Robert Kraft

Patriots owner Robert Kraft had good news about the most recent round of surgery for tight end Rob Gronkowski, telling reporters Tuesday that it was “as good a report as we could’ve hoped.”

“That made me feel good,” Kraft said when he heard the news about Gronkowski’s latest surgery. “I heard about it late afternoon, and once again had a chat late at night after our dinner meeting was over. And so, we just hope for the best.”

Gronkowski had his fourth surgery for a broken left forearm that he initially injured during the 2012 regular season and limited him down the stretch. In addition to the injury, there was also an troublesome infection issue. Despite the fact that initial reports indicate that the infection has cleared, the Patriots owner said Tuesday that he wouldn’t declare the infection is gone, because, he said, even doctors aren’t completely sure it won’t return.

Speaking at the NFL owners meetings — which saw Super Bowl L awarded to San Francisco and Super Bowl LI awarded to Houston — Kraft also expressed interest in a possible Boston/Providence Super Bowl sometime in the near future.

The Patriots owner said a good test run would be Super Bowl XLVIII, which is set for February in New Jersey.

“We would love one day to hold it here if it’s a good experience there,” Kraft told reporters. “We’re looking forward to seeing this experience in New York and New Jersey.

“Part of what it will require is political people in Boston and Providence coming together so we could really have the right number of hotel rooms and have the support,” Kraft said. “It would require cooperation from all of the political folks who would have to gather together and want this and come together, like they do in other parts of the country.”

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Robert Kraft

After taking part in the ceremonial presentation of the jersey to top draft pick Jamie Collins, Patriots owner Robert Kraft took some time with speak with reporters Thursday afternoon at Gillette Stadium. Here’s the entire Q&A with the media, which lasted just over seven minutes:

Opening statement: “It’s interesting, for us, [because] this was a nondescript draft class. There were no big names, no big schools, no career records. But we hope it parallels a couple past successful drafts we had where we had two tight ends in 2010, Gronk and Hernandez. Then in ’11, we had two halfbacks with Ridley and Vereen. Now we have two wide receivers with Dobson and Boyce. As I mentioned, this our 20th draft class. It’s a pretty exciting time for us because doing this today really means the start of the new season. All the final pieces are in place here at the stadium. Just some interesting stats to know — we had no picks in the first round, but in the first 102 picks in the draft, we had five, which is more than any other team. We felt this was a deep draft, in the second and third rounds, so we’re excited about that.”

On his initial impressions of top-pick Jamie Collins: “First of all, I know my mom –  bless her memory — lost her dad when she was 9. And here is a young man who lost both his parents by the time he was 6. I know how mentally tough my mother was. I think seeing him and talking to him — I guess he also lost a brother, and he went on a team this year that was 0-12, I think all of those things have weighed on him. He’s just a very wonderful and charming young man to talk to. I think he has had a certain resiliency that a lot of young people don’t have and see. I think he’s really appreciative of the opportunity he has to be here.”

On meeting these draft picks for the first time: “It keeps me vibrant. Seeing the new class come in, seeing the anxiety, but also the chippiness and confidence … I happened to be down in New York earlier in the week with a number of owners, and of course, everyone thinks they had a great draft and improved their team. I’ve been listening to it, and of course in fact, none of us know for a few years. But somehow, when you think about our team, I think we have more returning starters — 22 of our 24 starters are returning [including kicker and punter]; it’s going to be very tough for young people to make this team. I think there will be good spirit, good competition. It’s such a fun time.”

On being at the Bruins game last night: “That was funny. I was actually chatting with Jonathan and my grandson and I don’t know if we were eating anything or what, and I saw the camera, so that was cool. I’m happy to say that when I started doing that towel, everyone started doing it, and then they scored 20 seconds later. So I’m hoping to be back at the next game Saturday night. It will be great to see them … [and] it will be good to see the Celtics win tomorrow night. It’s a great sports time, and the Red Sox are doing great, so hopefully we can do the same when we get our chance.”

Will you be setting up a scouting office at Rutgers? “I spoke to Bill about that, and the good news is he’s done a lot of homework and he really thinks we have a family of players that can make a great contribution to us.”

On fans being bummed out about trading down: “As a fan, I could feel that way. As someone who hates losing in the fall, which is really what matters … like I said, we picked five players in the first 102, which is more than any other team picked. The real strength of the draft … if we had drafted in the top 20-25, we would have taken the same players that we took later. For us, from a cap point of view of having financial flexibility, and the talent, I think this draft wound up very well for us. I understand fans who don’t have the full knowledge of what goes and the value that’s there, how they could be disappointed. But I think we got the equivalent of first-round draft choices in the second and third round, the way I look at it. Time will tell.”

