It’s seeming increasingly likely that Bill Belichick and the Patriots are heading towards a divorce after the 2023 campaign. While many pundits assumed the iconic coach would be a hot commodity, Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post isn’t so sure.
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La Canfora spoke to league sources around the NFL that believe Belichick’s market may not be as robust as initially believed. As the reporter notes, there doesn’t appear to be a “slam dunk” suitor for the coach, and there’s a sentiment that it’ll be a “soft market” for the future Hall of Famer.
As one personnel executive explained, teams with coaching vacancies will likely target young, inexpensive coaches…the 71-year-old Belichick is neither young nor cheap. The executive also opined that Belichick “doesn’t really fit with any of these owners” who will have HC vacancies.
It seems unlikely that the Patriots would outright fire Belichick since the team would be on the hook for his remaining salary. The organization could look to amicably part ways with Belichick and allow their coach to either retire or hit the HC free agency carousel.
The Patriots could also take a hard stance on Belichick’s contract status and require compensation from potential suitors. “Three high-ranking executives” indicated to Jeff Howe of The Athletic that this might be the best route for the organization. Those executives agreed that Belichick could fetch a first-round pick in a potential trade. Other executives weren’t as sure, and one echoed La Canfora’s report that Belichick could have a tough time even finding a new job.
“I’ve got questions about how he relates to this generation of players,” the executive told Howe. “Can he still be a motivator? A leader of men? How does he pivot and adjust his culture?
“I’ve got a lot of questions with those recent roster moves. Is he going to just be the coach, or does he want (general manager) responsibilities? Because I’m not trading for that.”
Honest question: can anyone thing of a scenario where this makes sense? A somewhat veteran team that’s on the cusp of competing that needs a stable coach to win?
The only thing that comes to mind is the chargers. And I don’t think Spanos will pay for him
New york cuz saleh sucks
He said on the cusp of competing. Jets will have a 40 year old QB coming off a blown achilles behind a trash o-line.
Do you really think AR and BB would ever work in the same organisation? The egos would be through the roof.
After the way he left the Jets there’s no way in hell that happens.
sounds like the cowboys to me.
Patriots
San Diego with Herbert would be interesting.
Dumb Sports Fan living in a 1960s time warp.
Just get rid of him ASAP!!
He will stay in NE without GM duties. Thats my bet.
He gets a chance to work with a drafted QB. But he doesn’t have a long leash in the next couple years.
I don’t think Bill will accept that demotion, on any team. He wants 100% of the power and that’s the problem.
You might be right.
I do think its NE or retired though.
More likely fired — the win in Pittsburgh hasn’t done anything to help his cause.
Yeah, but it’ll be public as retirement to save face.
Privately, its a pink slip.
I think. Who knows.
Obviously only where disfunction is the norm, Raiders
Michigan has a robust surveillance and spying program so BB will be replacing Harbaugh there.
UM is going to pay around $11m to Jim from the sounds of it. Busted twice in the same year for cheating & become a top paid HC, only in sports.
He personally hasn’t been “busted” for anything. One suspension was because the ncaa got butt hurt because he bought a cheeseburger and then wouldn’t cooperate with their witch hunt. The other one was because a bunch of coaches in the big ten cried because they weren’t good enough to beat them so they suspended him during an active investigation (how did that work out for those cry baby coaches?) Only on the internet can you lie with such confidence and actually feel smart.
LA Chargers.
Who wants him?? How many more years is he going to coach realistically? 2 years, 3 tops?
With the roster disaster the Patriots have, he’s doing a fantastic job getting the guys to compete every game. He’s still an elite coach.
Now, he’s the one that built the disaster of a roster. Can’t escape that. His GM history is less than stellar.
The Chargers would be a great fit for him. Anyone that needs a coach, he’d be a great fit. Just don’t let him have final say on all roster/draft moves.
I for one hope he stays in NE. They would be stupid to get rid of him unless someone is giving them compensation. Firing him makes zero sense.
He’s not leaving New England and if he gives up any GM duties, the media and public will not be told. I actually think they already took sole draft control out of his hands several years ago. The media is having a field day kicking Bill when he is finally down after 20+ years.
BB looks stupid with his little hoodie on. Is he an old woman worried about his hair? Take the hoodie off and be a man for once!!