Hartford Courant

Kraft has one more contract for Brady to sign

Owner wants QB to retire as a Patriot

- By Andrew Callahan

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 1-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 talking to Texans: Nick

Caley didn’t get the offensive coordinato­r job in New England or with the New York Jets after interviewi­ng in both places recently, but he’s now in the running for Houston’s job.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Texans interviewe­d the Patriots tight ends coach for their offensive coordinato­r job on Demeco Ryans’ staff.

Caley, 39, has been an assistant

for the Patriots’ offense since 2015 and is team’s the longest-tenured offensive coach. He’s been coaching the tight ends since 2017.

He has never called plays, but is a well-respected coach in the organizati­on.

Caley was passed over for the OC job last season, when head coach Bill Belichick decided former defensive coordinato­r Matt Patricia and one-time special teams

coordinato­r Joe Judge were the best choice to lead the offense.

After that debacle, the Patriots recently appointed Bill O’brien from a pool of candidates that also included Caley, who’s contract is up in New England.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States