Yesterday Forbes announced its list of the 50 most valuable sports franchises in the world and the Patriots came in at No. 8. According to CBS Sports' Pat Kirwan, the owner of the New England Patriots is also one of the NFL's most influential people. Kirwan made a list of ten people who have had the biggest impact on the NFL today and Robert Kraft came in at No. 3.
Check out a selection of photos from day two of Patriots Mini-Camp which took place on the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium on Wednesday, June 18, 2014.
"The league's most influential owner serves on many committees, can sway owners to act in a unified manner and was very visible during the CBA negotiations," says Kirwan. "From the success of his franchise to how to get a stadium built, Kraft is the model for top-flight ownership."
The Boston Globe's Chris Gasper is begging for the Patriots to rescue our summer. He says that Patriots training camp gives Boston sports fans something to look forward to amidst a very dull sports summer. Gasper's colleague, Tony Massarotti echoed the same feelings and says he's ready for some football! He believes with Darrelle Revis anchoring the defense, the Patriots could be dominant in 2014.
"Now, unquestionably, the Patriots stand alone on Beacon Hill, our greatest and most immediate hope for another parade of Duck Boats," writes Massaroti. "We anticipate the start of the football season the way they do in places like Dallas and Pittsburgh, where football takes hold of the land as if it were rooted in the soil."
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ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss provided a camp preview yesterday. He highlights three storylines that are among the biggest issues for the Patriots heading into camp. Additionally, Eric Frenz of *Boston.com continues his daily preview of the Patriots roster -- today he's focusing on the safety position. Other than Devin McCourty, it's difficult to predict who will be starting this year but he gives the nod to Duron Harmon.
"His high football IQ allows him to quickly diagnose route combinations," says Frenz on Harmon. "He has great first-step quickness to begin closing on the pass before it gets to the receiver, giving him a chance to knock the ball out when he arrives."
As for Tom Brady and the quarterbacks, Christopher Price continues his own countdown to training camp with a breakdown of the Patriots QB position. In the article on WEEI.com, Price lists three things we know about group and three questions that we're hoping to have answered.
"Ultimately, this team will only go as far as Brady can take it," says Price. "If the quarterback is able to build on the chemistry that was forged with the new receivers last season — and Gronkowski stays healthy for all 16 games and into the playoffs — there's a good chance he and the Patriots survive the rest of the AFC and get another shot at an elusive fourth Super Bowl."
Bob Ryan joined Gary Tanguay on Comcast SportsNet's "Early Edition" last night to discuss which players they think will have the most successful seasons. Tom Brady, Darrelle Revis, Jerod Mayo and Chandler Jones were among the players that the duo listed during the segment.
