate high-profile player contracts and develop salary cap management strategies. In 1999, he was promoted to chief operating officer/senior vice president while his responsibilities were expanded to include the

neg: New England Patriots Former owner Billy Sullivan was inducted by owner Robert Kraft in March 2009, the Patriots' 50th season, as a contributor. Additionally, four of these Patriots players have also been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Patriots have officially retired seven uniform numbers. In November 1971, fans voted on a 10-year Patriots anniversary team, which coincided with the team's 10 years in the then-defunct American Football League: Additional selections for returner, special teamer, and coach were added in 2009: In March 2009, as part of the Patriots' 50th anniversary, a group of local media and other team figures

neg: Scott Sanders (producer) group which includes New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, David Kraft, Roy Furman, and Jim Fantaci, and signed a film deal with Disney. The company signed a five-year deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment in August 2012 to develop and produce live versions of Sony films. In 2016, Sanders and Mara Jacobs began producing a film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical "In the Heights" through Scott Sanders Productions, with a script written by Quiara Alegría Hudes, who authored the book for the original production. Sanders and Miranda previously worked together during "The Odd Life of Timothy Green". Sanders has won two

neg: James Orthwein Partners, a private investment firm, in 1983. It was later renamed Precise Capital. Orthwein purchased the New England Patriots from Victor Kiam in 1992, when the latter was facing bankruptcy and owed him millions. During his ownership, Orthwein hired Bill Parcells as head coach and oversaw the drafting of first-overall draft pick quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who helped to return the moribund franchise to respectability. He planned to relocate the Patriots franchise to St. Louis, renaming the team the St. Louis Stallions. However, those plans were derailed when Boston paper magnate Robert Kraft, owner of Foxboro Stadium, refused to accept a

neg: 1994 New England Patriots season Broussard ran in two scores for the Bengals, but Klingler was sacked seven times and the Patriots behind Drew Bledsoe's 365 passing yards to Michael Timpson (125 yards with a 34-yard touchdown catch) and Ben Coates, two Marion Butts touchdown runs, and four Matt Bahr field goals overcame the Bengals for a 31–28 win, the Patriots' first under Robert Kraft ownership. The Patriots raced to a 20–7 lead and withstood a late Lions rally to win 23–17. Barry Sanders put on an impressive performance in the loss, rushing for 131 yards (outperforming the entire Patriots offensive backfield's 108 combined yards);

neg: Aaron Hernandez not." According to Belichick, the conversation lasted less than five minutes. Hernandez also assured Patriots owner Robert Kraft that he was innocent. On June 20, 2013, the "Boston Herald" reported the Patriots had "barred" Hernandez from Gillette Stadium. According to NFL.com, Kraft decided to have Patriots staff ask Hernandez to leave because he did not want Gillette to be "the site of a media stakeout". The "Boston Globe" reported that Kraft, Belichick (who is also effectively the Patriots' general manager), and other members of the team's management had decided, given Hernandez's history, to cut ties with Hernandez if he was

neg: Troy Brown Globe" reported that the Patriots would not offer Brown a contract for the 2008 season. On September 25, 2008, Brown officially retired from professional football during a press conference alongside Patriots owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick. He finished his playing career as the all-time leader for the New England Patriots in receptions with 557. On June 4, 2012, it was announced that Brown was elected to the Patriots Hall of Fame by fan vote, beating out former head coach Bill Parcells and safety Fred Marion. Since 2008, Brown has been a football analyst with NBC Sports Boston.

