Robert Kraft Admits to Firing Belichick

By Steve Atkinson 

Months after what was described as “parting ways” with Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft admitted that he fired him. Kraft was attempting to handle the situation in a tactful manner, considering Belichick’s 24-year tenure and six Super Bowl wins with Tom Brady. However, Kraft was disappointed with Belichick’s failure to properly develop a first-round quarterback. Some people seem to forget the reasons behind Belichick’s departure from the Patriots. Belichick appears to be bitter about being let go, as he has started discussing the team’s 1-5 record all of a sudden.

Robert Kraft needed a Change from Belichick

The performance of Drake Maye not only reflects on Mayo and Eliot Wolf but also on Belichick. It’s noteworthy that when he appears on Pat McAfee’s show every week, certain questions about Maye are not asked. Despite Maye’s strong performance on Sunday, McAfee chose not to ask Belichick about it, possibly to stay on his good side. Similarly, on the Underdog podcast that Belichick hosts with his friends Matt Patricia and Michael Lombardi, there is no mention of Maye’s performance. Here’s an excerpt from the Underdog podcast: [excerpt]

But, all the talk about the quarterback, I mean, you gave up 41 points,” Lombardi noted. “I mean everybody thinks the quarterback’s the magic wand. ‘Well, we just changed quarterbacks.’ That’s what [the Raiders] did. … We’re just gonna change quarterbacks. Pittsburgh scored 32 on them last week. Pittsburgh usually doesn’t score 32 points in two games.” “Well, quarterbacks don’t play defense,” Belichick added. “Some people lose sight of that.”

That’s all Belichick would say. Why is that? Is it because it’s a reflection on him if Maye plays well, because he failed a first-round quarterback? Yes, which brings us back to why Kraft has to fire him. His ego got in the way of winning. His ego is still so big that people can’t even ask him about the Patriots unless it’s something negative.”

Kraft fired Belichick he was tired of his ego

This relates to Robert Kraft’s recent comments about having to fire Belichick and trying to keep it classy with the press conference.

I kept him for 24 years,” Kraft said. “I didn’t enjoy having to fire him, but I tried to do it – if you look at the press conference and how it happened, tried to do it in a classy way.”

“What he did for us was great. People need to adapt,” Kraft added. “People need to adapt and if they don’t, things can change. In life, it’s about getting good chemistry and trust and I feel that our record the last three or four years wasn’t what I wanted.”

Belichick failed to adapt to change and instead put Patricia in charge of the offense because they are friends. This decision may not have been what was best for the team, but rather what was best for Belichick. Now, he has taken Patricia with him on these podcasts, and it seems like Patricia will be with him at his next coaching job without a doubt.

I had given him so much power,” Kraft said. “He had full control over everything, and shame on me, I should have had some checks and balances better. But, he had earned that right. But then the results weren’t there and if you’re in the sports business you win or you lose, there’s no gray and I hate losing

The failure to develop Mac Jones properly and the poor draft picks are the reasons why he got fired. It’s important for people to recognize that Brady’s performance covered up a lot of bad drafting over the years. If Mayo and Wolf don’t develop Maye properly, they could also be let go. I’m sure Belichick hopes that Drake Maye fails with the Patriots, but I hope Maye succeeds and that they stick with Belichick’s approach to developing the quarterback properly.