New England Patriots Visit White House, Trump Happy to See Pals Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick

Posted on: April 20, 2017, 02:00h. 

Last updated on: April 20, 2017, 12:19h.

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The New England Patriots went to Washington this week to celebrate their Super Bowl LI title. President Donald Trump, as is customary, invited the NFL champs to the White House after the Pats overcame seemingly insurmountable odds in coming back from 25 down to win the big game in February.

With the Atlanta Falcons up 28-3 in the third quarter, live in-game betting gave the Patriots little chance in hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Las Vegas sportsbooks were taking bets on the Patriots at 16-1 and moneyline at +1600 during the second half.

Trump said at yesterday’s ceremony, “I think I looked at the odds and they gave you less than one half of one percent of winning the game.”

After scoring 31 unanswered, the record-setting comeback punished sportsbooks and capped off a disappointing NFL season for oddsmakers. But for superstar quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick, the victory was perhaps their sweetest yet.

On the steps of the South Lawn, Belichick declared, “We’ve had the great privilege to be here several times, but this one, the way we were treated and the opportunities to be in the Oval Office, to meet with the president, to see the inside of the White House, has just been fabulous.”

Patriots Support Trump

While numerous Patriots players opted to skip the White House ceremony, with some publicly citing Trump’s administration as their reason, the team’s leadership certainly endorses #45.

Billionaire owner Robert Kraft, who made his fortune in paper and packaging, typically avoids the political arena. But this year, the Kraft Group CEO donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee.

Kraft said at the White House, “Overcoming long odds through hard work, perseverance, and most importantly, mental toughness, is the foundation of everything that is great about this country.”

He said of Trump, “A very good friend of mine for over 25 years, a man who is mentally tough and hardworking as anybody I know, launched a campaign for the presidency against 16 career politicians, facing odds almost as long as we faced in the fourth quarter.”

Belichick is also a friend of Trump’s, and the coach even wrote the then-candidate a letter of encouragement during the presidential election.

Brady supported Trump in 2016 too, and the president has said the quarterback and Super Bowl LI MPV has told him he voted in his favor.

Hernandez Commits Suicide

The sun was shining on the South Lawn, but a dark shadow hovered over the Patriots organization on Wednesday after news broke that former play Aaron Hernandez took his own life in prison.

Hernandez spent three years with the Patriots and caught 18 touchdown passes from Brady. But in August of 2013, he was convicted of murdering his former friend Odin Lloyd.

Hernandez was serving life in prison without the possibility of parole when he was found hanging in his cell on Wednesday morning.