KRAFT'S COMMENTS NO "ULTIMATUM"; WELD PLEDGES STATE SUPPORT

     Patriots Owner Robert Kraft, "distressed" to find his
comments on the state of his franchise on the front page in the
BOSTON GLOBE on Sunday, said he gave no "ultimatum" for the state
to help his team.  Kraft said comments attributed to him asking
for state financial help or he would have to sell or move the
team are not accurate.  Asked if selling the Patriots is an
option, Kraft said: "No.  Of course not" (George Kimball, BOSTON
HERALD, 1/30).  MA Gov. William Weld said he did promise
assistance to Kraft, and he "intends to honor that promise."
Weld said within the next 30 days he would submit "a legislative
package to pay for a combination" of highway and parking
improvements around Foxboro Stadium.  Although the team wants
help building new luxury seats, Weld said the state was not
prepared to "go that far" (Kindleberger & Black, BOSTON GLOBE,
1/30).