Patriots Owner Robert Kraft yesterday "made it sound" as though bringing the NFL Draft to Boston is "not something he would be heavily involved in," according to Shalise Manza Young of the BOSTON GLOBE. Kraft noted that Boston Mayor Martin Walsh is "looking into having the NFL Draft in the city." Kraft: "That’s a decision for Mayor Walsh, who has called me and said he is very interested in it, and he has had his staff working with the NFL. We’d love to see it happen. It’s about, do we have the proper venue in the city of Boston and what it would do for tourism and the so-called ‘sizzle’ factor. I know they’re seriously considering L.A. and Chicago as geographically well-suited to do this, but I think now there’s some consideration for maybe even splitting the draft in two parts and doing it in different cities and moving it around" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/10). NJ.com's Eliot Shorr-Parks noted the Draft "won't be coming to Philadelphia." Despite the efforts by city officials and the Philadelphia Sports Congress, the NFL "appears to have crossed off the 'City of Brotherly Love' as a possible host" for the '15 Draft. Philadelphia Sports Congress Exec Dir Larry Needle said, "We are in a wait-and-see approach. But we are not optimistic." Shorr-Parks noted it is "still possible the NFL could circle back to Philadelphia -- if potential deals with the other cities fell through." But Philadelphia's "lack of large venues ultimately cost it a chance at hosting the draft" (NJ.com, 6/9).
