Robert Kraft Claims Vladimir Putin Stole His Super Bowl Ring - East Idaho News
Sports

Robert Kraft Claims Vladimir Putin Stole His Super Bowl Ring

  Published at

Getty S 061313 NFL?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1371343854682Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Back in 2005, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft joined several other American business leaders at a meeting in Russia with President Vladimir Putin. Little did Kraft realize, he’d lose a precious piece of jewelry in the process.

Even though Kraft orginally claimed he gave a Super Bowl ring to Putin as present, he’s changing his story. According to Kraft, Putin stole the ring.

“I took out the ring and showed it to [Putin], and he puts it on and he goes, ‘I can kill someone with this ring,” Kraft said at a speech this week according to the New York Post. “I put out my hand and he put it in his pocket, and three KGB guys got around him and walked out.”

Kraft wanted to get the ring back, but he claims the White House asked him not to pursue it or claim theft in order to keep the incident from damaging United States-Russian relations.

“I really didn’t [want to]. I had an emotional tie to that ring, it has my name on it,” he added. “I don’t want to see it on eBay. There was a pause on the other end of the line, and the voice repeated, ‘It would really be in the best interest if you meant to give the ring as a present.'”

Kraft never asked for the ring back after that.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

SUBMIT A CORRECTION