By: Steve Atkinson
Well, I’m not the only person saying ownership and people inside the building blame Belichick for the recent struggles. Brian Hoyer an ex-Patriot also believes it. I don’t have any inside info or sources I just base my opinion on what I see and the reporting. People don’t want to believe that this coaching staff on defense was undermined by Belichick’s buddies and son for years. Eliot Wolf has never even been a general manager and Mayo never called plays. Did people really think this year would be a success? Hoyer didn’t think so on his latest podcast with David Andrews.
Belichick had a year left on his contract and the Patriots resigned Mayo to an extension after the 2022 season and got Bill O’Brien to be the offensive coordinator. Belichick because of his ego hated it and Mac Jones fell for the worst. Now, Mac is cooked in Jacksonville and the Patriots are left with an inexperienced staff with the only upside being the rookie quarterback Drake Maye.
That’s where this organization is at, is because of where he [Belichick] led it to be,” Hoyer said.
Belichick could’ve done right for Mac Jones and he could’ve had Mayo called defensive plays to train him to be the next coach. However, his ego is so huge that he held it against Mayo that he was the next head coach in waiting. So Belichick tanked the season and now the Patriots are a mess yet another year.
I’ve been pointing the blame at Belichick the whole season and I have no sources. Here’s Brian Hoyer saying it on a podcast with a current player. I don’t want to hear I’m making it up this is what ownership believes I just had it confirmed.
Hoyer knows what happened to Mac Jones falls on Belichick and they don’t want the same thing happening to Drake Maye. It won’t because Maye will always have an offensive coordinator. Mayo Wolf have a trial year to get their feet wet. The real test is this off-season and getting offensive tackles and wide receivers.
Now, does Mayo have hiccups at the podium and walk things back the next day? Yes. When Jonathan Kraft mouthed “the playing calling is terrible” last Sunday in Arizona was telling. Alex Van Pelt might be one-and-done at offensive coordinator, and on the defensive side, DeMarcus Covington isn’t ready. Now, Van Pelt has done well developing Maye but the play calling at times is questionable which we saw last Sunday. Like the 4 and 1 play in the second half that was a handoff instead of Maye just taking it. Maye can take it himself there and get the first down. Brady had a ton of quarterback sneaks back when he was playing. Be aggressive.