08:31 AM EDT on Wednesday, April 21, 2004

BY TOM E. CURRAN
Journal Sports Writer

AP photo Pats owner Robert Kraft on the acquisition of Corey Dillon (above): "I'm not interested in bringing in players who we won't be proud to have in the New England community."

FOXBORO -- The Robert Kraft of five years ago probably wouldn't have tolerated the periodic outbursts and missteps that cornerback Ty Law has been having this off-season.

The Robert Kraft of old would have been even less likely to OK a trade for someone with a past as checkered as Corey Dillon's.

But the kinder, gentler Kraft of 2004 is a little more forgiving. And a lot more successful. So he stands pat as Law rips the Pats. And he adopts a "we'll see" attitude with his newly acquired running back.

Yesterday at Gillette Stadium, after Kraft and his wife, Myra, handed out the team's annual "Community Quarterback" awards, the Patriots owner was pressed for his feelings about Law and Dillon. Last weekend, Law was arrested after fleeing the police during a traffic stop in Miami. Dillon, meanwhile, was acquired for a second-round pick in a trade with Cincinnati -- a team Dillon showed outright disdain for during many of his seven seasons in the city.

As Law has demanded to be traded, proclaimed he'll never play for the Patriots again and labeled Bill Belichick a liar, Kraft has refrained from speaking directly to his Pro Bowl cornerback.

"I'll leave that to our coach," Kraft said. "I think [Belichick] has done a pretty good job managing the situation. My job is to hire good managers and put them in place. We get the best people we can, then hold them accountable. I think our managers have done a pretty good job the way they've managed things."

Kraft took the same tack when asked about Dillon. Growing up in Seattle, Dillon was in regular trouble with police. Since coming to the NFL he has been arrested three times, most recently in 2000 after a dispute with his wife. In much the same way Law is doing with the Patriots now, Dillon tried to force the Bengals to trade him by being difficult.

"I think he can help our football team win," Kraft said of Dillon. "I think he's a very good running back and we're excited to have him here. . . . I'm not interested in bringing in players who we won't be proud to have in the New England community. Predicting the future, I think our people feel pretty good about it and that he's a good person to have here."

Kraft said he spoke by phone to Dillon before the team traded for him and said that the running back "was very respectful and said all the right things."

"He wants to win," said Kraft. "That's the way it's been represented to me. He wants to come here and be part of a winning program and not be the man. He understands we're about team. I think he believes he can come in and help, and our managers think we're a better football team with him here."

The Patriots have been one of the most image-conscious teams in professional sports in terms of the players they hire. The team famously renounced its rights to 1996 third-round pick Christian Peter when Peter's incident-laden college career at Nebraska came to light. In 1998, then-personnel man Bobby Grier was asked whether Randy Moss was on the Patriots' draft board and Grier said that players like Moss "aren't moved down our draft board, they are moved off our draft board."

The main difference between then and now is Belichick and vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli, who have a record of bringing in players who seem to be solid individuals. And when they find a player isn't behaving the way they expect, reaction is usually swift. The release of offensive tackle Kenyatta Jones last season after Jones was arrested in a domestic dispute is recent proof of that.

Kraft is withholding judgment on Law's arrest in Miami.

"I know what I've read in the papers," he said. "I don't know any more than that. In 10 years in this business, I've learned that -- as good a job as you folks in the media do -- sometimes that's not the whole story. Do I want to wake up and hear a report like that? No. It's like one of your children, your worst nightmare, but I don't have all the facts."

Kraft maintained yesterday he's still fond of Law.

"Ty Law was our second first-round pick [after buying the team]," he said. "He's one of my favorite players. He's a great favorite of the fans. He's made great contributions that helped us get to three Super Bowls. He's someone I like a lot and I hope he'll be playing next year for the New England Patriots. I'm sure our fans feel that way as well. He's under contract and I've always had great feelings for Ty."