Patriots management saw the deal as a money-saving move. Upon hearing the news, John Hannah said, "We just traded away our Super Bowl." Ron Erhardt, who had replaced Chuck Fairbanks as the team's head coach, also admitted that he was against the trade.
The trade was perceived as a cost-saving measure by Patriots management. When informed of the deal, John Hannah stated that the team had given up its opportunity to win a championship. Ron Erhardt, who had taken over as head coach after Chuck Fairbanks, also expressed his opposition to the trade.