Kraft wants to sign Brady to 1-day contract
Patriots owner Robert Kraft issued a video statement Wednesday congratulating Tom Brady on his retirement.
On Thursday, Kraft called for Brady to come home.
In an interview with CNN This Morning, Kraft said he wants Brady to retire a Patriot by signing a one-day contract with the team.
“I’d do it tomorrow,” Kraft said. “Not only do I want it, our fans are clamoring for it and to us. He always has been and always will be a Patriot. …We’ll do everything we can in our power to bring him back, sign off as a Patriot and find ways to honor him for many years to come. He did so much to bring life and good cheer to our community and he’s a beloved figure and he’s earned the respect and love that people feel for him like no other athlete in our town and we’ve had some great ones.”
Kraft also disclosed he talked with Brady on Wednesday.
“He Facetimed me yesterday, not — nothing about this,” Kraft said. “Just, you know, it was the first day and he had his two younger children with him. And he really seemed happy. And they were happy. And I — I loved it because his little daughter said — well, both of his kids, they call me RKK and they say, we miss you. We haven’t seen you. And it was — and, you know, it’s just Tommy, he — he’s a fierce competitor, but he brings love and a great warm feeling to everything he does.”
Asked to offer parting words to Brady in the interview, Kraft added: “Well, Tommy, I’m always here for you. You’re — you are a part of our family. You know, and partly — he was blessed having great parents. His mom and dad are super people. He’s got three great sisters. And I was thinking about it, he was the baby, you know.
And — so to have four great women like that and then a role model. and for him not to be super spoiled, I don’t know how it happened. You know, out there in California area, where everything is a little different than it is here in the Northeast. He just — we — we — we — I tell you, I just love the guy so much and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him.”
Caley interviews in Houston
Patriots tight ends coach Nick Caley didn’t get the offensive coordinator job in New England or with the New York Jets, but he’s now in the running for Houston’s vacancy.
According to NFL Network, the Texans interviewed Caley to be their offensive coordinator under newly-hired head coach
DeMeco Ryans. Caley, 39, has been on the Patriots’ staff since 2015 and is team’s the longest-tenured offensive coach. He’s coached tight ends since 2017.
Caley has never called plays, but is well-regarded in the organization. Caley was passed over for the Patriots’ OC job last season, when head coach Bill Belichick decided former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and one-time special teams coordinator Joe Judge were his best option to lead the offense. Last month, Belichick again passed Caley over in favor of new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.
Caley’s contract is set to expire this offseason.
Extra points
University of Oregon head coach Dan Lanning told reporters this week he doesn’t expect any changes to his staff, indicating associate head coach/offensive line coach Adriam Klemm will not join the Patriots. The Pats reportedly interviewed Klemm twice for a spot on their staff, first for their offensive coordinator vacancy and again after they hired Bill O’Brien … According to a source, linebackers coach Jerod Mayo may not receive a title change after negotiating a new contract with the team, though his role could change and he will receive a significant pay increase. Mayo reportedly sat with Belichick during offensive coordinator interviews.