Category: Bill Belichick

What would Bill Belichick do with the No. 3 overall draft pick?

What would Bill Belichick have done with the No. 3 pick, if he still ran things in New England?

There’s a bit of curiosity as to how former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick would have used the third overall pick, if he was still the de facto general manager for the team.

Some recent notes from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini offered some insight on that question.

Russini wrote:

The Patriots are under a new regime and are about to make one of the most important picks in franchise history at No. 3. (If this was still Bill Belichick running the Patriots, I’m told he would probably trade down and get more picks — see the Texans — but this is not those Patriots anymore.)

This will be the first draft without Belichick at the helm in well over two decades for the Patriots.

The team has a golden opportunity to select an elite talent, with multiple franchise quarterback options and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. expected to still be on the board. The 2024 NFL draft is undoubtedly a crucial one with the Patriots clearly in a rebuild.

This note is particularly interesting considering de facto general manager Eliot Wolf has been playing hardball when it comes to trade down offers. It just goes to show that times are indeed different for New England, who appears to be focused on making the most of their selection.

Bill Belichick hilariously recalls play against Titans from 2006

Bill Belichick recalling this play on the fly is pretty incredible

Former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show,” and former NFL returner Adam “Pacman” Jones asked him about the new special teams rules.

To set the scene, the Patriots played the Tennessee Titans in Week 17 in 2006, and during that game, Jones returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown. New England got the last laugh in the game however, as they defeated Tennessee by a 40-23 margin.

However, Belichick, who is known for his strong recollection of NFL history, was able to recall the play specifically.

“First of all, Pacman, I want to tell you, that the punt you returned against us with the Titans was total BS,” said Belichick. “It was third down, and I was standing there on the sideline and I said, ‘Look, these guys can’t move the ball. The only way they can score is if we punt it to Pacman and he returns it. So we are going out of bounds with the ball right before the half.’

“There’s a minute to go in the half, and I said, ‘We are going out of bounds with this ball, and we’re going to make them drive it because they can’t score on our defense.’ And we punt it right down the middle, and you go 85 yards and I tell you, I can’t remember a situation I have been more upset about. …And you killed us on that just like I knew you were going to do.”

If anything, Belichick’s in-game preparation was spot-on in this instant, but the execution was lacking, to say the least.

There are some returners you just don’t kick the football to on the field, and Jones was obviously one of them.

Report: Bill Belichick was willing to give up GM duties with Falcons

Bill Belichick was reportedly willing to relinquish total control to coach in Atlanta

Former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick parted ways with the Patriots in January.

He then began interviewing with other teams, including the Atlanta Falcons. A new report suggests Belichick was willing to give up the same power he held in New England, most notably the general manager duties, and just focus on coaching.

Belichick held the general manager role with the Patriots organization since 2001. He enjoyed a tremendous amount of success, before the organization started to struggle in the post-Tom Brady era. Many believed Belichick would get hired in this coaching cycle, but it never came to fruition.

ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr., Seth Wickersham and Jeremy Fowler put together a report that, in part, detailed Belichick’s interview process with Falcons owner Arthur Blank and team executives:

And in the pair of interviews with Blank and Falcons executives, sources said, Belichick pledged his willingness to co-exist with Falcons executives under this new paradigm. In fact, he insisted he just wants to coach. But the Falcons realized that if you hire Bill Belichick, you hire all of him, an entire philosophy and ethos stemming from one man’s ethic and ingenuity, sources said.

Belichick ultimately didn’t get the job in Atlanta. A source in the ESPN report believes Patriots owner Robert Kraft was a big reason for that. The owner reportedly placed a call to Blank and warned him not to trust Belichick.

One has to wonder how big the rift between Kraft and Belichick really was, as more and more stories come out regarding the separation of the two. This could be a classic case of two big egos getting in the way.

Report: Robert Kraft wanted Bill Belichick gone following 2022 season

Robert Kraft wanted to fire Bill Belichick after the 2022 season, but he was reportedly talked out of that decision

Former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick might have been axed a lot sooner, if not for Jonathan Kraft.

A new report published on Wednesday, via ESPN’s Seth Wickersham, Don Van Natta Jr. and Jeremy Fowler, indicated the younger Kraft convinced his father and Patriots owner Robert Kraft not to fire Belichick after the 2022 season.

New England struggled offensively and finished 8-9 that season. The unit could not piece things together under the direction of Matt Patricia, who had been given offensive play-calling duties. That made life difficult for quarterback Mac Jones and the rest of the offense. Patriots ownership put out a letter to fans following the season, indicating that things would be better in 2023.

