Patriots Daily News Thread Patriots Tuesday 1/2/24

[PatsFan2]

Great article. A few interesting things:

On the Brady decision:

"But Belichick refused to change. He told Kraft that Brady’s play was declining. As painful as it was to say goodbye to Brady, which he did during an in-person chat at Kraft’s home, the owner understood why Brady wanted to leave, and Kraft trusted his longtime coach that the separation would eventually help the Patriots.

Since Brady’s departure, though, Kraft has grown frustrated as his team, once a model of success, has cratered into one of the NFL’s worst."

On Bill relating to younger modern players:

"Patriots Hall of Famer Kevin Faulk once said he walked past Belichick in the hallways for years, greeting him every day without so much as a “Hello” in return. Players seldom hear flattering remarks from their coach. “He definitely serves a lot of humble pie,” safety Jabrill Peppers said. “He don’t praise nobody,” linebacker Mack Wilson agreed.

That can make it difficult to relate to young players who join the Patriots, a different generation that wants to understand why the team is doing certain things rather than just being ordered around, one that likes to be complimented and recognized for its hard work."

On Bill's demands of his smaller coaching staff:

"Given the small size, Belichick demands more from his staff. The group went to Las Vegas last January to coach one of the teams at the Shrine Bowl, a pre-draft showcase game for college prospects. Arthur Smith’s Atlanta Falcons staff was in charge of the other team. Smith worked his assistants hard during the day but allowed them time off to have fun and get to know each other at night. Belichick took a different approach. His staff spent 12 hours a day preparing for the game. Then, once that work was done, they spent their nights studying for the coming NFL season — seven months away."

On Bill's paltry results in drafts:

"His draft classes have long struggled. Astoundingly, Belichick hasn’t re-signed a player he drafted in the first three rounds since 2013 (Duron Harmon). In 2022, he chose a left guard in the first round who was seen by most experts as a third-round pick at best, then in the second round chose a wide receiver (Tyquan Thornton) who can already be labeled a bust. His 2021 first-round pick (Jones) has been benched, and his first-round pick in 2019 (N’Keal Harry) was such a bust that he was off the team three years later.

That caused Kraft to up the pressure on Belichick in the spring of 2021, bemoaning the results of his recent draft classes and insisting on improvement. “If you want to have a good, consistent, winning football team, you can’t do it in free agency,” Kraft said. “You have to do it through the draft.”

On Bill's formula for 2023 season:

"Instead, Belichick has sought to win by zigging when everyone else zags. He planned to win this season with defense and special teams, investing more resources into special teams than any other coach in the league (the Patriots have seven players on their 53-man roster solely dedicated to the unit). Yet, they rank last in the NFL in field goal percentage, 31st in yards per punt return and 23rd in net yards per punt."

On Bill pushing back from Kraft's recent critiques:

"Belichick, for his part, seemed to begin playing his own games through the media from that point on. He praised several other ownership groups and the facilities of several other teams while conspicuously refraining from praising the Krafts and the renovations they’ve privately funded at Gillette Stadium. Meanwhile, he’s said little publicly about Robert or Jonathan Kraft. His only comments about the $250 million renovation the Krafts completed this year were about how the bigger video board might affect wind patterns for the kickers.

In August, just before Kraft found out he hadn’t been selected for the Hall of Fame, Belichick was given a chance to publicly back the candidacy of the guy who signs his paychecks. It was a softball of a question, but Belichick was brief in his answer.

“Keeping our fingers crossed that we get the vote this year,” he said.

On Kraft's disappointment with this season:

"But five years after that last Super Bowl, the Patriots are a shell of their once-dominant selves. By the two-minute warning of that Week 15 game against the Chiefs, another double-digit loss was already decided.

Fans headed out for an early exit. Kraft did, too. He got up from his usual seat next to Jonathan and looked around. Visiting fans were filling the lower bowl to cheer on their team. Kraft looked at Jonathan and the two got up to leave.

There was no point in watching this any longer."

Great piece in summary the Iron Fist don't work with this Generation walk away with your glory BB.

 

[signbabybrady]

Where is Flores these days??

DC in Minny

 

[venecol]

Typical Belichick response, unwilling to praise Mayo's work. Bill is an *******.

