Getting Into Kraft's Thought Process - Some Thoughts

[*ChungFu*]

Jeez....I thought the whole Darth Vader thing was just play.
Some of you think he really is some dark force.

 

[mgteich]

Frankly, this is an example of the Pats fanbase overvaluing a perceived asset the Patriots have. HC trades are rare. We were basically forced by the league to trade a first to the Jets.

The Pats have Bill's rights for a single season. Bill is coming off a very mediocre 4 year stretch. He's a defensive coach in an offensively driven league. People generally want to sell their fanbase the next new exciting thing that is going to usher in a brand new era, it's a lot harder to sell them on a 72 year old guy whose best years are definitely behind him whose recent track record has been extremely spotty as both a GM and HC. If Gronk can blow up a trade and go wherever he wants by strong arming the Pats, Bill Belichick can blow up a trade. The Pats don't have the leverage on him and all potential suitors are going to sell all the negative aspects to the Patriots if they try to trade him, Bill is going to spoil the pot, and the virtue that a HC who doesn't count against the salary cap is being discussed as trade fodder just signals that the Patriots don't want him anyways and are probably going to be forced to release him.

This isn't a Sean Payton situation where the Saints had multiple years on his rights and he was already under contract not coaching who also happens to be over a decade younger than Bill.

The team can trade Belichick to someone for a conditional pick, revoked if Belichick retires. Are there no teams that wouldn't want Belichick as a $25M consultant to help the team with its Defense and processes and policies to help increase the value of their multi-billion dollar investment? WASH? NYG? Sure, Belichick would need to negotiate his role or retire. Let Belichick make a list. Perhaps, allow Belichick to negotiate and bring back a deal. Maybe, Kraft would at first insist on including only NFC teams.
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But we are getting ahead of ourselves. The Kraft's need to decide whether Belichick stays as HC and HC.

 

[lancerman]

The team can trade Belichick to someone for a conditional pick, revoked if Belichick retires. Are there no teams that wouldn't want Belichick as a $25M consultant to help the team with its Defense and processes and policies to help increase the value of their multi-billion dollar investment? WASH? NYG? Sure, Belichick would need to negotiate his role or retire. Let Belichick make a list. Perhaps, allow Belichick to negotiate and bring back a deal. Maybe, Kraft would at first insist on including only NFC teams.
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But we are getting ahead of ourselves. The Kraft's need to decide whether Belichick stays as HC and HC.

No team is trading to have someone consult and help their defense..

 

[upstater1]

Belichick will undermine/interfere with the GM much as he has interfered with the OC this year.

Belichick is Belichick.

If Kraft want him to continue, then so be it. Hire Pioli or someone similar to make or approve all personnel and financial decisions, including the hiring of assistant coaches and staff.

Personally, I don't see it. It was COACH Belichick that hired Patricia/Judge and wanted to keep them in control of the Offense. It was COACH Belichick that didn't allow BOB to have the staff he needed. It was COACH Belichick that allowed the move of Wynn to RT, even after this was an utter failure in camp.

As the writers of that article said, they could not confirm this part of the article.

 

[upstater1]

The team can trade Belichick to someone for a conditional pick, revoked if Belichick retires. Are there no teams that wouldn't want Belichick as a $25M consultant to help the team with its Defense and processes and policies to help increase the value of their multi-billion dollar investment? WASH? NYG? Sure, Belichick would need to negotiate his role or retire. Let Belichick make a list. Perhaps, allow Belichick to negotiate and bring back a deal. Maybe, Kraft would at first insist on including only NFC teams.
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But we are getting ahead of ourselves. The Kraft's need to decide whether Belichick stays as HC and HC.

I don't think you're getting this right.

He's not an asset like a player.

This isn't that.

The pick would only come from a club that Belichick wants to go to. It would be a pick for a release to that team.

It's not like he could be traded to a team he doesn't want to go to. That can't happen. He's a coach. He wouldn't have to retire if you refused to go. He would just stay with the Patriots (though I believe he'd be free as soon as the Patriots hired a head coach).

Besides, do you know how badly the Krafts will be destroyed for doing this? They will be annihilated in the coaching brotherhood and all through the NFL. They will be ridiculed and they will never live it down. People will call them cheap and they won't be able to do anything about it. Even worse, Belichick could leak it that it was the Krafts all along who didn't want to spend money. Right now when people say that about the Patriots they always put it on Belichick.

 

[Boomer B]

Belichick isn’t getting traded. He called Krafts hand today. Basically saying I’ll stay and do this job until you tell me I’m not. There’s no reason for Bill to accept a trade. If the Pats doesn’t want him they’ll have to fire him. My guess is he’s fired by Wednesday.

