by AAA Sports
Monday, Jan 08, 2024Focused on him, because he's the big kahuna.
Bill Belichick has (had?) always refused to tolerate what others would accept.
When he needed a safety and Rodney Harrison was the best one available, Belichick picked up Harrison at Boston’s Logan Airport, and rather than wining and dining the future Hall of Famer, they went to the closest Denny’s and the HC of the NEP drew defensive schemes on a piece of paper. Harrison soon signed on.
When NFL coaches met for their annual retreat, the group picture the NFL sent out to the press had 31 faces. Guess who refused to show up?
And, win or lose, Belichick had little patience for press conferences of any kind. They were a waste of time. In two decades, perhaps the two quotes he is most remembered for are “It is what it is” and “We’re on to Cincinnati.”
It’s always been a take-it-or-leave-it persona with Belichick, and the spec now is that Patriots owner Bob Kraft might leave it and some other NFL will take it. Where he resumes his chase of Don Shula’s career wins record next year is anyone’s guess. He’s the favorite (3/1) to take over the talented but underperforming Chargers. BetOnLine has Belichick as the +200 favorite to land in Washington if he leaves Foxboro. Atlanta? How far away from big-time winning is Jacksonville? Could he return to his Giants roots?
In New England, there is mounting fan sentiment to run it back with Belichick – IF he’ll agree to a few changes, the most prominent of which is giving up 100 percent control of personnel decisions. The only good consequence of the Patriots’ AFC-worst 4-13 record this year is the third pick in the draft, and Patriotfiles worry that if Belichick keeps buying the groceries, he won’t use it on a future franchise QB and instead trade down for a bushel of 3rd- and 4th-rounders.
Belichick’s post-Brady game plan – build a solid defense, get a game manager quarterback, and then win with better special teams play and superior coaching. In the last draft, Belichick spent medium draft picks on a punter and place-kicker, and they didn’t even kick the tires on then-free agent Lamar Jackson. Mac Jones tried to get it done, but the receivers couldn’t get open, the offensive line was a shambles and the offense was the worst in the league and the worst in New England since 1991.
The Patriots have gone to nine Super Bowls in Belichick’s tenure – an obscene number. They won six of them. Only two ridiculous catches (one by Mario Manningham and the other by David Tyree) and Belichick’s stubbornness in punishing CB Malcolm Butler for who-knows-what prevented a possible 9-SB sweep. There was also the undefeated 2007 regular season, incredible fourth-quarter comebacks (Will the Falcons ever get over 28-3?), DeflateGate, SpyGate, and a thousand and one other things that made the Belichick Era what it was.
But like many people who have been blessed with long lives, the final years under Belichick have not been the healthiest. The highest-paid coach in the NFL would never pay a player a dime more than he figured they were worth, and because of that some dominant players – Logan Mankins, Lawyer Milloy, Richard Seymour – chose to walk. But Belichick always recovered, at least he did until Tom Brady decided that he wanted more money and a little say in how the game plan would go down. That was a bridge too far. Belichick chose principle over pragmatism, Brady left in a snit and four years without The GOAT have laid waste to coach Bill’s philosophy and produced losing records, empty seats at Gillette, and serious meetings this week in Robert Kraft’s office.
Wither Bill?
A quarter-century ago the Patriots refused to let HC Bill Parcells buy the groceries, and he walked away. Would Belichick endure the embarrassment of Kraft hiring someone else to run the draft and free agency, someone who would basically be Bill’s boss? And how would that play out on the field? Could Belichick embrace the new, offensive, big-play-needed NFL, or would he resist and demand to win his way -- ball control and field position?
Palace intrigue will take over the management suites at Gillette this week, and other coach-needy franchises will be paying close attention.
Bill Belichick has (had?) always refused to tolerate what others would accept.
When he needed a safety and Rodney Harrison was the best one available, Belichick picked up Harrison at Boston’s Logan Airport, and rather than wining and dining the future Hall of Famer, they went to the closest Denny’s and the HC of the NEP drew defensive schemes on a piece of paper. Harrison soon signed on.
When NFL coaches met for their annual retreat, the group picture the NFL sent out to the press had 31 faces. Guess who refused to show up?
And, win or lose, Belichick had little patience for press conferences of any kind. They were a waste of time. In two decades, perhaps the two quotes he is most remembered for are “It is what it is” and “We’re on to Cincinnati.”
It’s always been a take-it-or-leave-it persona with Belichick, and the spec now is that Patriots owner Bob Kraft might leave it and some other NFL will take it. Where he resumes his chase of Don Shula’s career wins record next year is anyone’s guess. He’s the favorite (3/1) to take over the talented but underperforming Chargers. BetOnLine has Belichick as the +200 favorite to land in Washington if he leaves Foxboro. Atlanta? How far away from big-time winning is Jacksonville? Could he return to his Giants roots?
In New England, there is mounting fan sentiment to run it back with Belichick – IF he’ll agree to a few changes, the most prominent of which is giving up 100 percent control of personnel decisions. The only good consequence of the Patriots’ AFC-worst 4-13 record this year is the third pick in the draft, and Patriotfiles worry that if Belichick keeps buying the groceries, he won’t use it on a future franchise QB and instead trade down for a bushel of 3rd- and 4th-rounders.
Belichick’s post-Brady game plan – build a solid defense, get a game manager quarterback, and then win with better special teams play and superior coaching. In the last draft, Belichick spent medium draft picks on a punter and place-kicker, and they didn’t even kick the tires on then-free agent Lamar Jackson. Mac Jones tried to get it done, but the receivers couldn’t get open, the offensive line was a shambles and the offense was the worst in the league and the worst in New England since 1991.
The Patriots have gone to nine Super Bowls in Belichick’s tenure – an obscene number. They won six of them. Only two ridiculous catches (one by Mario Manningham and the other by David Tyree) and Belichick’s stubbornness in punishing CB Malcolm Butler for who-knows-what prevented a possible 9-SB sweep. There was also the undefeated 2007 regular season, incredible fourth-quarter comebacks (Will the Falcons ever get over 28-3?), DeflateGate, SpyGate, and a thousand and one other things that made the Belichick Era what it was.
But like many people who have been blessed with long lives, the final years under Belichick have not been the healthiest. The highest-paid coach in the NFL would never pay a player a dime more than he figured they were worth, and because of that some dominant players – Logan Mankins, Lawyer Milloy, Richard Seymour – chose to walk. But Belichick always recovered, at least he did until Tom Brady decided that he wanted more money and a little say in how the game plan would go down. That was a bridge too far. Belichick chose principle over pragmatism, Brady left in a snit and four years without The GOAT have laid waste to coach Bill’s philosophy and produced losing records, empty seats at Gillette, and serious meetings this week in Robert Kraft’s office.
Wither Bill?
A quarter-century ago the Patriots refused to let HC Bill Parcells buy the groceries, and he walked away. Would Belichick endure the embarrassment of Kraft hiring someone else to run the draft and free agency, someone who would basically be Bill’s boss? And how would that play out on the field? Could Belichick embrace the new, offensive, big-play-needed NFL, or would he resist and demand to win his way -- ball control and field position?
Palace intrigue will take over the management suites at Gillette this week, and other coach-needy franchises will be paying close attention.
