Addressing reporters for the first time Monday since Aaron Hernandez was charged with murder, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft conceded that his organization placed too much undue trust in the former tight end. "No one in our organization was aware of any of these kind of connections. If it's true, I'm just shocked," Kraft said via The Boston Globe. "Our whole organization has been duped." Calling Hernandez a "most likeable young man," Kraft painted the picture of a player who often said the right things but had trouble following through in the end. Hernandez impressed the Patriots after the 2010 NFL Draft by sending a letter asking for trust and agreeing to bi-weekly drug tests throughout his rookie season. Hernandez went on to convince Kraft that his goal was to be a role model in the Hispanic community. Source: NFL.com
They were "duped"? Is this the same scouting combine that asked Dez Bryant if his momma was a tramp? The same scouting combine that asked Manti Te'o if he was gay? I'm not buying this. They probably didn't know he was this bad, but they knew that he wasn't a Boy Scout. Yet they took him anyway.
"Duped" or just not thorough enough? There was nothing but a crap ton of red flags surrounding Hernandez...lol. You weren't "duped," you took a chance and lost...big. It happens...
I dont think there was a crap ton of red flags at the time. There were some, but everything was pretty hush. His biggest concern on draft day was he was undersized and not overly fast for a small TE....i dont really blame kraft for this one
Has anyone uncovered why the case in FL got "forgotten about" ? It seemed like the police were putting a case together, and then it just ended somehow. That would seem like a pretty serious red flag to me
up until 20 days ago, Gronk was the only problem child TE in NE...cause he likes to dance and drink and party
• Drug Use • "Character Problems" • "Shady" Friends • Father Died Then there were the reports about the whole self esteem wrap on him. His short temper, stability issues and my favorite was his "street activity." Like all players, there's a risk/reward and I don't blame Kraft for them drafting him. But don't say you were "duped." He definitely had a lot of flags...so do a lot of players
Hindsight is always 20/20 when a team drafts a murderer lol You just described half of the university of florida football team
He took a chance on somebody,and he was wrong. he is not the 1st billionaire to do it,and he won't be the last!
Right...and probably 70% of the league. Kraft took a big risk and it started to pay off and then "tanked." Saying you were "duped" is just silly IMO.
They were definitely duped....maybe not duped into drafting him, but he stayed clean his entire stay there, didnt fail any drug tests, showed no violent behavior, showed up to meetings, was good with coaches, and produced on the field. Then they give him $42 million extension, thats a classic dupe
He stayed "clean" for the short time, but there were signs in the locker room with reporters that he wasn't right. When he flipped out on Welker when he was a rookie and told Welker he would heck him up. He never hung around his teammates and was always connected to the Latin Kings during his time in New England. If he was "clean enough" and stayed out of trouble, sure give him an extension. The guy was a great player...but it was still a bigger risk than it wasn't. The signs were there as well and if the Boston writers knew it from law enforcement, then it's a good bet that the Patriots did too.
Yeah but how in the world were the Pats to know that he would be a suspected murderer? Hernandez was a solid TE till all this happened right? I think Kraft should have said nothing in the place of saying they were duped.
I agree [MENTION=2876]DaBears22[/MENTION]. To me it just sounds like he's making excuses and trying to put blame on Hernandez, when in actuality, there really is no "blame" other than Hernandez allegedly murdering someone.