neg: Championship ring In 2012, Lawrence Taylor's son sold his father's 1990 Super Bowl ring for more than $250,000. In 2005, a minor international incident was caused when it was reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had taken a Super Bowl ring from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Kraft quickly issued a statement saying that he had given Putin the ring out of "respect and admiration" he had for the Russian people and Putin's leadership. Kraft later said his earlier statement was not true, and had been issued under pressure from the White House. The ring is on display at the Kremlin,

neg: Drew Bledsoe beat former head coach Bill Parcells and defensive lineman Houston Antwine in a fan vote. In July 2012, Bledsoe was named the 30th greatest quarterback of the NFL's post-merger era by "Football Nation". In January 2018, Bledsoe was named honorary captain of the New England Patriots as they hosted the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Championship Game. Bledsoe's Patriots had beaten the Jaguars 20–6 in the 1997 AFC Championship Game to advance to their second Super Bowl. Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a statement "Drew Bledsoe played such an integral role in our efforts to rebuild the Patriots. He

neg: American football in Israel team Group B European Championship in Italy in September 2016 with the winner of the four team tournament eligible for another qualifying round against either Denmark or Sweden, the sixth and fifth place of the 2014 championship respectively, to the A Championship to be held in Germany in 2018. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is the largest donor to Israeli American Football initiatives. Kraft has donated millions of dollars to the Israeli Football League. Additionally due to his generosity the American Football stadium in Jerusalem is called the "Kraft Family Stadium", the only American Football stadium in Israel. Kraft's

neg: 1994 New England Patriots season and New York Jets; the uniforms dated to the team's AFL days and marked the return of the Pat Patriot logo in the second season the team sported the more streamlined "Flying Elvis" look. The debut game of Robert Kraft as team owner. Drew Bledsoe and Dan Marino put on a passing clinic, combining for 894 passing yards and nine touchdowns (two caught by Ben Coates of the Patriots and three snared by Irving Fryar of the Dolphins). The game was Marino's first game back from a ruptured Achilles tendon. The Dolphins won 39–35 after the Patriots failed to convert

neg: New England Patriots load of black powder than a regular historical reenactor does, specifically 200 grains, in order to be heard throughout the stadium. ESPN writer Josh Pahigian named this one of the top ten celebrations in the league in 2007. Since 2002, the Patriots' home stadium has been Gillette Stadium, a $350 million facility privately financed by Kraft. It houses all administrative offices for the team and its owning entity, The Kraft Group, as well as the Kraft-owned Major League Soccer team, the New England Revolution. The field, which was originally natural grass, was replaced with a FieldTurf surface during the 2006

neg: History of the New England Patriots to break the operating covenant of the lease, which would then free him to move the Patriots to St. Louis. Kraft refused, which continued to bind the Patriots to playing at Foxboro. When it became apparent that Kraft would not allow Orthwein to buy out the lease, Orthwein put the team up for sale. Kraft bought the team for a then-NFL record $175 million in 1994, beating out an investor group which included Paul Newman and Walter Payton as investors (the latter of which was on the Chicago Bears team that beat the Patriots in Super Bowl XX). On February

neg: Overwatch League season, "It's a ways before you're going to see certain revenue streams, but we're already seeing a lot of traction and enthusiasm from fans." Blizzard sought out potential team owners, aiming to include teams that were localized to a geographic area. Blizzard believed having such local teams would spark more interest in esports from spectators and potential sponsors through new activities around supporting their team. A first meeting for prospective team owners was held at Blizzcon 2016 after League's announcement, with New England Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft, and Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke among the attendees. During the formulative

neg: Jonathan Kraft from 1999–2000, the two years which the Kraft Group owned the team. He has 3 children, two sons and a daughter. In 1995, Kraft married Patricia Lipoma in a Jewish ceremony at the Chestnut Hill home of his parents. She is a convert to Judaism. Jonathan Kraft Jonathan A. Kraft (born March 4, 1964) is an American businessman. He is president of The Kraft Group, the holding company of the Kraft family's many business interests. He is also the president of the New England Patriots and owner/investor of the New England Revolution. Kraft was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, to a

neg: Devon Still during a game with the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, a music video was shown on the stadium's video screen featuring Still's daughter. The Patriots cheerleaders also donned copies of Still's' jersey to show support. It was further reported that Patriots owner Robert Kraft was donating $25,000 to Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center in Leah's name. On March 18, 2015, Still announced that Leah had undergone surgery to get the tumor out, and that she was now cancer-free. On July 15, 2015, at the ESPY awards, Devon and Leah Still received the Jimmy V Award

