ORLANDO, Fla. — For someone standing still, Robert Kraft covered a lot of ground Tuesday morning.

Why he promoted de facto GM Eliot Wolf. Possibly drafting a quarterback. Fan frustration. “The Dynasty” docu-series, and “The Dynasty” backlash.

Yet of all the comments Kraft made in his meetup with reporters at the NFL Annual Meeting — including an unexpected shout-out for Calvin Ridley’s wife — the largest leap was this: “My hope and expectations are to make the playoffs.”

Uh, come again?

A 4-13 team saddled with a rookie head coach, a GM they can’t name officially, no starting quarterback and weapons that are more likely to backfire than wound a defense is expected to make the postseason? Did Kraft stop at the mimosa bar on his way over?

Minutes later, the even-keeled owner seemed to straighten himself out. He took off his oft-referenced “fan hat” when speaking to the balance of instilling an urgency while also acting with the required patience of an NFL rebuild.

“We know we have to be patient. Everything is new,” Kraft said. “I think we have 20 new coaches. … I think (front-office executives) Eliot (Wolf) and Matt (Groh) have really good knowledge of our product and what has to be done. I’ve told them, ‘Look, I don’t want to do splashy things just to get attention and get good headlines one day.'

“I want us to do the things that are substantive and good for the short term and long term.”

That’s better. Much better.

Coach Jerod Mayo wisely reset his own messaging and expectations Monday morning, asking fans for their patience as the Patriots try to “build this the right way.” He again backed away from burning cash, and said while his new leadership has money to spend, they will do so wisely.

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