Aaron Hernandez Murder Case: Patriots Owner Disputes Rolling Stone Article
New England Patriots president Robert Kraft is not too thrilled about the way his team was portrayed in a recent Rolling Stone article on former NFL star Aaron Hernandez.
The article, titled "The Gangster in the Huddle," ran on Wednesday and immediately caught everyone's attention with its in-depth reporting on the life of the former Patriots tight end. But it also drew criticism, most notably from Patriots executives who were skeptical from the beginning.
"I read that article, and there's so much in it, and it reads like it's all factual, people were there, yet there are no named [sources]," Kraft said in a radio interview on 98.5 The Sports Hub. "It's all unnamed, and yet it appears like people are in some very private moments and got the dialogue just right."
Kraft specifically pointed out some parts in which he even asked coach Bill Belichick for clarification. At one point the article said that Hernandez flew to meet with Belichick and it was said that the NFL star then told his coach that he feared for his life. Kraft was puzzled about this part of the story and went to double check with the coach.
"I actually saw Bill -- I think I would've known if that had ever happened -- but I saw Bill today and I said, 'Bill, did Aaron ever tell you his life was in danger?' And he's like, 'Absolutely not.'
Kraft said that if a player said he was in actual danger as described in the article, the team would call the authorities. As far as it goes, it doesn't seem like Belichick ever called the authorities.
The Patriots owner also called into question the claim that Belichick told Hernandez that he would cut him from the team if he continued along the dangerous path he was on.
"Bill would never threaten a player with being cut 12 months down the road," Kraft said. "It makes no sense, both in terms of how you're interacting with the player and in terms of the cap."
Aaron Hernandez is currently in jail on murder and gun charges stemming from the death of Odin Lloyd, who was found dead in June. Hernandez is also embroiled in a possible double-homicide case from 2012.