neg: History of the New England Patriots allow Belichick to become the Patriots' head coach. With the deal, the Patriots sent their 1st-round pick in the 2000 NFL Draft and 4th- and 7th-round picks in the 2001 Draft to the Jets, while also receiving the Jets' 5th-round selection in 2001 and 7th-round pick in 2002. Soon after hiring Belichick, Kraft gave him near-complete control over football matters — effectively making him the team's general manager as well. Ironically, Parcells had left New England in part because Kraft was not willing to let him have the final say in football operations. Belichick restructured the team's personnel department in

neg: History of the New England Patriots stretch, finishing 8–8 and out of the playoffs for the first time since 1995. Further demoralizing the team was a late-season fight between Lawyer Milloy and receiver Vincent Brisby that began at a charity event hosted by linebacker Willie McGinest and continued the next day at a team meeting. Following the season finale, Carroll was fired, while Vice President of Player Personnel Bobby Grier was retained only until the 2000 NFL Draft. Following the firing of three-year head coach Pete Carroll in January 2000, Patriots owner Robert Kraft pursued Jets assistant head coach Bill Belichick for the Patriots' head coaching

neg: New England Patriots have employed specific on-field and off-field strategies. On the field, the Patriots have typically used an "Erhardt–Perkins" offense and a "Fairbanks–Bullough" 3–4 defense, referred to commonly as a two-gap 3–4 defensive system. Their philosophy in making personnel decisions and in game planning has focused on the "team" concept, stressing preparation, strong work ethic, versatility, and lack of individual ego. This approach, which has led to five Super Bowl victories under Belichick, was analyzed in the 2004 book "Patriot Reign". When owner Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994, he did so for $175 million. Since then, the Patriots have sold

neg: 1994 New England Patriots season game only gained 2.79 yards per attempt, the worst of any NFL team since the merger. (The average ground gain in 1994 was 3.7 yards per carry.) New England's 1,332 yards were dead-last in the AFC, and the second-fewest in the NFL to Atlanta. The team's 35th season in football, 1994 marked the debut of Robert Kraft as team owner. A long-time season-ticket holder, Kraft has steadily built up a business empire to where in the late 1980s he was able to purchase the land around Sullivan Stadium and then the stadium itself – which he renamed "Foxboro Stadium" –

neg: Patriot Reign then pauses to give a football background history of Robert Kraft, and then moving tangentially into the Krafts's business history, touches on Kraft's financial evaluation that the Patriots could not be successful economically as a franchise without also owning the stadium and its revenues. Kraft couldn't afford to buy the Patriots in 1988, but when former Patriots owner Billy Sullivan sold the team to Victor Kiam, Kraft prevented Sullivan and Foxboro Stadium from going bankrupt by purchasing the stadium, making him the team's landlord. This positioned Kraft — a lifelong Patriots fan — to purchase the team in 1994. The

neg: Boston Lobsters the Philadelphia Freedoms. After the original Lobsters folded, Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, purchased the Freedoms and moved them to Boston renaming them the Lobsters. The second Lobsters team played in Boston for four seasons (1975–1978) before folding at the end of the 1978 season. WTT suspended operations shortly thereafter. In 2005, local Boston businessman Bahar Uttam relaunched the team. The Lobsters made the Mylan WTT league's playoffs four times and Uttam played a vibrant role in the greater North Shore of Massachusetts communities. The development and management of the team had been led by Darlene Hayes

neg: Myra Kraft lengthy history of violence against women. At her insistence, coupled by backlash from women's groups and Patriots fans against Peter's signing, the Patriots relinquished Peter's rights only a week after the draft. Kraft married Robert Kraft in June 1963 while she was a student at Brandeis. They have four sons: Kraft was a member of Temple Emanuel in Newton, Massachusetts. Kraft died from cancer on July 20, 2011, at age 68, in her Brookline, Massachusetts home. Public services were held at Temple Emanuel in Newton, Massachusetts. In her memory, all Patriots players wore a patch on their uniforms bearing Kraft's

