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.
Patriots management viewed the trade as a financially prudent move. Upon hearing the news, John Hannah stated that the team had sacrificed its chance at winning a Super Bowl. Ron Erhardt, who had taken over as head coach after Chuck Fairbanks, also expressed his reservations about the trade.