The Patriots Are A Mess

By: Steve Atkinson

The NFL owner meetings are in Arizona and Bill Belichick, and Robert Kraft spoke to the media Monday. After hearing both speak and seeing what Kraft told reporters afterward about Lamar Jackson. The Patriots are a mess and there is zero direction to where this team is going. On one hand, you have Bill Belichick not naming Mac Jones the starting quarterback and talking about competition for all positions. On the other hand, you have Robert Kraft telling reporters that he is a fan of Mac and he thinks the pieces are now put together to help him succeed. Both Robert and Bill have different opinions about Mac.

The Patriots Have A Division Between The Head Coach and Owner

Let’s not forget Mac was Robert’s choice, not Belichick’s. If Bill had it his way during the 2021 draft, they would’ve taken some player on defense or something. Not a quarterback in the first round. So after setting back Mac in his second season, Belichick’s answer was this when asked about the quarterbacks today.

“Everybody will get a chance to play. We’ll play our best players,” Belichick said. “Every position. Everybody will get a chance to play. Everybody who is on our roster, if they earn an opportunity to play based on what they do in practice, then they’ll get an opportunity to play.”

Did Belichick say that when Cam Newton was the starter in 2020? Nope. He said Cam was the quarterback numerous times during that training camp and season. Why? Because Cam played ball with Bill so Bill played ball with Cam. Mac pushes back on Belichick and Belichick doesn’t like it. Does Bill not realize he had a complete clown show running the offense last year? Did he not care because Patricia was getting paid by the Detroit Lions and Joe Judge by the New York Giants so they can do the job. I’ve said it before Belichick would be fired for doing what he did last year if he was any other coach.

Robert Kraft Is In On Mac Jones

When Robert was asked about Mac this was his response.

I thought changes needed to be made (after last season).’ On Mac Jones: ‘I’m a big fan of Mac. We experimented with some things last year that didn’t work. We made [changes] to put him in position to excel.'”

Kraft is a fan of Mac and Bill isn’t. Then following the Kraft press conference it was reported that Kraft said Meek Mill texted him that Lamar Jackson wanted to play for the Patriots the other day. Kraft said it was up to Bill. That is complete dog food. Like I said last week Robert Kraft isn’t going to pay Lamar $40 million a season. He knows Bill wants him cause Lamar would play ball for him and do what he says. So Kraft put the Lamar rumors on Belichick’s plate so when they don’t get him Kraft can blame Bill. That is why Kraft said it publicly.

Robert Kraft Wants Wins

I think this team needs a coaching change and I’ve said it since Brady went to Tampa. If the Patriots don’t make the playoffs this season and win a playoff game Belichick should be fired. I don’t care about Don Shula’s wins record. Nobody cares about a win record when you are a .500 football team when you break it. Move on from Bill and promote Jerod Mayo and get this football team back on track. This is what Kraft said about Belichick possibly passing Don Shula for all-time wins.

“I’d like him to break Don Shula’s record, but I’m not looking for any of our players to get great stats,” Kraft replied. “We’re about winning and doing whatever we can to win. That’s what our focus is now. It’s very important to me that we make the playoffs. That’s what I hope happens next year.

One more note is Matt Patricia his position is not known with the Patriots for the 2023 season why is that? Because his contract with the Lions ended and Bill has zero use for him. I said in my last post the same thing will happen to Joe Judge when his contract is up with the Giants.