neg: Israel Football League dating back to 1988, when American emigrant Steve Leibowitz founded a touch football league. In the Summer of 2005, Becker and Leibowitz agreed to merge their leagues and founded the current incarnation of the IFL. However, it wasn't until 2007 that the first official season took place with coaches, referees and full equipment under the governing body of American Football in Israel (AFI). The inaugural season consisted of four teams and concluded with the Jerusalem Lions winning IsraBowl I. In 2008, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and his family began to sponsor the IFL and donated Kraft Family Stadium

neg: Harry Downes became head football coach at Quincy High School in Quincy, Massachusetts. From 1938 until his death in 1970, he was head coach at Brookline High School. The football field at Brookline High was named in honor of him, however in 2006 the name was changed to the Kraft Family Athletic Facility at Harry Downes Field after New England Patriots owner and BHS alumnus Robert Kraft donated $400,000 toward the renovation of the field and encouraged the National Football League to donate an additional $200,000 to the project. Harry Downes Henry J. "Harry" Downes (August 3, 1910 – February 5, 1970)

neg: Al Michaels and Steven. Steven Michaels serves as President and CEO of independent film company Asylum Entertainment in Los Angeles. Michaels is also a Los Angeles Kings season ticket holder. Al's younger brother, David, is a television producer. David Michaels has produced such programs as NBC's coverage of the Olympic Games, Triple Crown and Fox Sports Net's "Beyond the Glory" series. In March 2011, Michaels accompanied New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and his wife, Myra, to Israel to visit Kraft Family Stadium in Jerusalem, an American football venue and home to three teams in the Israeli Football League, which is sponsored

neg: 2011 New England Patriots season All-Pro team: Gronkowski and Welker were named to the first team, while Mankins and Wilfork were named to the second team. 2011 New England Patriots season The 2011 New England Patriots season was the 42nd season for the team in the National Football League and 52nd season overall. The Patriots finished the regular season at 13–3, and represented the AFC in Super Bowl XLVI. It was the seventh Super Bowl trip in franchise history, and the fifth for head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. The Patriots dedicated their 2011 season to the memory of Myra Kraft, the wife

neg: 1996 NFL season that a special teams player has earned that award. All that was nearly overshadowed by the press feeding frenzy reporting and commenting on the rumor, between the AFC championship game up to and into the broadcast coverage of Super Bowl XXXI itself, that iconic coach Bill Parcells was planning on breaking his contract with the New England Patriots because he did not get along well with owner Robert Kraft, who had helped turn around New England's image after years of ownership that was either dismal or absent. In the event, Parcells did not even return with the players, and telephone

neg: NFL playoffs road. The NFL's Competition Committee withdrew the request later that offseason, with Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay mentioning that they wanted the idea to simply get a discussion going. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was a strong opponent of the rule change, believing that "if you win a division, it's good for your fans to know you will have a home game." Just before the 2010–11 Saints-Seahawks playoff game, McKay wanted to revisit the previous proposal to reseed teams during wild-card weekend. However, sportswriter Peter King wrote that he believed league owners were still hesitant on implementing any such

neg: Victor Kiam bought the NFL's New England Patriots from founder Billy Sullivan. The sale did not include Foxboro Stadium, which Sullivan lost in a bankruptcy sale to paper magnate Robert Kraft, and Kiam lost money on the deal. In 1990, Lisa Olson, a "Boston Herald" reporter, sued Kiam and the Patriots when Zeke Mowatt allegedly exposed himself and made lewd comments to her in the team change room. The incident stirred debate over female reporters in the locker room. Kiam became the center of the controversy when he came to the defense of the players' actions. The episode helped inspire the 2013

neg: Brady/Belichick Era which came in the fourth quarter. He is also lauded for his competitiveness and desire to win despite underwhelming physical characteristics. Upon being drafted and entering training camp, he greeted Patriots owner Robert Kraft, saying that drafting him was the 'best decision this organization has ever made." In the 2000 NFL Draft, first year head coach Bill Belichick was looking for ways to improve the New England team that had not been to a Super Bowl since 1996. Belichick had been hired after Pete Carroll was fired following the 1999 season. Prior to the draft the Patriots sent quarterbacks coach

