Robert Kraft insists Tom Brady is the greatest NFL player ever, period

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If you ask Robert Kraft, the legacies of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are already solidified, regardless of what happens Sunday.

In an interview with ESPN's Mike Reiss, the New England Patriots owner declared both Belichick and Brady the best at their respective crafts.

"Definitely the greatest player of all time -- not just quarterback in my opinion," Kraft said of Brady. "Because he's such a leader in the locker room. For someone double the age of some of the players to be able to lead like that, and connect like that, and have the work ethic that he has, and at the same time so pleasant to be around -- I'm really the luckiest guy in the world."

It's tough to compare players at different positions, but consider this: Brady is tied with Charles Haley for the most Super Bowl wins (five) of any NFL player and earned Super Bowl MVP honors four times, the most ever.

Kraft had similarly high praise for his head coach.

"I don't think there's been a finer coach in the 99-year history of the league," Kraft said of Belichick. "He's the GOAT of coaches, just like our quarterback is the GOAT of quarterbacks. And no one can dispute it."

Belichick has fewer wins as a head coach than Don Shula and George Halas and a lower winning percentage than Vince Lombardi. But he's won more Super Bowls (five) than any other head coach and, more importantly, has sustained the Patriots' success under far more challenging circumstances than his predecessors.

"The fact that our organization has been able to perform at this level in the age of the salary cap, when everyone spends the same amount of money, I'm pretty proud that we've been able to keep him and our quarterback together for 19 years," Kraft said.

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"Please, God, it will be two decades next year. In today's era of free agency and people going in different directions, that's pretty cool."

Kraft obviously is evaluating Belichick and Brady with rose-tinted glasses, but it's hard to argue with either take. And if the dynamic duo can defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday's AFC Championship then win in Super Bowl LIII, Kraft's declarations will hold up even better.

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