Patriots owner Robert Kraft splurges $120,000 to secure iconic Tom Brady rookie card at auction
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft paid a considerable amount of money to get a rare piece of Tom Brady memorabilia. Kraft won the rights to a rookie card signed by the legendary quarterback at a Sotheby's auction.
According to Travis Anderson, Kraft paid $120,000 to win the auction. To make this more special, the card was sent by TB12 himself, who was also present while Kraft won the auction. This was one of four Brady cards sold at the auction, which totaled $813,600.
Robert Kraft and Tom Brady spent 20 years working together in New England. Brady was drafted as the 199th pick in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft, becoming arguably the greatest quarterback of all time during his time in New England.
He and Kraft won six Super Bowls together until Brady decided to part ways with the Patriots to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he won his seventh and final Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Kraft is now trying to find another winning formula with Jerod Mayo as the team's head coach and a young quarterback in Drake Maye, while Brady has transitioned to a broadcasting role.
Robert Kraft took issue with Jerry Jones being inducted into the Hall of Fame
Recently, before Robert Kraft secured the Tom Brady rookie card, a report came out shedding light on the complex relationship Kraft has had with fellow NFL owner Jerry Jones.
When the latter was announced as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017, Kraft didn't mince words and expressed his frustration to a reported confidant.
"He hasn't been to the NFC title game in two decades, and he gets in?" Kraft reportedly said. "How does that work?"
While the Dallas Cowboys were a dynasty in the 90s, the Patriots were the rulers of the 2000s and especially the 2010s in the NFL. Kraft gave the keys to the car to Bill Belichick, who led the team to multiple Super Bowl appearances and wins alongside Brady.
The Pats began a new era this season and the first two games showed that they can be competitive, beating the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 before losing to the Seattle Seahawks in overtime in Week 2.
Last week, they were dismantled by the New York Jets, but the Patriots have shown glimpses of what this team can do in the future.