neg: Tom Birmingham in 2001. In 1999, his proposal to keep the home stadium of The New England Patriots in Massachusetts was accepted by Patriots owner Robert Kraft and passed by the state legislature. Birmingham served as Senior Counsel at the law firm of Edwards Wildman Palmer, taught state and local government at Tufts University and education policy at Northeastern University in Boston. In March 2014, he joined Citizen Schools Massachusetts as Executive Director. In early 2015, he left Citizen Schools Massachusetts to become a distinguished senior fellow in education at Pioneer Institute. His is listed as a notable holder of the Birmingham

neg: Tedy Bruschi touchdowns to which Bruschi contributed. On August 30, 2009, broadcast of "Sunday Night Football", Al Michaels reported that Bruschi would announce his retirement after 13 seasons in the NFL. Bruschi confirmed his retirement on August 31, 2009 at a press conference alongside New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft. During this broadcast, Bruschi described how fulfilled he felt in completing his 13 years of playing football. He described how it felt to know that he had reached all of the goals he wanted to reach. One writer speculated that Bruschi retired from the Patriots in the

neg: Racial views of Donald Trump Dallas Cowboys's owner Jerry Jones after he announced that he would bench players who failed to stand during the anthem. That month Colin Kaepernick filed a collusion case against the NFL, charging that NFL owners, under the influence of Trump, had colluded to agree not to hire Kaepernick as punishment for his protests. In a player-owner meeting several owners expressed reluctance to continue allowing players to protest as they feared Trump. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, a public supporter of Trump, stated “The problem we have is, we have a president who will use that as fodder to do

neg: Spygate (NFL) a report for ESPN, Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham contend that commissioner Roger Goodell's handling of Deflategate was influenced by his hasty and incomplete handling of the Spygate incident. Van Natta Jr. and Wickersham argue that the true extent of the Spygate scandal was covered up by Goodell and the National Football League in order to protect the image of the NFL and as a favor to New England Patriots' owner Robert Kraft, who was in part responsible for Goodell's promotion to commissioner. The report alleges a highly complex system in which opposing teams' signals were recorded, decoded,

neg: Joe Mixon but several teams removed him from their draft board entirely due to character concerns after a prior assault on Amelia Molitor, a female student at Oklahoma. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said, "While I believe in second chances and giving players an opportunity for redemption, I also believe that playing in the NFL is a privilege, not a right. For me, personally, I believe that privilege is lost for men who have a history of abusing women." After Mixon was drafted, ESPN writer Dan Graziano wrote that, "No 2017 draft pick enters the league under more intense scrutiny or

neg: Tuck rule (American football) Phoenix on March 20, 2013. The only team to vote against the elimination of the tuck rule was the Pittsburgh Steelers, while the New England Patriots and Washington Redskins abstained from the vote. Afterwards, referring obliquely to the 2002 Tuck Rule Game, Patriots owner Robert Kraft said, "I love the tuck rule, and forever will, and I know [longtime Raiders owner] Al Davis, may he rest in peace, is probably smiling.” The current rule reads: Passer Tucks Ball. If the player loses possession of the ball during an attempt to bring it back toward his body, or if the player

neg: History of the New England Patriots Stadium, however, lapsed into bankruptcy, and was bought out of bankruptcy court by Boston paper magnate Robert Kraft — a development whose importance wouldn't be fully realized until long after the Sullivans had left the scene. Although the Patriots were respectable in 1988, missing the playoffs by only a game, the 1989 season was a disaster for the team. Three of the team's biggest players on defense (Andre Tippett, Garin Veris and Ronnie Lippett) were injured in the same preseason game. Neither Eason, Flutie, nor Grogan emerged as the starting quarterback, and each rotated the starting quarterback job throughout the

