Best of The Herd

Tom Brady in about an hour; Tuesday, live from Los Angeles, this is The Herd, and I’m starting with this: owners matter more than fans want to admit, and Robert Kraft being left out of 2026 while Jerry’s already in makes no sense.

Before Kraft, New England was a doormat; after Kraft, they became the league’s pace car across multiple coaches and quarterbacks, which is exactly why great ownership correlates to great outcomes.

If you were angry about Bill not getting in on the first ballot, save some for this too, because dynasties happen when the owner, GM, coach, and quarterback are all high level, and Kraft checks his box every time.

Sam Darnold’s a good example of how attitude shapes opportunity—bad situations with the Jets and Panthers, steady growth with the Niners, and he earned real trust in Minnesota without bitterness or excuses.

I was grateful to be drafted by the Jets, then learned a ton in Carolina and San Francisco, and later in Minnesota with great coaches and teammates.

Quick NBA note: Giannis is a massive talent but not a plug‑and‑play scorer, so a deadline swing only makes sense for a team like the Warriors chasing Steph’s window rather than the Knicks or Heat resetting working identities.

Also, Super Bowls should live where winter weather won’t hijack the week—Miami fits the vibe and logistics in a way places like Jacksonville simply don’t, and that’s me loving the event and the fan experience.

Back to New England and Vrabel: real “open dialogue” with an owner matters, and Kraft proved it on the Brady‑Jimmy G fork in the road while other franchises keep penny‑pinching coaches and paying for it later.

The Patriots were misjudged in September, grew into themselves by Thanksgiving, and with that, Tom Brady joins us.

Is there danger in over‑preparing for a Super Bowl to the point of paralysis, or did you always want more information?

I could never get enough prep; more information let me play free, though some guys need fewer details and that’s fine, but this game is unforgettable so you pour everything into it.

Did you ever feel you had the better roster going in, and does that change how you play?

In a one‑and‑done sport the best team doesn’t always win because a single turnover or special‑teams swing can flip everything, which is why margins, not paper matchups, decide these games.

You called Darnold more explosive than surgical, yet against the Rams he played like a surgeon—do you see him tailoring his approach to the defense and the roster?

Absolutely—shell looks force underneath decisions, press looks challenge you deep, and the best quarterbacks arrive at the line with a plan and process fast, which is why veterans like Stafford keep leveling up.

How did you and Josh McDaniels pace the two‑week install—front‑load, add late, or trim?

We trimmed to what we’d actually call and sometimes added late, like in 2014 versus Seattle when we built red‑zone answers on Friday night and installed them Saturday, then scored on two of them.

Did you loop in the whole offense on those late tweaks?

Yes, we walked them through and used hard play‑action to influence Bobby Wagner so I could key one defender in a very disciplined scheme.

How much will Vrabel lean into the underdog angle this week?

He’ll post every slight he can find, and it works because this group earned respect with toughness and variety on both sides of the ball, which is why this matchup feels so good.

Make the case for Kraft as a Hall‑of‑Fame owner.

Leadership starts at the top, and Kraft set standards, stayed present, held people accountable, and also served the league’s growth, so like Bill it’s not an if but a when.

Did the initial snub sting Bill, or did it galvanize his people?

It sparked outreach from a lot of former players, and when he does get in the appreciation will be even louder because of moments like this.

One last thought: when the commissioner trusts one owner to shepherd media talks, that tells you everything about stature and steadiness—back after this from LA on The Herd.