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ROBERT KRAFT

When Private Jets Ferry Billionaires to Small-Town Idaho

HAILEY, Idaho — Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, flies in a Gulfstream G650. So do Jeff Bezos and Dan Schulman, PayPal’s CEO. The jets, roughly 470 of which are in operation, retail for about $75 million each. Most days, those planes are spread out, ferrying captains of industry to meetings around the globe. But for one week in July, some of them converge on a single 100-foot-wide asphalt runway beside the jagged hills of Idaho’s Wood River Valley. The occasion is the annual

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Patriots, Bucs among those making biggest waves so far

(AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)Bill Belichick never was one to spent wildly in free agency. Whether by trade, free agency or re-signings, the group brings a good mix of offense, defense and special teams. In addition to keeping Von Miller, Justin Simmons and Shelby Harris, Paton filled his biggest defensive pothole by signing free agent cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller. FUTURE CONSIDERATIONSThe Lions didn’t do much in free agency but nobody in Detroit should be bothered. The Lions are focused on rebuilding through the draft after sending QB Matthew Stafford to the Rams and then letting star wide receiver Kenny Golladay walk in free agency.

With media deals complete, NFL eyes over $100 million per year for its data rights

He just delivered NFL team owners more than $100 billion in media rights fees. Now, he'll oversee the league's data rights which fuel sports betting. The NFL could seek over $100 million per year for its new data rights agreement according to people familiar with the situation. The people said the NFL would try to align its new data rights deal with media deals. As for the broader media rights deal that was inked on Thursday, here's what stands out:

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Women plead guilty in sex sting involving Patriots owner

Lei Wang, 41, and Shen Mingbi, 60, each pleaded guilty in Palm Beach County circuit court to one count of soliciting another to commit prostitution, records show. Kraft had pleaded not guilty but issued a public apology for his actions. Hua Zhang, 59, pleaded guilty last month to two misdemeanors. Lei Chen, 45, pleaded guilty to eight counts of offering to commit prostitution in February. Police say the recordings show Kraft and other men engaging in sex acts with women and paying them.

Prosecutors drop prostitution charges against New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, more than year after scandal broke

Owner of the New England Patriots Robert Kraft walks on the field prior to the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 17, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Florida prosecutors on Thursday dropped prostitution solicitation charges against New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, after being barred from using police surveillance videos that might prove their case. "Without these videos we cannot move forward with our prosecution," said Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg during a press conference. "It is not a lack of will that caused us to drop the charges in the spa cases," Aronberg said. "But our hands were tied" by the attorney general's decision not to appeal the ruling, he added.

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Patriots owner Kraft cleared of massage parlor sex charge

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Florida prosecutors dropped a misdemeanor charge against New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft on Thursday after courts blocked their use of video that allegedly shows him paying for massage parlor sex. The recordings, which have not been made public, are the only known evidence the men paid for sex. Prosecutors decided this week not to appeal to the Florida Supreme Court, saying a loss there could have “broader, negative implications” on future law enforcement investigations beyond the Kraft case. Aronberg said that because of a civil lawsuit filed against his office over the case, the recordings are still evidence. Police say the recordings show Kraft and other men engaging in sex acts with women and paying them.

Florida decision likely clears Pats owner of soliciting sex

The state's decision means the charges against Kraft and about 20 other men will likely be dismissed. The recordings, which have not been made public, are the only known potential evidence that the men paid for sex. Police say the recordings show Kraft and other men engaging in sex acts with women and paying them. The 4th District agreed, ruling that planting video cameras in private spaces is an “extreme” measure that should only be used when absolutely necessary. Even if the charges are dropped, Kraft could still face a suspension or other punishment from the National Football League.

Newton runs for 2 TDs, Patriots hold off Dolphins 21-11

New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton, right, celebrates his second rushing touchdown as he heads to the bench in the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. – Cam Newton looked just fine as Tom Brady's replacement, rushing for two touchdowns Sunday, and the New England Patriots beat the Miami Dolphins 21-11 to open the season. The Patriots were threatening again late in the period, but Jerome Baker kept the Dolphins in the game. Newton carried on the second play of the game and capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run on the Patriots’ third possession to put them up 7-0. MOVING ON UPEdelman pulled in 6-yard pass early in the second quarter, his 600th career reception.

Racial injustice themes on display in empty NFL stadiums

After about 15 seconds, they rose, trotted off the field, and the game proceeded as normal. So we’ll just stay inside until it’s time to play the game,” Miami players said in the video. Goodell posted a video in June conceding that the league had been late in acknowledging the problem. Since then, the league has taken visible steps like allowing racial justice messages in end zones and on helmets and T-shirts. Some team owners have pledged money toward social justice causes or offered their stadiums as polling places for the November election.

