When football kicks off this September, it will be the first time in decades that Bill Belichick is not coaching in the National Football League.<\/p>\n
Following his departure from the Patriots earlier this year, Belichick remains without a head coaching job.\u00a0 The former coach didn’t end up coming to terms in Atlanta for their head coaching vacancy, so he’s been keeping himself busy.<\/p>\n
He was spotted out in Washington last week, where former coach, Jedd Fisch, is the head coach at the University of Washington.\u00a0 His son, Stephen, is also on the staff as the school’s defensive coordinator.<\/p>\n
After spending some time helping out there, Belichick spent time as a guest speaker at a coaches clinic in Nebraska, which is where former Panthers coach Matt Rhule now coaches the Cornhuskers.<\/p>\n
Rhule spoke highly of Belichick, who he admitted, at times, made various coaching points in football seem so simple he was ’embarrassed’ while listening to the former Patriots coach address the group.<\/p>\n
“He is so smart.\u00a0 He’s seen so much that he can make the complex so simple that it humbles me and embarrasses me,” said Rhule<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 “I was embarrassed yesterday listening to him.\u00a0 How smart he is.\u00a0 How simple it was.”<\/p>\n “He went 4.5 hours just with the coaches, forget the clinic, he came in and met with our coaching staff.\u00a0 About 3.5 hours in, I was like, ‘Coach, would you like a water?\u00a0 A cup of coffee?\u00a0 Would you like to use the restroom?’ because I desperately had to use the restroom, and he’s like, ‘I’m fine, man.’\u00a0 And I was like, Yes sir.”<\/p>\n “And just sitting there and just talking, right? And just his recall from things 15 years ago.\u00a0 The only reason why we don’t get through more information is because he’s having to slow down to make sure you understand what he’s saying.”<\/p>\n “I mean, so you have this man who’s a savant, right?\u00a0 He’s been a defensive coordinator, he’s been a special teams coordinator, he could be an offensive coordinator, he’s been a head coach twice, he’s been a GM, personnel … and he’s talking about football in a way that just like illuminates things and makes them so simple that you’re like, ‘Oh, my goodness.”<\/p>\n https:\/\/twitter.com\/MSottileTV\/status\/1776689125275402562<\/p>\n Rhule is no stranger to getting educated by Belichick.\u00a0 The two last met as head coaches back in week 9 of 2021 when New England traveled to Carolina and put on a clinic, beating them handily 24-6 in a game where they picked off quarterback Sam Darnold three times and held the Panthers to just 3-of-11 (27.3%) on third down.<\/p>\n The running game won the day in that one, as Rhamondre Stevenson carried 10 times for 62 yards, with Brandon Bolden (8 carries, 54yds) and Damien Harris (15 carries, 30yds, 1 TD) carrying the day as rookie QB Mac Jones went 12-of-18 for 139 yards along with one touchdown (to Hunter Henry) and an interception.<\/p>\n Matthew Slater may be done playing football, but it appears he’ll still have a presence at Gillette Stadium.<\/p>\n Slater was captured in a snapshot by the team<\/strong> <\/a>with a bible in his hand as players returned for voluntary workouts on Monday, and according to Jabril Peppers, Slater will be around as an “advisor” to the club<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n The former Patriot spoke to the Boston Globe’s Christopher Price over the weekend in a recent podcast<\/strong><\/a>, and during the interview it sounded like Slater was interested in still maintaining a presence in Foxboro.\u00a0 He revealed that bit of information when Price mentioned that he spoke to his former teammate, Kevin O’Connell, back at the scouting combine, about his thoughts on new Patriots head coach, Jerod Mayo.\u00a0 However, O’Connell, on his own accord, apparently offered up that he felt Slater might also be a great future head coach.<\/p>\n Slater said that while he didn’t have a desire to be a head coach, he did hint that he had hoped to have a future role in some form with the team.<\/p>\n “Look, I love the game of football.\u00a0 I love everything that it entails and as I transition into this next phase of my life, certainly, I’d love to be involved how ever I can in a way that makes sense for my family and I,” said Slater.\u00a0 “But I think about culture building, pouring into young men, and sharing the experience that I had as a player with the next generation.\u00a0 Now, that may not be as a coach.\u00a0 I’m not aspiring to be a head coach like those two guys, but maybe that’s as a member of a staff or in some type of supportive role.\u00a0 So I’m very much open to that, and we’ll just see what the future holds.”<\/p>\n Apparently, now we know.<\/p>\n Slater was at LEGOLAND in New York over the weekend with his family for the “Pros of Play’ initiative<\/strong><\/a>, joining Giants receiver Parris Cambell Jr. and Eagles defensive end, Brandon Graham.\u00a0 The goal with that initiative was to invite parents to commit to spending their time off with their families this summer, with the hope to obviously get them to spend it at the park.<\/p>\n Slater said that it’s been ‘bittersweet’ being away from football.\u00a0 The former special teams standout talked about what it was like to empty his locker, and said that his number one goal in retirement was to spend more time with his family and especially his children.\u00a0 That’s where Slater said he’s shifted his focus since the 2023 season came to an end.<\/p>\n “I have had a chance to clean out my locker,” said Slater.\u00a0 “I went in there probably the week after the season and I took everything out, and it was a bit strange.”<\/p>\n “To spend sixteen years in one place, you accumulate a lot of things.\u00a0 I had a lot of junk in that locker.\u00a0 To be able to clean it out, I took two of my sons in there with me, it was bittersweet.”<\/p>\n “Certainly very thankful for the journey that I had.\u00a0 All good things come to an end, and I’m looking forward to the next chapter.”<\/p>\n Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report<\/strong><\/a> appeared on “The Herd” with Colin Cowherd on Tuesday, talking about Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy and some of the criticism he’s received ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft.<\/p>\n Most critics tend to point out that McCarthy wasn’t asked to throw the ball much in college, with some also believing he’s not a first round talent.\u00a0 However, Schultz spoke to McCarthy and the Michigan QB pointed out that despite the criticism, he’s confident and added that he’s simply someone who knows how to deliver, regardless of the situation.<\/p>\n Michigan\u2019s J.J. McCarthy has won at every level. Several NFL teams have told me he\u2019ll replicate this winning pedigree as a pro, via @TheHerd<\/a>. pic.twitter.com\/ilpkYIptvM<\/a><\/p>\n — Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 9, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"Matthew](\"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/USATSI_19718148_168390408_lowres_2-450x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSlater Back in New Role with Patriots<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"J.J.](\"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/USATSI_22251399_168390408_lowres-450x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\nJ.J. McCarthy’s Winning Pedigree<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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