THE "GIFT"
Robert Kraft reveals Vladimir Putin took his $25,000 Super Bowl ring during visit to the White House in 2005
Kraft won his third Super Bowl ring in four years in 2005
ROBERT Kraft revealed that President of Russia Vladimir Putin took his valuable Super Bowl ring during a 2005 White House visit.
The New England Patriots owner, 82, explained how Putin got his hands on his Super Bowl ring on the 2013 NFL Films series 50 Rings, 50 Days.
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Kraft and the Patriots won their third ring in four years in 2005.
New England had beaten the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX.
The NFL owner was at a business mission in Russia with his friend Sandy Weill, who was the president of Citi group at the time.
Kraft had just received his $25,000 ring for the Patriots' Super Bowl victory, so he showed off his ring to Weill.
President of Russia Putin was also at the gathering, and Kraft revealed in the that Weill had an idea for the NFL owner.
"I showed Sandy my ring and he said, 'Why don't you show that to President [Putin]?'"
That caused Kraft to give the ring to Putin, who "enjoyed it and kept it on."
After receiving the hardware, Kraft revealed that Putin said, "I can kill someone with this ring."
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Kraft continued with his recounting, saying, "I put my hand out and he put it in his pocket, and three KGB guys got around him and walked out."
After Putin took the ring, Kraft wanted his jewelry returned.
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The White House would call the Patriots owner and tell him to leave the ring with Putin.
"It would really be in the best interest of US-Russia relations if you meant to give the ring as a present," Kraft said he was told during a White House Call in 2005.
Kraft gave in to the White House's recommendation and days later, he came out with a statement that his Super Bowl ring was a "gift" to Russia.
"I decided to give him the ring as a symbol of the respect and admiration that I have for the Russian people and the leadership of President Putin," Kraft's 2005 statement said.
Fortunately for Kraft, he wouldn't have the 2005 Super Bowl ring be his last big game jewelry.
He went on to win three more Super Bowl titles.
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