neg: Charles Sarkis New England). The track reopened on May 27, 1992, under the name Foxboro Park. Foxboro Park was unprofitable due to an outbreak of an equine virus, a low level of betting, and significant cost overruns during construction. In 1996, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft purchased the track and moved to evict Sarkis on the grounds that he did not have a valid lease. On July 29, 1997, Sarkis was ordered to vacate the property. In 1964, Sarkis married Nancy Hennessey. The couple had six children. They divorced in 1998. The following year, Sarkis married "Fortune" president and publisher Jolene

neg: 1997 New England Patriots season to be the Jets' head coach; Kraft called this a "transparent farce" and accused the Jets of tampering with Parcells. The NFL ruled in the Patriots' favor and the Patriots received third and fourth-round picks in the 1997 NFL Draft, a second-round pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, and a first-round pick in the 1999 NFL Draft in compensation for allowing Parcells to become the Jets' head coach. Taking Parcells' place with the Patriots was Pete Carroll, who had coincidentally been the Jets' head coach in 1994. The Patriots began the season 5–1 but featured a 6–5 record later in

neg: George S. Halas Courage Award of Famers Dan Hampton and Joe Montana, Denver Broncos guard Mark Schlereth, former N.Y. Giant Kerry Collins, San Francisco 49ers Garrison Hearst and Bryant Young, Carolina coach and former linebacker Sam Mills, Dolphins running back Robert Edwards, Carolina linebacker Mark Fields, Indianapolis Colt Head Coach Tony Dungy, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, New England Patriots Owner Robert Kraft (first NFL owner and first Patriot to receive one), and former Saints safety and ALS patients' advocate, Steve Gleason. George S. Halas Courage Award The Pro Football Writers Association George S. Halas Courage Award is given to a NFL player, coach

neg: Marty Walsh (politician) election. He advanced to the general election and faced second place vote-getter, Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson, who had received 29% of the vote. Walsh defeated Jackson in the general election held on November 7, with 65% of the vote, compared to Jackson's 34%. Walsh resides in the Lower Mills neighborhood of Dorchester with his long-time girlfriend Lorrie Higgins. He is a recovering alcoholic, with twenty-one years of continuous sobriety in a twelve-step program. Walsh has been a season ticket holder of American football's New England Patriots since franchise owner Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994. He is a

neg: Bartram Trail High School the Super Bowl games, in building and maintaining the field. After the two weeks of practice in Bartram Trail, a few of the New England Patriots and owner Robert Kraft came in on the last day to talk with the students and thank them for their hospitality, as New England head coach Bill Belichick had done earlier in a morning press conference. In February 2007, Project Alaska Turf was started by Cathy Parker, a Bartram Trail High School parent and wife of a Bartram Trail football offensive coordinator. Project Alaska Turf was inspired by an Emmy Award winning ESPN documentary

neg: Robert Kraft infrastructure funding. In 2002, a $350-million stadium for the Patriots was privately financed by Kraft, initially called the CMGI Field (later renamed Gillette Stadium). In 2007, Kraft began to develop the land around Gillette Stadium, creating a $375-million open-air shopping and entertainment center called Patriot Place. The development included "The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon," a multi-story museum and hall of fame attached to the stadium, and the "CBS Scene," a CBS-themed restaurant. Under Kraft's ownership, the Patriots experienced newfound and sustained success. While the Patriots appeared in Super Bowl XX under their original owners, the Sullivans, this

neg: Robert Kraft of the late Worcester, Massachusetts businessman and philanthropist Jacob Hiatt. The two had a very happy marriage, and she supported him throughout his career. She succumbed to ovarian cancer, aged 68, on July 20, 2011, and Kraft was devastated by her death. The Krafts were members of Temple Emanuel in Newton, Massachusetts. In her memory, all Patriots players wore a patch on their uniforms bearing Kraft's initials (MHK) throughout the 2011–2012 season. They had four sons: In June 2012, Kraft began dating actress Ricki Noel Lander, who is 39 years his junior. In July 2012, Kraft assisted Lander in creating