Cuomo calls PPE shortages a national security issue: 'You can't be dependent on China'

Cuomo said efforts to procure masks from China amid state competition for medical supplies were "inefficient and ineffective" and warned against dependence on China for basic equipment. I mean think about that you couldn't even get it in this nation," Cuomo said at a press briefing. "You can't be dependent on China to have the basic equipment to save lives in the United States, that's what this came down to," the governor said. In response, New York is a launching a regional buying consortium with six Northeast states to procure PPE, tests, ventilators and other medical equipment to reduce competition among states and lower prices. "We can't go through this day to day in this mad scramble to move masks to where they were needed."

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New England Patriots team plane transporting 1.7 million masks for coronavirus relief

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A call for help from Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker prompted an unorthodox mission from the New England Patriots, who sent their team jet to China this week in order to retrieve 1.7 million N95 medical masks, the NFL side said on Thursday. A New England Patriots Boeing 767-300 jet with a shipment of over one million N95 masks from China, which will be used in Boston and New York to help fight the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), arrives at Logan Airport, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., April 2, 2020. It is an honour for our family to be a part of this humanitarian mission, team owner Robert Kraft said in a written statement. Another 300,000 purchased by Kraft will be sent to New York, the epicentre of the outbreak in the United States. As a life long NY Jets fan, hats off to Mr. Kraft and the team business and aviation professionals making this possible!

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Amid criticism, Trump signs order targeting anti-Semitism at universities

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday to prohibit federal funding for colleges and universities that allow anti-Semitism, but the move drew some criticism for potentially limiting free speech. REUTERS/Tom BrenneThe order would extend protections against discrimination under the 1964 Civil Rights Act to people subjected to anti-Semitism on college campuses. This is our message to universities: If you want to accept the tremendous amount of federal dollars that you get every year, you must reject anti-Semitism. Title 6 of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. In a climate of rising anti-Semitism, this executive order provides valuable guidance on anti-Semitism, giving law enforcement and campus officials an important additional tool to help identify and fight this pernicious hate, Chief Executive Jonathan Greenblatt said.

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New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick wins 300th game

Jim Rogash/Getty ImagesBOSTON - The New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is now part of an elite club of coaches. The Patriot's 27-13 win over the Cleveland Browns marked Belichick's 300th win, making him only the third coach in NFL history to accomplish such a feat, according to the league's website. Patriots CEO and chairman Robert Kraft presented Belichick the game ball after the game. "I'm happy that 263 of those 300 has been as coach of the New England Patriots," Kraft said. Belichick's first victory as a head coach was against the Patriots as the Browns' coach on September 8, 1991, Kraft said.

Tom Brady says cameo taken out of context

Tom Brady throws a 34-yard touchdown pass to Josh Gordon for his 500th career touchdown pass during the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium on Oct. 4, 2018. (CNN) - Tom Brady is defending his cameo in the Netflix series "Living With Yourself," saying the media is creating a "blame and shame" culture. In the scene, Brady is seen walking out of the "Top Happy Spa," which is located inside a strip mall. Brady insisted that the scene has nothing to do with Kraft and told reporters it was "taken out of context." "Again, it's unfortunate that people would choose to think I would ever do something like that about Mr. Kraft.

Prosecutors appeal ruling banning Kraft prostitution video

If the appeal fails, prosecutors will likely have to drop their case against Kraft, a widower worth $6 billion whose Palm Beach mansion is across a bridge from the spa. Only hours after that, Kraft was in Kansas City for the AFC Championship game, where his Patriots defeated the Chiefs . The NFL has issued no sanctions against Kraft, but has said it is monitoring the case. While prosecutors are arguing that ruling is faulty on several fronts, they focused on whether the recordings illegally violated Kraft's privacy. No matter which way the justices rule, the losing side will likely appeal to the Florida Supreme Court.

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Six-figure salaries, million-dollar prizes, health benefits and housing includedinside the Overwatch League

The 2019 Overwatch League Grand Finals, which is like the game's Super Bowl, will feature the Vancouver Titans facing off against the San Francisco Shock. This is the second year the Overwatch League has held the Grand Finals, and it marks an even greater milestone for esports. Professional gaming is an emerging industry growing in popularity and offering lucrative pay and notoriety. Just look at the Overwatch League. Michael Jordan led a $26 million investment in gaming company aXiomatic Gaming in the fall of 2018.

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Antonio Brown unleashes Twitter tirade, says he's done with NFL

Antonio Brown unleashed a tirade on social media Sunday morning that called out former teammates, the NFL and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Brown also announced on Twitter that he is done playing in the NFL. Brown has been sued by former trainer Britney Taylor, who claimed Brown raped or sexually assaulted her on three occasions. A four-time All-Pro who caught 837 passes over nine seasons with the Steelers, Brown wore out his welcome in Pittsburgh after he went missing for two days before the 2018 season finale. The Patriots signed him only a few hours later, giving him a one-year deal that would have guaranteed him $9 million and paid him up to $15 million this season.