This is now: BB and the direction of the Patriots
- Thread starter DennyDoyle'sBoil
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Me either, but then he starts 5-1 and there's stories on ESPN showing him happy as fuck out there. Fish out of water stories, etc.
We were talking about this season. Last season it was abysmal. This season, it’s really been fine outside of a few bad snaps on field goals and after that a small sample of missed fg, many of which were in poor conditions and distance. The punting and kickoff game has been fine, especially considering their All Pro returner has missed basically the entire season. One blocked punt in 13 games isn’t the end of the world.
I don't know. Nearly every ranking I've seen has them near the bottom this year.
I think whatever decision Kraft will make at the end of the season is already determined. These final games don’t mean anything.
I mean I hope the fuck not. Either he stays because of his 20 year track record or he’s gone because of his post-Brady record but four games at the end of a shitty season should not be the reason he stays or goes.
Yeah, I mean, owners can overreact to the results of only few games at the end of a season, but hopefully Kraft isn’t one of them. Imagine keeping or firing a guy solely because they won or lost a toss-up game? Seems like bad process/looking for a reason to keep or fire them.
On the other hand, 4 Pats wins would have them finishing a not-completely-terrible 7-10, mirroring the 10-7 season. So Bill would have gone just one game total under 500 in three years with a guy who is apparently the worst quarterback in the history of the known universe and a backup who isn't as good as him. With a 5-game winning streak. You can see how a decision to fire Bill under those circumstances might be second-guessed.
I agree it shouldn't matter, but then I'm bringing back Bill (assuming he wants to) regardless of the results of these 4 games anyway.
But I think he's gone. If you planned to keep him, I don't understand how you could allow this level of media speculation without coming out and saying "Bill's the guy, he's here as long as wants". Even if you're not sure, I'd think "people need to calm down, we're proceeding as normal in the Patriot way" would be appropriate. Why make his job more difficult? That the Krafts have said literally nothing in public, even when asked in front of a microphone, is not very compatible with keeping him IMO.
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Hard to use Payton as a comp when New Orleans wanted to keep him when he first stepped down with multiple years left on his contract. A year later they already had a coach in place when Payton decided he wanted to coach again. The whole situation was fairly unique.
Are there any comps for a team (apparently) about to fire a coach being able to instead trade him for high level draft picks?
Patriots have leverage if they want to keep Belichick and he wants to go. That doesn't seem to be the case, but it is possible.
Are there any comps for a team (apparently) about to fire a coach being able to instead trade him for high level draft picks?
Patriots have leverage if they want to keep Belichick and he wants to go. That doesn't seem to be the case, but it is possible.
I hope they get something for BB and hire Brian Flores. Kinda like BB and the Browns, I think Flores' Dolphins' experience may help him become a better HC of NEP.
You can't trade a coach.
The way it's talked about is a misnomer.
The transaction that basically happens is a team says, we'd like to hire your head coach for our team. Would you let us talk with him? If we agree to a deal with him, we'll give you a second round pick.
The Patriots just can't say, hey Bill we traded you to the Bears for a second round pick, good luck.
Yeah, what t4t said: this team needs players. Giving up a high draft pick for a downgrade in coaching talent seems like a not good plan.
If they want to send Belichick on his way for some reason or other that’s their prerogative. But let’s not pretend they’re getting someone better or give up assets to do so. I’d rather promote Mayo than give up a third for Vrabel.
I would be down with trading Parker for Vrabel.
More seriously, based on history, we would expect BB to draw a firm line on the owners he would consider working for. However, at this stage of his career what would BB want? He might want stuff beyond money (years, authority, sons on his next coaching staff, designated successor, and so forth) that might lead him to sign on with a team we wouldn't expect.
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That'll do it for me giving any credence to Tom Curran going forward. Guy used to be a solid reporter.
What I don't get is all the conjecture that Belichick's job could be saved if the Pats finish strong. Sure, it might save his job, but the only thing a strong finish will do is give them a draft pick where whoever they select as a QB is more of a gamble. Granted, they're all gambles to a degree, but if the second overall pick is a gamble, the tenth overall pick is more of a gamble.
Then again Rap was the one that reported BB signed a "lucrative, long-term deal" and that's not exactly the reality of it. And his article is wishy-washy onit:
So, it's not "firm" and then there's "could".
I mean, okay. If.
If this update is simply that Kraft isn't at 100%, then so what? I don't think anyone thought he was.
Chad Graff, The Athletic Patriots reporter, says it's 90% he's gone.