 

[PatsFan2]

DC in Minny

I completely forgot about Flores him and Mayo are kinda cut from the same cloth with him having more experience. I like Defensive HC's who don't neglect their Offense Flores would be interesting.

 

[PatsFan2]

Typical Belichick response, unwilling to praise Mayo's work. Bill is an *******.

Not going to miss his pressers they were terrible for the most part this year.

 

[Ian]

 

[Steve102]

Typical Belichick response, unwilling to praise Mayo's work. Bill is an *******.

Why does this bother you,. beyond the Bill hate? He's always been team team team. It has not changed in 20 some odd years. He's got a team of coaches that all deserve recognition, not just one guy... just like he does with players.

 

[PatsFan2]

And with all that turning 31 in April he will get his last decent Contract on a Contender. When he's happy Trent can paly with the best of them.

 

[Ross12]

If Bill goes, I'd wait til the new staff is in place and then evaluate. I think that NE just didn't know how to use him to an extent. Andy Reid and Mahomes made him perfectly effective. Sure, his knee is not great, but he can still be fine, I think. Not worth trying to eke out $1M in cap space. May as well just keep him at that point and see if the next offense can use him better. If the new staff also doesn't like him, maybe they can find a trade partner who will take him for a 7th and free up more room.

If Bill stays, yeah, just cut him as a 6/1 designation. No point. Pop took his job, it didn't work out.

 

[Ross12]

I would really want someone who's big enough to not shrink from the spotlight of following a legend. Harbaugh fits that. My guess is that Mayo is his own man enough to be up for it, but there'd be growing pains. I am all in on having a younger guy, so that check mark goes to Mayo. The Don Yee thing is intriguing for sure.

I think that Harbaugh would be quite the palette-cleanser from Bill. Huge differences in personality and probably culture. Very good coach, though. He'd have no issue being "next man up" after a legend like Bill. He would turn the team around quickly and he's very marketable - it would take some of the spotlight off of the rookie QB. You could work with him to identify a GM he likes in order to make sure that everything is simpatico and there's as little conflict as possible. It would probably be great at first, but fair to wonder if things would fizzle out after a few years like SF. Still, that could have just been a one-off and his worst year was .500 when he left. I would take him. He also has a relationship with Brady through Michigan so that is kind of a neat dynamic.

 

[venecol]

Yet, Patriots were the second team eliminated from the playoffs. When was that? Week 14?

 

[venecol]

I think IF Kraft is moving on the possible successors are there I would go all in for Harbaugh or stick with Mayo. Jim would be a Big name in our Market.

He would also get to face his brother in the same conference. Of course so would the Chargers and Raiders.

 

[venecol]

Why does this bother you,. beyond the Bill hate? He's always been team team team. It has not changed in 20 some odd years. He's got a team of coaches that all deserve recognition, not just one guy... just like he does with players.

That Bill is an *******? It doesn't bother me, just stating a fact.

He was specifically asked about Mayo, not the rest of the coaches. Answer the ****ing question. By all accounts, Mayo is doing a good job. He's also Asst. to HC so not just a regular position coach. This has nothing to do with team team team, just Bill being petty.

 

[*ChungFu*]

That Bill is an *******? It doesn't bother me, just stating a fact.

He was specifically asked about Mayo, not the rest of the coaches. Answer the ****ing question. By all accounts, Mayo is doing a good job. He's also Asst. to HC so not just a regular position coach. This has nothing to do with team team team, just Bill being petty.

Are you offended because of the non answer (standard BB) or that he wouldn't break his M.O. to elaborate on Mayo?
At this point it's clear; BB won't change and neither will your opinion of him.

 

[Steve102]

That Bill is an *******? It doesn't bother me, just stating a fact.

He was specifically asked about Mayo, not the rest of the coaches. Answer the ****ing question.

He did answer. All the coaches deserve credit... and blame.

By all accounts, Mayo is doing a good job. He's also Asst. to HC so not just a regular position coach.

Agreed.

This has nothing to do with team team team, just Bill being petty.

It's not petty. It's standard operating procedure. T-E-A-M. No individuals.