On the announcement from Jason Collins and what it means to the sports world, and if he could see a day like that coming in the NFL? “My hearty congratulations for [Jason]. I think 10 years from now, people won’t even talk about it. We’re about winning and if someone can come in here and help us win, I don’t care what ethic background, what racial background or what gender preference they have. If they can help us win and they’re about team, then we’re happy to have them here. I think we’re living in a world where there are no boundaries any more. There are no borders. We’re connected by technology and I don’t like what’s going on in Washington with this partisanship on both sides. I think we overcome it by being understanding and welcoming all points of view, and good human beings. So good luck to him.”

Robert Kraft

FOXBORO — Patriots owner Robert Kraft was asked Thursday about his thoughts regarding the recent announcement by Jason Collins, and what that meant for the world of professional sports as well as what sort of a reaction a gay player might get in New England.

“My hearty congratulations to [him],” he said Thursday afternoon. “I think 10 years from now, people won’t even talk about it. We’re about winning, and [if] someone can come in here and help us win, I don’t care what ethnic background, what racial background, what gender preference they have, if they can help us win and they’re about team, then I’ll be happy to have them here.

“I think we’re living in a world where … there are no boundaries anymore. No borders. We’re connected by technology. I don’t like what’s going on in Washington with this partisanship on both sides. I think we overcome it by being as understanding and welcoming all points of view and good human beings. So good luck to him.”

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The Patriots announced Tuesday night the Kraft Family will match up to $100,000 in donations made toward relief efforts in the wake of the Marathon bombings.

The Patriots and Revolution Charitable Foundations will collect donations online, with funds earmarked to assist with victim recovery. Donations can be made at Patriots.com/donate or RevolutionSoccer.net/donate (please note “Boston Marathon” in field provided). The Kraft family will match the first $100,000 in donations.

“We are grieving for the victims of this senseless act,” said Robert Kraft. “It is not lost on us that this tragedy occurred on Patriots Day, at an event where our own staff and their families were participating, and where thousands of runners were raising money for charities with which we are associated either through our Foundation, our alumni or our friends. Our focus is on helping those in need and beginning the healing process. We hope by matching donations we will encourage more people to give.”

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Wes Welker

Wes Welker said Wednesday morning that contract talks between his reps and the Patriots never got personal and indicated that in the end, “everything worked out really well for everybody.”

The former Patriots wide receiver who signed a free agent deal with the Broncos last month after six seasons in New England, told ESPN Radio that the whole thing was just about business.

“I think a lot of it is just business,” Welker said. “It’s kind of the unfortunate part of the business, but it is what it is. You try to find what works for you, as far as financially and as a player and everything else. I think at the end of the day — fortunately or unfortunately — it kind of just worked out the way it did.”

In the days after Welker’s new deal, there was a lot of debate about which contract was better, as representatives for the wide receiver disputed the claims put forth by the Patriots and owner Robert Kraft. But Welker, who surpassed 100 catches in five of his six seasons in New England, said he doesn’t feel underappreciated for what he did with the Patriots,

“Absolutely,” Welker said. “I think everything worked out really well for everybody. It was a good run and I look forward to keeping that run going in Denver.”

In his introductory press conference with the Broncos, Welker said the toughest thing was leaving quarterback Tom Brady — the two had built a tremendous relationship, both on and off the field, since Welker arrived in 2007.

“Tom is one of my good friends,” Welker said Wednesday. “We stay in contact often.”

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Robert Kraft

Patriots owner Robert Kraft has issued a statement on he death of former coach Chuck Fairbanks.

“As a Patriots season ticket holder, I remember the excitement that was generated by the hiring of Chuck Fairbanks from the University of Oklahoma in 1973,” said Kraft in a statement issued by the team. “Coach Fairbanks gave the Patriots instant credibility. For Patriots fans of that era, Fairbanks was the Bill Parcells before Bill Parcells. Meaning, he did for the Patriots in the ‘70s what Bill Parcells did for the team in the ‘90s.

“He delivered the franchise’s first 11-win season in 1976 and earned a home playoff game after winning the division in 1978. It was the first time in franchise history that we hosted a playoff game. He introduced the 3-4 defense to the NFL during his Patriots tenure, which remains a part of his NFL legacy. It is a sad day for a generation of Patriots fans who enjoyed his era of coaching. My thoughts and prayers are with the Fairbanks family and all who mourn his loss.”

Patriots owner Robert Kraft is worth $2.3 billion, according to Forbes. Kraft, who has owned the team since 1994, is the eighth-richest owner in the NFL — he trails Seattle’s Paul Allen ($15 billion); St. Louis’ Stan Kroenke ($5 billion); Miami’s Stephen Ross and Tampa Bay’s Malcolm Glazer (both at $4.4 billion); Jackosnville’s Shahid Khan and John Tisch of the New York Giants (both at $2.9 billion) and Dallas’ Jerry Jones ($2.7 billion). In all, 19 of the teams are owned by billionaires.

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