 

[upstater1]

Link to the Schefter part please. It would be malpractice for the Patriots not to get a pick for Bill. Bill is going to have multiple suitors, he should be able pick his destination and the Pats can acquire picks for having his rights.

As soon as they fire him or hire a new coach, he would be able to leave as HC is deemed the highest position for a coach in the NFL. It would mean he is promoted to a higher position with his new team from his position with the Patriots.

The Patriots would not be able to stop him. However, they would be out of the contract with him.

This is entirely what this is about. It's about the money. Kraft is being cheap.

 

[Sciz]

As soon as they fire him or hire a new coach, he would be able to leave as HC is deemed the highest position for a coach in the NFL. It would mean he is promoted to a higher position with his new team from his position with the Patriots.

The Patriots would not be able to stop him. However, they would be out of the contract with him.

This is entirely what this is about. It's about the money. Kraft is being cheap.

I don’t think they’re allowed to start a HC/GM search while he’s still employed. At the very least, the postseason interview timeline specifically says you need a vacant position to request interviews with other teams’ employees.

 

[upstater1]

I don’t think they’re allowed to start a HC/GM search while he’s still employed. At the very least, the postseason interview timeline specifically says you need a vacant position to request interviews with other teams’ employees.

Interesting, that makes sense. They would HAVE to fire him.

 

[mgteich]

I don't think you're getting this right.

He's not an asset like a player.

This isn't that.

The pick would only come from a club that Belichick wants to go to. It would be a pick for a release to that team.

It's not like he could be traded to a team he doesn't want to go to. That can't happen. He's a coach. He wouldn't have to retire if you refused to go. He would just stay with the Patriots (though I believe he'd be free as soon as the Patriots hired a head coach).

Besides, do you know how badly the Krafts will be destroyed for doing this? They will be annihilated in the coaching brotherhood and all through the NFL. They will be ridiculed and they will never live it down. People will call them cheap and they won't be able to do anything about it. Even worse, Belichick could leak it that it was the Krafts all along who didn't want to spend money. Right now when people say that about the Patriots they always put it on Belichick.

kraft has the rights to belichick. he is under contract.

If Belichick wants to work elsewhere next year, then Kraft would need to allow him to negotiate out of his contract.

So, OK, Belichick could be allowed to negotiate with teams. But, Kraft has the last word. Also, I don't think compensation is out of line.

I certainly could see Belichick talking to new WASH group and working out a deal.

 

[upstater1]

kraft has the rights to belichick. he is under contract.

If Belichick wants to work elsewhere next year, then Kraft would need to allow him to negotiate out of his contract.

So, OK, Belichick could be allowed to negotiate with teams. But, Kraft has the last word. Also, I don't think compensation is out of line.

I certainly could see Belichick talking to new WASH group and working out a deal.

Kraft may need to fire Belichick to create a vacant position before he interviews anyone for the job.

If he fires Belichick, then Belichick can seek a head coaching position elsewhere without Kraft's approval.

As for Washington, an ex-NFL GM was told by the ownership group that it would absolutely not consider Belichick. The new owner intends to attend coaches and scout meetings. He will be hands on.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Link to the Schefter part please. It would be malpractice for the Patriots not to get a pick for Bill. Bill is going to have multiple suitors, he should be able pick his destination and the Pats can acquire picks for having his rights.

I can't find the Schefter video, but this is close enough for now. Florio and Simms both think Bill is going to play hardball based on his last year of his contract. At this stage of his career, Bill is not going to weaken another team just so Bob can cash in on him. In fact, Florio suggests that Bob could approach Bill and offer to rip up his deal, so Bill is free to go anywhere and Bob won't pick up the check.

I called this during the season that Bill prefers to stay and Bob doesn't want to pay him $25M for 2024 and it looks to be going in that direction. Bill has leverage in the sense that any team that approaches Bob, Bill can say "no" which makes it difficult for Bob. Bill could also make things difficult on the compensation as well. If I'm going to another team at 71 years old, I'm not letting you take a 1st round pick from my new team.

Another thing - Bob won't have much time to **** around as teams will start hiring coaches after the season ends, so he's going to have to make a decision quickly if Bill isn't cooperating. I say Bill has the upper hand in staying at this point.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Belichick isn’t getting traded. He called Krafts hand today. Basically saying I’ll stay and do this job until you tell me I’m not. There’s no reason for Bill to accept a trade. If the Pats doesn’t want him they’ll have to fire him. My guess is he’s fired by Wednesday.