It really seems to me that you want a guy who's going to recognize individual effort. That's never been Bill when it comes to day to day stuff. Put him on NFL 100, America's Game or something like that and he waxes poetic about players. Day to day pressers to the beat guys?? T-E-A-M. All the QB's are playing well.... Meanwhile he's got Brady here, going to the HoF. (past tense, obviously).

His methods have not changed. Ever. Why are your expectations that he's going to change and tell you how great Mayo is? All the coaches are working hard to get ready for the Jets. We done? Good. That's been his M.O. forever.

 

[venecol]

Are you offended because of the non answer (standard BB) or that he wouldn't break his M.O. to elaborate on Mayo?
At this point it's clear; BB won't change and neither will your opinion of him.

Why would I be offended? Lol

I know Bill won't change and that's been the problem. The game has moved past him and he refuses to adapt.

These are the results this season of Bill not changing, following last years debacle.

1. Started 1-5, not since 1995.
2. Went 2-8, not since 2000.
3. Second consecutive losing season (not since '92-'93), their 3rd in four (not since '91-'94).
4. Lost 12 games, not since 1992.
5. Finish last in AFCE, not since 2000.
6. Finish last in AFC, not since 1992 (tied).
7. First time in franchise history Pats lose back-to-back games by >34 pts. (both worse loses in Belichick's career).
8. First time in Belichick's career that he gets shut out twice at home in one season.
9. First time in Belichick's career he has 7 home loses.

By far, this is Belichick's worse season of his career and one of the Pats worse seasons since the early 1990s.

But hey, he's not changing and the players are playing hard for him. Yay!

 

[Steve102]

Are you offended because of the non answer (standard BB) or that he wouldn't break his M.O. to elaborate on Mayo?
At this point it's clear; BB won't change and neither will your opinion of him.

Well hat's much more succinct than what I said.

 

[*ChungFu*]

Why would I be offended? Lol

I know Bill won't change and that's been the problem. The game has moved past him and he refuses to adapt.

These are the results this season of Bill not changing, following last years debacle.

1. Started 1-5, not since 1995.
2. Went 2-8, not since 2000.
3. Second consecutive losing season (not since '92-'93), their 3rd in four (not since '91-'94).
4. Lost 12 games, not since 1992.
5. Finish last in AFCE, not since 2000.
6. Finish last in AFC, not since 1992 (tied).
7. First time in franchise history Pats lose back-to-back games by >34 pts. (both worse loses in Belichick's career).
8. First time in Belichick's career that he gets shut out twice at home in one season.
9. First time in Belichick's career he has 7 home loses.

By far, this is Belichick's worse season of his career and one of the Pats worse seasons since the early 1990s.

But hey, he's not changing and the players are playing hard for him. Yay!

See, the results argument has merit. The personality BS isn't necessary.

 

[Steve102]

Why would I be offended? Lol

I know Bill won't change and that's been the problem. The game has moved past him and he refuses to adapt.

These are the results this season of Bill not changing, following last years debacle.

1. Started 1-5, not since 1995.
2. Went 2-8, not since 2000.
3. Second consecutive losing season (not since '92-'93), their 3rd in four (not since '91-'94).
4. Lost 12 games, not since 1992.
5. Finish last in AFCE, not since 2000.
6. Finish last in AFC, not since 1992 (tied).
7. First time in franchise history Pats lose back-to-back games by >34 pts. (both worse loses in Belichick's career).
8. First time in Belichick's career that he gets shut out twice at home in one season.
9. First time in Belichick's career he has 7 home loses.

By far, this is Belichick's worse season of his career and one of the Pats worse seasons since the early 1990s.

But hey, he's not changing and the players are playing hard for him. Yay!

What does any of that have to do with how he treats the GD media?



I get it, you hate him. Can we move on? Jesus.

 

[skinnydog]

That Bill is an *******? It doesn't bother me, just stating a fact.

He was specifically asked about Mayo, not the rest of the coaches. Answer the ****ing question. By all accounts, Mayo is doing a good job. He's also Asst. to HC so not just a regular position coach. This has nothing to do with team team team, just Bill being petty.

And maybe Bill having a couple sons coaching the defense with Mayo.