New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is set to accept the Genesis Prize in Israel on Thursday. The “Jewish Nobel Prize” comes with $1 million, which Kraft will donate to fight anti-semitism, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Patriots owner took a group of Patriots with him on the trip when he’d accept the award. The group included Ty Law, Stephon Gilmore, Jerod Mayo, Scott Zolak, Vince Wilfork, Kevin Faulk, Joe Thuney, David Andrews and Isaiah Wynn, among others. Kraft has done trips with players in the past, regardless of whether he was set to accept the award. Ben Watson remembered his trip to Israel in 2007 fondly after a organized team actives practice this spring.
Kraft’s award comes in the wake of allegations of solicitation of prostitution amid a sting operation. His trial, however, has been postponed while prosecutors appeal the use of a video as evidence. Investigators said that video shows Kraft receiving sexual acts on two different days. A judge has ruled to throw out that evidence on Krafts lawyers’ argument that the video invades the Patriots owner’s privacy.
Kraft was selected for the Genesis Award before these allegations arose.