The ESPN article read:

“A source close to Robert Kraft said he considered moving on from Belichick after the 2022 season, but Jonathan Kraft talked him out of it.”

It might have given the Patriots a better shot at rebuilding if Belichick was fired in 2023. New England has never had a full rebuild in the post-Tom Brady era, until now.

Bill Belichick to join Pat McAfee’s draft night special

Bill Belichick will be taking his talents to the television screen on draft night

Bill Belichick may not be busy on draft night in a coaching capacity, but he will be hitting the television screen. The former New England Patriots coach will be joining “The Pat McAfee Show” for their 2024 NFL draft special next Thursday.

This isn’t the first time that McAfee and Belichick have crossed paths. Belichick made an appearance at the Army-Navy game in December, where McAfee worked on “College GameDay.”

This latest news just adds to what has been a busy month for the former Patriots coach. Belichick was most recently at Nebraska, where he impressed Matt Rhule and his coaching staff in a meeting. Now, he will be on the other side of things, with his former team scheduled to be a focal point of the draft.

The Patriots are slated to pick third overall in the first round.

It will be interesting to see how Belichick performs on the media side of things, especially after he spent years disliking interviews and answering media questions. If nothing else, the combination of Belichick and McAfee are sure to be entertaining.

Matt Rhule blown away by Bill Belichick’s football knowledge

Matt Rhule on Bill Belichick: “He can make the complex so simple that it humbles you and embarrasses you.”

Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule got a chance to spend a couple of days with former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Needless to say, Rhule was impressed with Belichick’s football knowledge.

Rhule is coming off a 5-7 season with Nebraska, as the Cornhuskers look to right the ship in the Big Ten. Belichick is keeping busy, after parting ways with the Patriots in January. The departure has led to mixed feelings from Patriots fans with the winds of change blowing through Foxborough over the past couple of months.

Rhule got a taste of Belichick’s knowledge firsthand when the legendary coach spent four hours talking to Nebraska football assistants during his time in Lincoln. The Nebraska coach and Belichick have formed a connection over the years, and the two crossed paths while Rhule was with the Carolina Panthers from 2020-2022

“He is so smart. He’s seen so much that he can make the complex so simple that it humbles you and embarrasses you,” Rhule said, via KETV 7 in Omaha. “I was embarrassed yesterday listening to him, how smart he is, how simple it was. He went four-and-a-half hours just with the coaches. Forget the clinic. He came in and met with our coaching staff. And three-and-a-half hours in, I was like, ‘Coach, would you like a water? Coffee? Would you like to use the restroom?’ Because I desperately had to use the restroom, you know? And he’s like, ‘I’m fine, Matt.’ I was like, ‘Yes, sir.’

“…I mean, so you have this man who’s a savant, right? He’s been a defensive coordinator. He’s been a special teams coordinator. He’s coached, you know, he could be an offensive coordinator. He’s been a head coach twice. He’s been a GM. And he’s talking about football in a way that just like, I mean, illuminates things, that makes things so simple that you’re like, ‘Oh my goodness.’”

When it comes to football knowledge, Belichick is unmatched. Patriots fans got to see it first-hand as he constructed and coached two separate dynasties for the organization in the early 2000s and 2010s.

It’s been widely talked about that Belichick has one of the best minds in the game of football. It’s even more interesting to hear seasoned coaches like Rhule talk about just how much Belichick knows and can bring to the table.

If anything, Patriots fans are all too familiar with it.

Vince Wilfork chooses side in Bill Belichick-Andy Reid debate

Vince Wilfork’s opinion of the GOAT coach remains unchanged

Former New England Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork weighed in on the greatest coach of all time debate.

Andy Reid entered the conversation this past February, as the Kansas City Chiefs won their third Super Bowl in five seasons. However, Wilfork stuck up for Bill Belichick in the debate.

Belichick was the architect behind two separate dynasties for the Patriots. Wilfork was a major part of the first one, winning two Super Bowls with the organization. The defensive tackle stepped up his game in the playoffs, as he recorded 85 tackles and three sacks in 21 playoff games, 19 of which he started in. He was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2022.

Wilfork gave Reid his flowers, but he also made sure to give Belichick credit in an interview with Patriots Wire’s Jordy McElroy.