Russini, in her article today, talks about Washington moving on when season is over and then says: "A similar picture is taking shape in New England, where most believe at the end of this season there will be a mutual parting of ways. "
As an aside, I would not be shocked if Steve Belichick is interested in DC jobs on a staff that isn't Bill's. Bill is winding down his career, Steve may be at the point where he wants to prove he's a good DC and it isn't his dad running the show.
I'm so excited for BB to come back, draft a QB, put up double digits wins next season, get the all-time wins record, and then retire with the team set up for longterm success.
I'll be checking tickets on the BB express next season, so get your boarding passes before they sell out.
I'll be checking tickets on the BB express next season, so get your boarding passes before they sell out.
If he does go, I am going to miss these post-game press conferences. Hilarious. Every question is answered the same way. "We thought it was the best play / decision / for the team"
The press keeps trying for 20 plus years.
The press keeps trying for 20 plus years.
Why don't they just ask "Bill, why did you think the play/decsion whatever was the best for the team?".
"Because at the time we thought that was the best play for the team. Thanks guys" (exit stage right)
He's been doing this 20ish years. You aren't gonna catch him.
Why not? Rich Navy history down the road, a good place to have a boat, low stress for someone his age, good weather, a friend in McVay nearby who worships him, Bosa, Herbert, can play Reid 2x a year, etc.
only place that makes more sense is the Commanders
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As an outsider, I do have to say this thread is great - the ongoing whiplash between ‘BB is terrible now and can’t be trusted to draft anymore’ and ‘another team will trade a (multiple!) top 10 draft picks for him’ is… something
The fact that Mayo has never higher than than an ILB coach makes me nervous about having him be the HC, just seems like there is a lot of organizational stuff that he wouldn’t be terribly familiar with. And I don’t mean how to organize your different colored pencils, I’m talking about how to run a rather large organization and staff. We hear he’s a smart guy, former player, relates to the players, those are all great traits but I’m a bit concerned about the lack of experience.
Random other thought, one wild card in all this is that whether he admits it or not, BB probably likes the idea of another team paying a steep price to get him.
Random other thought, one wild card in all this is that whether he admits it or not, BB probably likes the idea of another team paying a steep price to get him.
From today, he actually gives a reason for the 4th Q. punts:
Interestingly, Belichick did not make an opening statement after the game. When asked about the punt, he said, “At that point, we had lost three starters. Worried about the pass protection. Worried about being able to execute in that situation. Felt like we were playing good defense. Get the ball back on a turnover, three-and-out, get the ball in better field position.”
https://theathletic.com/5144552/2023/12/17/patriots-chiefs-bill-belichick/
Unless he's doing a not-quite-stealth tank job, it's hard to defend a lot of the recent decisionmaking across several dimensions.
He still puts together excellent gameplans, but his in game coaching looks way off where it once was, particularly on offense. I'd be really interested to know why. It could be the dynamic with BOB. Maybe it's just the horrible QBs and skill players who are not executing in critical spots. Maybe it's motivation. Maybe it's a soft tank. Maybe it's a factor of age (although I'd really hate to pin it on this, because I think it's lazy and there are other reasons).
That people can keep blaming BB after the last 2 weeks is so fun for me.
Bailey Zappe makes horrible decisions, but he's decisive. If he's going to make a mistake, he's going to step into it. So when he strings together a handful of good throws - like the first half against the Steelers or the first half yesterday - the offense looks like a real offense. Elite? No. But one capable of scoring 30 points? Absolutely.
Mac Jones was so bad, he convinced some of you that the greatest HC of all time is "horrible at his job." After 20+ years of greatness, if shitty fans let Mac Fucking Jones be the reason we run Belichick out of town, then the rest of the country is right. Patriots fans do suck.
Edit - oh, and if people try pulling the bullshit, "BuT WhY dID hE lEaVE MaC in FOR so loNg tHeN?!1!" I swear to God...they invested a 1st rounder in him and wanted to give him this final season to prove if he was the QB of the future or not. Not jerk him around. Not bench him every other week. Show confidence in him. They did that for as long as they could before he forced their hand by being fucking BROKEN.
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I said it during the first half yesterday, but I am legit wondering right now if they had just stuck with Zappe heading to the Bears game last year, if they would have been a playoff team both years. Not a good playoff team, mind you, they'd probably lose by multiple scores in the first round both years. But a 9, maybe 10 win team both years.
I was not of this mindset as of 2-3 weeks ago.
There's a wide gulf between "BB is to blame for everything" and "it's hard to defend a lot of BB's recent decisionmaking."
That said, anyone who gives BB a pass for the low level of talent on this team needs to remember that that is his responsibility, too.
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