The New England Patriots are showing their cheeky side these days.

In the same week that Patriots Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski appeared in his birthday suit for ESPN the Magazine’s “Body Issue,” team owner Robert Kraft made his acting debut in a video alongside his gal pal, Ricki Noel Lander, who is wearing a leopard-print bikini.

image.jpg

Well, acting might be a bit of a stretch.

In the video, which went viral on YouTube Wednesday before being removed by Fox because of a copyright claim, Kraft is reading the lines for a part to be played by actor Owen Wilson in “The Internship,” an upcoming comedy that also stars Vince Vaughn.

Lander is auditioning for a role in the film, scheduled to be released next year, and Kraft issued a statement Wednesday saying he was simply helping Lander prepare for her audition. JoAnna Garcia Swisher, the wife of Yankee outfielder Nick Swisher, is also listed as a cast member.

Kraft says in the video that he is a Yahoo executive, and he tries to persuade Lander to allow him to buy her a drink. Kraft even busts out a few dance moves and at the end of the clip throws a faux punch and utters an expletive at a guy who appears to be acting in the role of a bouncer.

“OK, OK, that is burned into my memory,” Lander says in the video when Kraft attempts to cut a rug. “You can stop now.”

“I’ll stop, if you let me buy you a drink,” Kraft says.

“I would love that,” Lander says.

Patriots PR staff members were bombarded with calls Wednesday when the video became an Internet sensation, and Kraft responded with the statement:

“I tried to help Ricki prepare an audition tape for an upcoming Vince Vaughn/Owen Wilson comedy by reading Wilson's lines,” Kraft said. “I never intended that it would be made public and I regret that it has. I think we can all agree that Owen Wilson has nothing to worry about. I am going to stick to my day job.”

Read more: VIDEO: New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft helps his gal-pal Ricki Noel Lander make audition tape  - NY Daily News


Video: » Mr. Kraft Killing It On His New Dime Piece’s Audition Tape (This Will Be Viral Tomorrow) Barstool Sports: Boston