Agree. There are no jobs worth taking.

 

[Ring 6]

kraft has the rights to belichick. he is under contract.

If Belichick wants to work elsewhere next year, then Kraft would need to allow him to negotiate out of his contract.

So, OK, Belichick could be allowed to negotiate with teams. But, Kraft has the last word. Also, I don't think compensation is out of line.

I certainly could see Belichick talking to new WASH group and working out a deal.

Belichick would just stay here.

 

[skinnydog]

Link to the Schefter part please. It would be malpractice for the Patriots not to get a pick for Bill. Bill is going to have multiple suitors, he should be able pick his destination and the Pats can acquire picks for having his rights.

Why? Have you read the contract? I doubt the Pats can simply trade BB to a team for picks. As BB said today he is under contract. He’s the coach until fired. When fired, the Pats likely have no right to compensation when BB goes somewhere else. If BB goes somewhere else after being fired, then the Pats might not have to pay him, otherwise BB can take a year off and get paid. In other words, BB has a good bit of leverage here himself and he will not want to go to a new team and lose draft picks to the Pats

 

[Hyped]

Thoughts:

- A new GM doesn't have the time to set up our 2024 draft board, doesn't know the existing personnel intimately, and would need to bring in new blood after the draft. So, the GM would be using our scouting reports complied by Groh/Wolfe/etc... this is an important draft for us.

- A new HC...if not from the Belichickian tree...means no more BB's defensive scheme as well as a variant of the Erhardt-Perkins offense. So, personnel-wise...we might need to dramatically change the team as well... Personally, I like where the D is at even if we lose Dugger and Uche in FA. We got Barmore/White/Wise/Judon up front with Guy likely retiring, Bentley and Tavai in the middle, and a secondary with Jon Jones, Marcus Jones, Christian Gonzalez, Jabril Peppers, Marte Mapu (year 2), and etc.... we might be able to resign Jennings too. Stephen Belichick and Jerod Mayo run the best side of the ball. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

- Our offense was HISTORICALLY bad. Our QB's tossed 21 INT's to go with 3 fumbles lost. We were 4-8 in one score games despite averaging about 13ppg. A mistake free conservative veteran QB gets this team back to 19-21ppg alone.

- I would keep the present staff, add Slater as the ST coach, add more assistants, and bring in Pioli/Dimtrioff to consult with the front office.

 

[Ring 6]

Link to the Schefter part please. It would be malpractice for the Patriots not to get a pick for Bill. Bill is going to have multiple suitors, he should be able pick his destination and the Pats can acquire picks for having his rights.

Why would belichick let his new team give away picks? He stays unless he is fired. There will be no comp.
Kraft would also be on the hook for 25 mill minus this years salary (assuming there is only 1 year left which is speculation). Belichick could sign with the new team for $50,000 in 2024 and $50,000,000 in 2025.

 

[NashuaPats]

What if Kraft (maybe Jonathan) leaves things as they are, but makes a few of the major player personnel decisions such as the first round pick and a big money/free agent decision. Perhaps, doing so with the advice of outside council.

 

[mgteich]

Why? Have you read the contract? I doubt the Pats can simply trade BB to a team for picks. As BB said today he is under contract. He’s the coach until fired. When fired, the Pats likely have no right to compensation when BB goes somewhere else. If BB goes somewhere else after being fired, then the Pats might not have to pay him, otherwise BB can take a year off and get paid. In other words, BB has a good bit of leverage here himself and he will not want to go to a new team and lose draft picks to the Pats

Leverage?

Kraft can simply keep Belichick on staff and pay him through the end of the contract. This isn't cap money. $25M to Belichick as a consultant is chickenfeed. Why would he need to fire him?

Belichick would simply be promoted to VP of Player Operations reporting to Jonathan.

 

[mgteich]

Why? Have you read the contract? I doubt the Pats can simply trade BB to a team for picks. As BB said today he is under contract. He’s the coach until fired. When fired, the Pats likely have no right to compensation when BB goes somewhere else. If BB goes somewhere else after being fired, then the Pats might not have to pay him, otherwise BB can take a year off and get paid. In other words, BB has a good bit of leverage here himself and he will not want to go to a new team and lose draft picks to the Pats

Leverage?

Kraft can simply keep Belichick on staff and pay him through the end of the contract. This isn't cap money. $25M to Belichick as a consultant is chickenfeed. Why would he need to fire him?

Belichick would simply be promoted to VP of Player Operations reporting to Jonathan.