neg: Patriot Place Shop, a large store selling various apparel and memorabilia themed to the New England Patriots. Patriot Place Patriot Place is an open-air shopping center owned by The Kraft Group. It is located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, built around Gillette Stadium, the home of the New England Patriots and New England Revolution. The first phase opened in fall 2007, which included the construction of a small strip mall. The second phase is built on the site of Foxboro Stadium. It is also home to one of the first locations for Showcase Cinemas' Cinema de Lux brand. Bass Pro Shops built their first

neg: Bain Capital partner. He later became referred to as managing director or CEO as well. He was also the sole shareholder of the firm. At the beginning, the firm had fewer than ten employees. In the face of skepticism from potential investors, Romney and his partners spent a year raising the $37 million in funds needed to start the new operation. Bain partners put in $12 million of their own money and sourced the rest from wealthy individuals. Early investors included Boston real estate mogul Mortimer Zuckerman and Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots football team. They also included

neg: 1996 New England Patriots season draft, when Parcells wanted to draft a defensive lineman but Kraft overruled him, giving head scout Bobby Grier the choice of a player, and receiver Terry Glenn was selected. Parcells stormed out of the Patriots draft war room after the choice was made and vowed to reporter Will McDonough that he was done with New England after 1996. Despite this, the Patriots rallied from a 0–2 start to finish 11–5, then defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers and the upstart Jacksonville Jaguars to advance to Super Bowl XXXI. The season saw the arrival of former Cleveland Browns coach Bill Belichick as he

neg: Boston Convention and Exhibition Center station on the MBTA Silver Line, with direct connections to South Station and Logan Airport. For a short time in 1997, the owner of the National Football League's New England Patriots—Robert Kraft—and Massport tried unsuccessfully to turn the same parcel of land that the convention center is on into a new home stadium for the football team that would have been closer to Boston, but both were unable to get the surrounding neighborhoods to agree with the deal because of concerns about traffic. The push for a new convention center in Boston came in the late 1990s when the semi-annual

neg: 2014 New England Patriots season the game, the Patriots paid tribute to Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still, whose daughter is battling cancer, with a short film during a television timeout saluting his daughter while the Patriots cheerleaders donned Devon Still #75 jerseys; the gesture and donation by the Kraft family to the Cincinnati hospital at which she is being treated, brought a standing ovation and moved Still to tears. With the win, the Patriots advanced to 3-2, making many rethink the "death" of the Patriots. The 505 total yards of offense was the Patriots highest output of the season. The Patriots forced the Bengals into

neg: History of the New England Patriots played mostly under thick fog. They then held off the Jacksonville Jaguars 20–6 in the first AFC Championship game played in Foxboro (a game marked by a sudden power "brownout" just as rookie kicker Adam Vinatieri was to attempt a field goal in the 2nd quarter). The team advanced to Super Bowl XXXI against the Green Bay Packers. In the months and years after Kraft's purchase of the Patriots, relations between Kraft and Parcells were increasingly strained. This was primarily due to a struggle over Parcells' authority over football operations. Kraft wanted Parcells to yield some of his authority over

neg: Robert Kraft Kiam in 1988. However, the stadium lapsed into bankruptcy. In 1988, Kraft outbid several competitors, including Kiam, to buy the stadium out of bankruptcy court from Sullivan for $22 million. The stadium was considered to be outdated and nearly worthless, but the purchase included the stadium's lease to the Patriots, which ran through 2001. The lease was ironclad enough to end Sullivan's three-decade involvement with the Patriots. When he and Kiam tried to move the team to Jacksonville, Kraft refused to let them break the lease. As a result, when Kiam was nearly brought down by bad investments of his

neg: Mark Davis (American football) well-received", and stating, "It was a very positive step in finding the Raiders a home." On May 20, 2016, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said he would support Davis and the Raiders move to Las Vegas, stating, "I think it would be good for the NFL." If the Raiders were to move to Las Vegas the only competition they would have is the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League. On August 11, 2016, Raiders officials met with Northern Nevada officials about the possibility of Reno being the site of a new training camp/practice facility and toured several