“Andy Reid—I like Andy as a coach—but my thing is, I’m a Bill Belichick guy. He’s won it in New York, and what he’s done in New England, it speaks volumes,” said Wilfork. “I’m going to always respect Bill, and I’m going to always be grateful of Bill Belichick for the career that I had and what he taught me on and off the field. I would tell anybody he’s the greatest coach of all time. Until somebody come and surpass him, that’s what it is.”

Reid might be one of the bigger stories in all of sports right now, but what Belichick accomplished won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

Matthew Judon thinks some team should ‘hire that guy’ Bill Belichick

Matthew Judon gave an honest assessment of Bill Belichick’s coaching abilities

New England Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon emphatically supported Bill Belichick in a recent appearance on “Good Morning Football.”

Judon knows Belichick’s coaching knowledge firsthand. Belichick was not picked up by a team after departing from the Patriots in January. This marks the first time that the legendary coach will not be on a sideline in 30 years.

Judon noted that the change from Belichick to coach Jerod Mayo would be a fresh start. However, like many others, he believes Belichick should still be coaching.

“I would say, ‘Hire that guy,’” Judon said, as transcribed by MassLive.com. “He’s going to be great for the organization. He’s going to be great for the team.”

“I would also have to tell them about the downfalls,” Judon added. “It might not be too many smiles you get out the dude. It might not be too many laughs and jokes you might get out of him with the media and stuff. The press, you might have some pushback on that. But I think as a hire, as a head coach. It’s hard to get better as a head coach.”

Judon looks to serve in the veteran pass-rusher role on a defense that has ranked amongst the best in the NFL over the past couple of seasons. He is also not afraid to go to bat for his former coach, whose football future remains uncertain.

Peter King suggests Bill Belichick might have angered Kraft family

Did Bill Belichick upset the Kraft family?

Several theories have emerged in regards to the falling out between New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and coach Bill Belichick. In a piece for NBC Sports, Peter King suggests one particular thing may have angered the Kraft family in particular.

The on-field product has not been great in recent seasons. The Patriots finished 4-13 in 2023 and now have the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. However, issues off the field may have been prevalent as well.

King suggests that both Robert and Jonathan Kraft might have had hard feelings for Belichick and gave one example of an incident involving Belichick not wearing a pin correctly.

King wrote:

Robert Kraft launched a $25-million fund to combat antisemitism in 2023. Belichick appeared at the league meetings with a blue-square pin denoting the Kraft cause—but instead of wearing the pin high on his shirt as most people would, he wore it down around his stomach. Maybe it was unintentional, but I doubt it. That’s the kind of thing that I’m sure ticked off the Krafts.

Many Patriots fans would have liked to have seen Belichick return in a coach-only type of role. After all, it seems like a bold move to cast a six-time Super Bowl-winning coach off into the sunset.

There were obviously a multitude of reasons for the Patriots to go in a different direction, and as King suggested, they all might not have been for on-the-field issues.

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Charles Barkley rips Skip Bayless and other Bill Belichick critics

Charles Barkley came to the defense of Bill Belichick and ripped Skip Bayless in the process.

Charles Barkley does not want to hear any slander about former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick. He especially hates the slander when it’s coming from the mouth of sports talk show host Skip Bayless.

Bayless is of the opinion that New England’s success was more because of Tom Brady. Bayless has held that opinion for quite a while. The Patriots’ dynasty is back in the spotlight once again due to the success of the Kansas City Chiefs, who won their third Super Bowl in five seasons earlier this month.

Barkley, on the other hand, is more of the opinion that Belichick had an equal hand in the success of the Patriots’ dynasty. Barkley made his opinion loud and clear on “The Dan Patrick Show” Friday.

“Let me tell you how stupid some of these guys are on television,” said Barkley. “You know how much I hate Skip Bayless. I hate him with every fiber. Sometimes he makes me want to gain weight back so I can hate him with even more weight. He goes on television and says, ‘If it wasn’t for Tom Brady, Bill wouldn’t have all these championships.’ And I’m like, well, Bill’s the greatest coach ever. [Bayless] says, ‘He only won the Super Bowls because of Tom Brady.’ Well, Andy Reid’s a great coach. Exactly how many championships has he won without Patrick Mahomes?

“…It ain’t right. When you get on television, our job is to be fair and objective, and we’ve got some clowns on television now who are like, ‘Belichick is overrated.’ Dude went to nine Super Bowls. There’s nobody that’s went to nine Super Bowls who is overrated.”

This is a debate that will rage on for years to come.

Both Brady and Belichick benefited greatly from each other’s success. Even though this debate will probably never have a clear winner, Barkley’s stance on the matter might have created a perfect middle ground.

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