Ex-Patriots owner James Orthwein passes away

[SShoreFan 2.0]

It wasn't Bob Kraft who hired Bill Parcells, the key move that helped rejuvenate the Patriots it was James Busch Orthwein, and he passed away this weekend at the age of 84.

1988 - 1993 were some brutal years to be a Patriots fan.  From the fall of the Sullivans to the miserable regime of Victor Kiam, James Orthwein stepped in and stabilized the Pats by cleaning house and bringing in the Tuna.  When it became clear that he wouldn't be able to break the existing lease and bring the Pats to St. Louis (almost happened!) he sold the team to the Kraft family.