“This team has been my savior. I’ve had my four sons and eight grandchildren, and this team has been like an extended family,’’ Kraft said yesterday, during a wide-ranging, 30-minute news conference in which he tackled a number of topics, including coach Bill Belichick, quarterback Tom Brady, helping end the lockout, and the team returning to London for a game next season. “I pinch myself that I have the privilege of owning this franchise. We have such a great group of young men and they’ve been great to me, really great.’’
Since buying the team from James Busch Orthwein for $175 million in 1994, Kraft, who witnessed just one home playoff game in the 34 years he sat in the stands as a fan, is about to watch over his teams’ 15th home playoff game with him as owner, and seventh AFC Championship game. Win tomorrow, and he’ll make his sixth trip to the Super Bowl.
It would be the first since Myra Kraft died July 20, losing his beloved “sweetheart’’ after a long battle with cancer. Since then, “MHK’’ patches on Patriots uniforms and pins worn by coaches and team staff have been unavoidable visible reminders of the impact she made on the organization. The commissioned painting given a few weeks ago by the team to Kraft - showing a huddle of uniformed Patriot players pointing up to Myra’s initials - continues to occupy a spot in the middle of the locker room after games.
“I’m a great believer in spirituality, so I’m pretty pleased and excited that we have the privilege of playing in this game at home. We hope to have a lot of fun this Sunday at 3 o’clock,’’ Kraft said. “I really like this team a lot this year. We have a very good locker room. Sometimes, a few of them come through and they touch the patch and say, ‘That one was for mama.’ I hope we keep it going.’’
