Schefter: Bill Belichick & Patriots to Part Ways

[Rob0729]

The Krafts don’t know what they’re doing. It’s a decision they’ll come to regret.

I also think back in the history of the team. They’ve had 3 owners. Each owner made one and only one good coaching hiring decision. In all 3 cases (Fairbanks, Parcells, Belichick) it ended badly. This is a bad separation with the coach.

The Krafts have done many good things. The Sullivans also did many good things. Kiam didn’t do anything good. But at the end of the day, I think of the Sullivans as not being up to the task of running an NFL franchise (ie they didn’t know what they were doing). In 5 years I have every confidence that this is how I’m also going to think of the Krafts

If Belichick was going to be 52 or 62 next year, I might agree with you. But Belichick is going to be 72. If Belichick didn't leave the Patriots today, he would be leaving the Pats two years from now when he gets Shula's record. You just don't rebuild a team around a short term head coach. And Belichick's recent history as a head coach and GM doesn't show he is a guy who can rebuild a team.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

It was just reported that they mutually parted and Kraft said he won’t ask for compensation from any team that hires him.

Dallas is my dark horse. Jones loves BB.

I can't imagine Bill wanting to work for the most meddling owner there ever was

 

[lancerman]

d-bag

I can't even get worked up over him tbh. The dude is still mad about a contract. But the irony is that he's also bruned up over not being a HOF'er but if he just stayed here he likely would have been. Dude has been his own biggest problem

 

[Clonamery]

.. Who is your favorite patriot first rounder of the past ten yrs?

The last one.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Bill the GM got Bill the coach fired.

Also some Inexcusable things like the benching of Welker and Butler during the playoffs.

The biggest mistakes was of course, letting Brady out of the building. With Brady they win another SB in the COVID year with minimal practice time, it would have been a huge advantage to have an experience cohesive group.

Plus of course the awful picks of Strange, Thorton, Harry, et al. No Patriot first round pick has signed a second contract with the Pats since Hightower!

And it looks like that trend will not go away:

Gonzalez-looks like a keeper
Strange- bye
Mac Jones-bye
Harry-out of the league
Wynn-gone
Michel-out of the league

The second round picks are just as bad.

I can only hope they ship his sons out with him!

 

[lancerman]

Coaching was a problem too. It wasn't just GMing. The situational coaching these last 3 years has been real bad. Even the Cam year it wasn't this bad.

Thank you. People are ignoring that we no longer had the fundamentally sound mistake free squad we were accustomed to. The coaching declined as well.

 

[jdlboot14]

I doubt BB will retire, but I wish he would. Who cares that you're 2nd in all time wins... you won way more titles, divisions, etc...
He could go out now and get what Brady didn't - the reality of being a Patriot for life.

But, nows the time to start panicking about who Bobby will decide to name HC
Mayo will be a Flores - kill the team with "message".
JMD will do what he does - kill the team with "lack of message".
The most sense of "in house" continuity is to give BOB the chance. Keep Mayo as DC... MAYBE bring in JMD as OC.

 

[PatsFan2]

He is 71 years old!!!
The game has changed.
He is a legend but it is time

The younger BB wasn't a budding HOFer when it all started. Everybody starts somewhere.

 

[Ring 6]

If Belichick was going to be 52 or 62 next year, I might agree with you. But Belichick is going to be 72. If Belichick didn't leave the Patriots today, he would be leaving the Pats two years from now when he gets Shula's record. You just don't rebuild a team around a short term head coach. And Belichick's recent history as a head coach and GM doesn't show he is a guy who can rebuild a team.

Who rebuilt the team into what it was from 2001-2019?

 

[Ross12]

I can't imagine Bill wanting to work for the most meddling owner there ever was

For 2 years I could see Bill dealing with it due to how good the actual roster is and the pedigree of the franchise. He presumably is chasing wins, and that team will get him 15 wins in 2 years easy peasy.

 

[Free_Pacman]

If Belichick was going to be 52 or 62 next year, I might agree with you. But Belichick is going to be 72. If Belichick didn't leave the Patriots today, he would be leaving the Pats two years from now when he gets Shula's record. You just don't rebuild a team around a short term head coach. And Belichick's recent history as a head coach and GM doesn't show he is a guy who can rebuild a team.

Yeah, I mean, you don’t know that’s true at all. Belichick could easily choose to work 5+ years.

Belichick could coach another entire decade and he’d be the same age as the President of the United States- the most demanding job in the world.

None of us know Belichick or what’s going through his head.

 

[1960Pats]

Didn't Tom Curran tell us this news a long time ago?

I'm going to wait until it's official to celebrate.

 

[The Gr8est]

I fear some of the fans are going to get what they wished for,

Good and hard.

 

[Rob0729]

Who rebuilt the team into what it was from 2001-2019?

That was a different time and different league. The league has changed quite a bit and top flight talent is what wins in the NFL and Belichick in that.

Also, teams have modernized their scouting staffs and are using advance analytics to draft players. By all accounts are conducting their scouting like it is 2001.

 

[venecol]

Yeah that’s not how it works. Being mediocre at times while being the greatest dynasty ever is very different than being just another team.

Everything this franchise has been about for 25 years is walking out the door, and it will start all over needing to invent a new identity.

I feel another name change coming.

 

[The Gr8est]

For 2 years I could see Bill dealing with it due to how good the actual roster is and the pedigree of the franchise. He presumably is chasing wins, and that team will get him 15 wins in 2 years easy peasy.

Maybe BB will consult with his good friend Jimmy Johnson first?

 

[Rob0729]

Yeah, I mean, you don’t know that’s true at all. Belichick could easily choose to work 5+ years.

Belichick could coach another entire decade and he’d be the same age as the President of the United States- the most demanding job in the world.

None of us know Belichick or what’s going through his head.

Odds are extremely likely he is holding on for Shula's record. Many people have reported that it is believed to be true. Belichick said in the past he didn't want to be Marv Levy and coaching in his 70s. It really seems the only thing that is keeping him coaching is the record.

 

[Santi]

Nooooooooooo

Can’t believe they’re actually stupid enough to do it. His coaching is fine it’s the GM side he lost his way with.

 

[The Gr8est]

Nooooooooooo

Can’t believe they’re actually stupid enough to do it. His coaching is fine it’s the GM side he lost his way with.

I hope the new guy is half as good at finding diamonds among the UDFA coal.

 

[vicspats]

You think next HC goes 3-12? Doubtful.

No but I doubt he’s making the playoffs for at least the next three years …