Kraft: Jets’ style not the Pats’ way

Associated Press

FOXBOROUGH, Mass.

Don’t expect to hear the New England Patriots use an expletive to describe an opponent.

That’s not his team’s style, owner Robert Kraft said.

“I don’t want to speak to how other people do things or be judgmental about what motivates other people,” Kraft said. “But stylistically, I think we do things a little bit different than the folks we’re playing this weekend.”

That would be coach Rex Ryan and the trash-talking Jets, who visit Gillette Stadium for a divisional playoff game Sunday.

Ryan tossed some verbal barbs at Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in the past week, and Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie added to the static on Tuesday by using an expletive to describe Brady. Cromartie said Wednesday he didn’t regret what he said because “that’s how I feel about it.”

Speaking slowly and calmly in his office, Kraft drew the distinction between his club and the Jets.

“I’m proud of the way the team is conducting itself right now,” he said. “We’re trying to let our actions speak when we play.”

Brady reacted Wednesday to the comment Cromartie made to the New York Daily News by saying, “I’ve been called worse.” Other New England players and coach Bill Belichick said they’re just focusing on Sunday’s game.

“I desperately want to win this game and I’d want to win it no matter who [the opponent is],” Kraft said. “I’m into legacy and in ’07 we came close to doing something that I don’t think will ever be done.”

The Patriots were 18-0 that season but lost the Super Bowl to the New York Giants 17-14 on a last-minute touchdown pass.

Kraft called football “a cruel business” in which a field of 12 playoff teams is whittled down. One loss and a team’s season is over.

The Patriots have the NFL’s best record at 14-2 after winning their last eight regular-season games, a streak that started after a surprising 34-14 loss to the Browns, who finished 5-11.

He noted that three of the four home teams in last weekend’s wild-card round lost, with only Seattle winning in front of its fans.

“You never know,” Kraft said, “so I’m always a little uneasy.

“The style of people from New England is to try to let our actions speak on Sunday at 4:30 and not have a lot of blather and say things that, in some ways, take away from the game.”