Patriots owner Robert Kraft had been on the podium before. But following his team’s historic comeback and the prolonged Deflategate controversy, the Patriots’ fifth Lombardi Trophy contained extra meaning.
“A lot has transpired during the last two years and I don’t think that needs any explanation,” Kraft said from the podium in Houston, after accepting the Super Bowl LI trophy. “I want to say to our fans, our brilliant coaching staff, our amazing players who were so spectacular, this is unequivocally the sweetest.”
Now, the Patriots are hoping to cement those words — in federal code.