NFL
By Steve Atkinson
I grew up on Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. I’m thankful for the success they had and I was able to write and talk about it. This run with these two is something we’ll never see again. The winning, championships, drama, and contract talk was something that was something you really only got here. But when it’s time to go it’s time to go which is why Robert Kraft firing Bill Belichick is the right move.
The last four years haven’t been great for Belichick and the New England Patriots. Since Brady left for Tampa Belichick was forced to draft a first-round quarterback which he failed. Out of spite because Patricia and Judge were friends and free became offensive coaches in 2022. Kraft released a statement last January that stated the Patriots were searching for an offensive coordinator and giving Jerod Mayo an extension. Bill Belichick didn’t like that Kraft did that and has been taking power away since 2020.
But did Kraft really have a choice? Everything Belichick did these last few years was because he was either helping his friends out, out of spite or throwing shade on ownership.
Belichick got Bill O’Brien but didn’t allow him to bring in his own coaches. He went to the clearance rack for talent last off-season then got rid of Jakobi Meyers because he was talking crap about the offense. Belichick didn’t like the fact he had to bring in O’Brien and fire Patricia. He wanted to keep Patricia and Judge to run the offense in 2023.
The 4-13 record was hiding behind the fact that the Patriots got Bill O’Brien but drafted defense and special teams in last year’s draft. They didn’t even address the offensive side of the ball till the sixth round. While again going to the clearance rack for a bad offensive lineman. Belichick did Mac Jones no favors which is why we’ve seen a post from Mac two hours after Sabin retired from Alabama about 9 hours after Belichick got fired Mac took the high road and posted a thank you to Belichick.
Belichick with a GM wouldn’t have worked. He would’ve undermined it like he did with the hiring of Bill O’Brien. The GM would’ve went to Bill and asked about drafting a certain player to help the offense and he would want someone that helps the defense and special teams. Then it would’ve caused friction between the GM and Belichick. It would’ve been worse than this year.
Belichick wanted to be here and made that clear on Monday bringing up his contract. The mutual parting of ways is out of respect for the situation because Belichick was here for so long. Kraft fired Belichick today because the game is changing and Bill isn’t changing with it. It’s about offense and quarterbacks today not defense. Plus, these quarterbacks are making more money than Belichick is and he hates that.
Bill Belichick Will Be The Greatest Defensive Coach
Belichick is the greatest defensive coach of all time. He can put a game plan together and beat you on defense. Offensively he struggles and really Brady carried the offense in the second half of the dynasty. That 28-3 comeback in the Atlanta Super Bowl was Brady on offense and Believing on defense stopping Matt Ryan. In the Rams Super Bowl in 2018, Brady made the play to Gronk to seal the win while Belichick had a great defensive game plan.
My Favorite Bill Belichick moment
One of my favorite moments was covering the Bill Belichick Foundation fundraiser at the Boston Seaport. In was in 2018 and it was Belichick, Tony Larussa, Jim Thome, and Joe Torre talking baseball for about two hours. Jerod Mayo was also there and it was cool to meet him. In the end, I got a chance to shake Belichick’s hand in which he appreciated the support.
I may have ripped Belichick over the last four years post Brady but he still is the best defensive mind the game has ever seen. I am excited to see where he goes and what happens next for the Patriots. I’ve enjoyed covering them with Belichick and Brady it will also be fun covering the Patriots without them being around.
