WaPo: "Bill Belichick is unchanged, at the peak of his dynasty and at its end"

[RobertWeathers]

I think he may be on to something that needs a deeper look. Bill had guys here, the likes of McGinest and Bruschi who laid the foundation of the Patriot way. Bill brought in Cox to give them that eff you attitude, while having playmakers like Law and Milloy. Drafted a natural leader in Seymour. Then they discovered they had Tom Brady and what he became. Later, Tom Brady held everyone accountable to the message, guys like Wilfork and Harrison led the defense, while Gronk became the playmaker, with Jules showing the way of how to turn hard work into success.

All that's gone.

Slate is the voice that harkens all back to that, but who is listening? McCourty carried the message, he's gone. Brady had the 6th round chip on his shoulder, Mac has the first round "my shat lacks aroma" pedigree. Guys are getting benched for what we can assume is freelancing or not "doing their job". Boutte is talking to the media mid week about playing, only to get benched for what likely could be as simple as talking to the media. The best players, Gonzalez, Judon, and Bourne are hurt, the rest are mid level NFLers with no one to take the pressure off.

The story is that Bill is unchanged, but now no one of consequence is carrying the message. It wouldn't take long to have a mutiny on your hands without leadership among the players who carry out Bill's message.

I think leadership plays a big part of the good/bad of an NFL team no question.

...and this year's team lacks it in spades.

 

[archstanton543]

I think leadership plays a big part of the good/bad of an NFL team no question.

...and this year's team lacks it in spades.

A fish rots from the head...

 

[Steve102]

A fish rots from the head...

To the point of the original article, the fish's head has been the same for it's whole career. If you want to blame the fish's head, the GM side of the fish's head .... OMG this is giving me a headache. Once sentence will do it: The GM Bill has failed the HC Bill.

I think leadership plays a big part of the good/bad of an NFL team no question.

...and this year's team lacks it in spades.

Yeah, I would agree. I don't think there's anyone on this team that "gets it" beyond Slate. As a 37 year old ST player, does he have the juice to make a 24 year old kid listen? I am guessing no. So, Bill the GM needs to bring in an outside voice that gets it, that guys respect. Like Bryan Cox, like Rodney Harrison. Not sure who that is. I am guessing he tried that with Mills. Not sure who's out there for him to get, and it's probably too late at this point. Too many Adalius Thomas / Shawn Springs types on this team currently. 2009, but worse, without a GOAT QB.

 

[aluminum seats]

I personally think a fresh start would be the best thing for Belichick.

I don't see any reason why he can't go in, just as a coach, and take over a talented team that needs coaching. I think that would reinvigorate him, he would break Shula's record, and will go out on a high note.

It doesn't have to be the Patriots, the baggage of history and weight of expectations becomes exhausting after awhile. I think it would be fun for the Pats to have a fresh start too. It's time to part ways, and that's not a bad thing.

 

[RobertWeathers]

To the point of the original article, the fish's head has been the same for it's whole career. If you want to blame the fish's head, the GM side of the fish's head .... OMG this is giving me a headache. Once sentence will do it: The GM Bill has failed the HC Bill.

Yeah, I would agree. I don't think there's anyone on this team that "gets it" beyond Slate. As a 37 year old ST player, does he have the juice to make a 24 year old kid listen? I am guessing no. So, Bill the GM needs to bring in an outside voice that gets it, that guys respect. Like Bryan Cox, like Rodney Harrison. Not sure who that is. I am guessing he tried that with Mills. Not sure who's out there for him to get, and it's probably too late at this point. Too many Adalius Thomas / Shawn Springs types on this team currently. 2009, but worse, without a GOAT QB.

I think Andrews gets it. Maybe Guy, Jonathan Jones, Tavai and Bentley but thats about it.

I think Judon gets it but not sure...?

 

[StrawHatPatriot]

Innacurate on every level

Don't see how.

The first time I have ever disliked a post because your Cleveland take is mostly fiction.

How is it fiction? I can link to articles form the 90s with Kosar showing his dissatisfaction. This is well-known.

I meant sources for this year’s team

In 2022 Patricia and Judge caused issues and frustation amongst the players, that's well known and has been reported on, so i dont need to go into detail. And several players disliked how Bill handled Mac's benching. That's been reported and posted on here as well.

We had reports of Mac feeling alienated. Along with that whole expose about judge and Matt last year. And now Perry is sensing the locker room is feeling resignation. (I remember some reports late in 2021 after the bye week but I need to find those).

This is what I was referring to with locker room issues, this is known. Maybe the term I should have used should be different?

 

[sb1]

Volin lol. Someone send him a fake DM again?

 

[TheRainMaker]

Volin lol. Someone send him a fake DM again?

Another nightmare scenerio.

 

[amfootball]

Another nightmare scenerio.

I would rather have Vrabel over Mayo.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I would rather have Vrabel over Mayo.

Giving up a pick for Vrabel would set this team back further. It needs talent badly. His team building is very similar to Bill's.

Mayo would be another nightmare scenario as he would keep Bill's staff. This franchise needs a hard reset.

 

[amfootball]

Giving up a pick for Vrabel would set this team back further. It needs talent badly. His team building is very similar to Bill's.

Mayo would be another nightmare scenario as he would keep Bill's staff. This franchise needs a hard reset.

Vrabel would not be the GM so the team building would not be up to him.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Vrabel would not be the GM so the team building would not be up to him.

Regardless, he's not that good of a coach.

 

[sb1]

Giving up a pick for Vrabel would set this team back further. It needs talent badly. His team building is very similar to Bill's.

Mayo would be another nightmare scenario as he would keep Bill's staff. This franchise needs a hard reset.

Yeah. A change should be completely turning the page on the BB era and anyone and anything connected to him. And they need picks for talent not on coaches who are not a sure thing.

 

[amfootball]

Regardless, he's not that good of a coach.

I think he has been pretty good in TN. I am not sure it was his decision to extend Tanny.

 

[Pape]

Volin lol. Someone send him a fake DM again?

Pretty sure both Adom Schifter and Mikë Raiss both posted that...

 

[sb1]

Pretty sure both Adom Schifter and Mikë Raiss both posted that...

Or Ian Rappaport. I wouldn't put it past Trollin to take "news" from those sources.

 

[Steve102]

Volin lol. Someone send him a fake DM again?

I am not sure I am all in on Vrabel.

 

[VrabelJr]

Don't see how.

How is it fiction? I can link to articles form the 90s with Kosar showing his dissatisfaction. This is well-known.

In 2022 Patricia and Judge caused issues and frustation amongst the players, that's well known and has been reported on, so i dont need to go into detail. And several players disliked how Bill handled Mac's benching. That's been reported and posted on here as well.

We had reports of Mac feeling alienated. Along with that whole expose about judge and Matt last year. And now Perry is sensing the locker room is feeling resignation. (I remember some reports late in 2021 after the bye week but I need to find those).

This is what I was referring to with locker room issues, this is known. Maybe the term I should have used should be different?

That’s still not this season.

 

[sb1]

I don't harp too much on the Cleveland years for BB's legacy. He was not ready to be a head coach at the NFL level back then. It is what it is. Could probably say the same about Pete and his stint in NE in the 90's and he turned out all right.

I think Bill learned a lot from those years and he was much better off for it.

 

[VrabelJr]

Imagine thinking we should fire the GOAT coach when we’re a Sam Howell or Baker Mayfield level QB away from being 6-3 or better.