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During a stream of remarks from a variety of the key figures in the NFL-NFLPA* labor deal, Colts center Jeff Saturday paid special tribute to the Patriots owner Robert Kraft and his late wife, Myra Kraft, who passed last Wednesday.

Saturday praised Mr. Kraft for continuing to attend the meetings during the final days of his wife’s life, and Saturday praised Mrs. Kraft for allowing him to do it.

Saturday was unequivocal regarding Mr. Kraft’s role in the process.

“Without him, this deal does not get done,” Saturday said. “He is a man who helped us save football.”

Saturday and Mr. Kraft then embraced, and from that point forward we’ll never look at the rivalry between the Colts and the Patriots the same way.