Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT gave PRESIDENT TRUMP a ring "commemorating the Patriots win in Super Bowl LI, but it wasn't Kraft's ring," according to Tom Curran of CSNNE.com. Kraft gave Trump a Super Bowl ring because the team was the "first to visit the White House after a championship win" in his presidency. Twitter yesterday "caught wind of an exchange" involving former White House Communications Dir ANTHONY SCARAMUCCI, who said that Kraft "gave Trump 'the ring for last year's game.'" The "assumption was Scaramucci meant that Kraft gave Trump his ring," though that was "not the case" (CSNNE.com, 8/21). Meanwhile, PATRIOTS.com's Don Banks noted Kraft is among the candidates for "one 'Contributor' finalist" that will appear on the '18 Pro Football HOF ballot. His HOF resume "isn't in question," with five Super Bowl titles, a "track record of rescuing NFL football in the New England market, and playing such a pivotal role in both the forging of labor peace and the spectacular growth of the league." However, whether his "timing is right for the Class of 2018 is another matter." Other potential candidates being debated on Friday by a panel of voters have not been identified by likely include Broncos Owner PAT BOWLEN, former Giants GM GEORGE YOUNG, former Chargers and Redskins GM BOBBY BEATHARD and former Cowboys Personnel Dir GIL BRANDT (PATRIOTS.com, 8/21).
OVERSEAS SHIPMENT: In N.Y., Jessica Chia reports Jets Owner WOODY JOHNSON was "sworn in" as the U.S. ambassador to the U.K. yesterday. Johnson will "serve a three-year appointment and live in the UK," while his brother CHRISTOPHER WOLD JOHNSON will "take over" as the team’s Chair & CEO (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/22). Johnson has "previously pledged to work to strengthen the 'special relationship' between Britain and the US" (BELFAST TELEGRAPH, 8/22).
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER: THE ATHLETIC's Kevin Lynch reported 49ers CEO JED YORK is "striving for more ambitious pursuits, which includes planning an extensive educational system that bustles" inside Levi's Stadium. The program, headed by educator JESSE LOVEJOY, "funnels tens of thousands of kids through for one-day field trips that teach science, technology, engineering and math to mostly poor students." The program "teamed with the Khan Academy a few years ago, which is an online educational resource." Through Khan, York "wants to reach far more students." His "hope is that the 49ers can inspire kids to invest time and efforts into STEM subjects." Using the 49ers brand to attract schools, this program "helps teach kids math through football, engineering through stadium design, technology through solar power, which helps fuel Levi's." There are also "other examples for learning that are incorporated during the five-hour field trip." Eventually, York "wants to form teams of students who will compete with other NFL teams' students" (THEATHLETIC.com, 8/21).
