This year's ESPN hit piece

[RedOctober3829]

Some snippets from the above Gary Myers article.

—Imagine hoodies with their sleeves cut off becoming a Fifth Avenue fashion statement.

Bring Bill Back Home.

Can Bill Belichick, yes Bill Belichick, be the next coach of the Giants? With a report of turmoil in New England involving him, Tom Brady and Robert Kraft, it certainly seems feasible.

—“I’m sure Bill knows this is his last chance to be the Giants coach,” a source close to Belichick said Friday. “Bill sees an opening — an opening to get to the Giants.”

The source has not spoken to Belichick since the story came out, but is very familiar with The Hoodie’s desire to coach the Giants.

The source also said he’s not certain if the reported friction and tension in New England will prompt Belichick to force his way out, but if he does, he said he is certain, “The Giants are the only place he wants to be.”

He wants to be the Giants coach. I know that for a fact,” the source said. “That would be pretty cool. My guess is if he wants out, the Giants already know. He would be great with Gettleman. Bill is a football guy. Gettleman is a football guy.”

—Belichick, like most coaches, doesn’t enter the final year of his contract. It hurts recruiting free agents and it takes away some of their authority if the players believe the coach is a lame duck. In this case, I’ve heard Kraft specifically won’t allow Belichick to enter the final year because he’s been concerned he would go to the Giants.

 

[H78]

Some snippets from the above Gary Myers article.

—Imagine hoodies with their sleeves cut off becoming a Fifth Avenue fashion statement.

Bring Bill Back Home.

Can Bill Belichick, yes Bill Belichick, be the next coach of the Giants? With a report of turmoil in New England involving him, Tom Brady and Robert Kraft, it certainly seems feasible.

—“I’m sure Bill knows this is his last chance to be the Giants coach,” a source close to Belichick said Friday. “Bill sees an opening — an opening to get to the Giants.”

The source has not spoken to Belichick since the story came out, but is very familiar with The Hoodie’s desire to coach the Giants.

The source also said he’s not certain if the reported friction and tension in New England will prompt Belichick to force his way out, but if he does, he said he is certain, “The Giants are the only place he wants to be.”

He wants to be the Giants coach. I know that for a fact,” the source said. “That would be pretty cool. My guess is if he wants out, the Giants already know. He would be great with Gettleman. Bill is a football guy. Gettleman is a football guy.”

—Belichick, like most coaches, doesn’t enter the final year of his contract. It hurts recruiting free agents and it takes away some of their authority if the players believe the coach is a lame duck. In this case, I’ve heard Kraft specifically won’t allow Belichick to enter the final year because he’s been concerned he would go to the Giants.

This place is gonna melt when we trade BB to the Giants and then he signs Jimmy G away from SF, all while Brady falls off a cliff and McDaniels uses the first-round pick acquired in the Giants trade on a linebacker trying to play quarterback.

 

[Salem's Lot]

In the midst of all these hot takes, someone still needs to explain how, if Belichick really wanted to keep Jimmy and trade Brady, how they were going to make it work financially with Brady's dead cap number. Also, if Belichick was so pissed about Kraft "ordering" him to trade Jimmy that he is going to quit and take the Giants job, why wouldn't he tell Kraft "Fuck you Bob, I have roster control, I ain't trading him", then sign him in free agency when he goes to the Giants?

 

[bradmahn]

This place is gonna melt when we trade BB to the Giants and then he signs Jimmy G away from SF, all while Brady falls off a cliff and McDaniels uses the first-round pick acquired in the Giants trade on a linebacker trying to play quarterback.

What's the trade that nets Gettlemen and his G-Men another first tounder, Nostradamus?

 

[DeadlySplitter]

what the fuck has this become? Pats haters circlejerking hoping beyond hope there's actually a fatal issue in Patriot Place?

 

[tims4wins]

You will address me as Sir

 

[Mystic Merlin]

Yeah, BB is gonna flee NE - a place where he has built a fiefdom and football culture - to coach a roster built by someone else with fundamental roster construction issues.

And assuming BB wanted in on the right terms, what is Mara and Tisch gonna do, fire Gettleman? Relegate him to an advisory role? Scrap their team-building philosophy - the hire a GM with control over the 53 man and draft, who then hires the coach - for BB?

This isn't credible.

 

[joe dokes]

Also on the "Patriots Player of the Week" award, is it possible he was told about Brady not winning the "Practice Player of the Week" and got confused.
The practice player is a thing and there was reference to it earlier in the thread.[/QUOTE]

Sure it's possible. And it's possible that Ernie Pyle confused germany with Sweden. But he didn't because Ernie Pyle didn't suck. Wickersham used a term that didn't exist. It's as though someone said a left tackle named Harry reams was pissed at Brady and he didn't check the roster.
It's an indictment of the lack of effort he made to check out the veracity of his sources. "Does reams have an "a" or 2 e's?"

 

[Sportsbstn]

what the fuck has this become? Pats haters circlejerking hoping beyond hope there's actually a fatal issue in Patriot Place?

Pretty much. One asinine take only being outdone by the next one.

 

[PedroKsBambino]

Also on the "Patriots Player of the Week" award, is it possible he was told about Brady not winning the "Practice Player of the Week" and got confused.
The practice player is a thing and there was reference to it earlier in the thread.

Sure it's possible. And it's possible that Ernie Pyle confused germany with Sweden. But he didn't because Ernie Pyle didn't suck. Wickersham used a term that didn't exist. It's as though someone said a left tackle named Harry reams was pissed at Brady and he didn't check the roster.
It's an indictment of the lack of effort he made to check out the veracity of his sources. "Does reams have an "a" or 2 e's?"

Yes, that's the thing, for those who have defended Wickersham here and elsewhere. It's not so much that we care a lot about any particular detail, it is that if he indeed spent 'months' on this and can't get the facts right it speaks poorly of him, and makes clear that ESPN has no fact-checking or editorial process (each of which we already knew). For those saying we should defer to the institution---this ain't the NYT or WaPo.

 

[troparra]

Jim Harbaugh is waiting in the wings to coach the Pats, my source says. I trust my source because he eats breakfast really early.

 

[BornToRun]

what the fuck has this become? Pats haters circlejerking hoping beyond hope there's actually a fatal issue in Patriot Place?

Seriously. The media, and ESPN in particular, have been making shit up about the Patriots for years now. Why would this be any different than the mountains of BS that came before it?

 

[bagwell1]

So am I the only one worried about the James Harrison distraction?

 

[RedOctober3829]

Yeah, BB is gonna flee NE - a place where he has built a fiefdom and football culture - to coach a roster built by someone else with fundamental roster construction issues.

And assuming BB wanted in on the right terms, what is Mara and Tisch gonna do, fire Gettleman? Relegate him to an advisory role? Scrap their team-building philosophy - the hire a GM with control over the 53 man and draft, who then hires the coach - for BB?

This isn't credible.

They could make B.B. President of FB operations and head coach while letting Gettleman keep his GM title. That part isn’t hard. B.B. is in charge of the roster and Gettleman is his Nick Caserio.

What I can’t see happening is B.B. leaving.

 

[BaseballJones]

Yeah, BB is gonna flee NE - a place where he has built a fiefdom and football culture - to coach a roster built by someone else with fundamental roster construction issues.

And assuming BB wanted in on the right terms, what is Mara and Tisch gonna do, fire Gettleman? Relegate him to an advisory role? Scrap their team-building philosophy - the hire a GM with control over the 53 man and draft, who then hires the coach - for BB?

This isn't credible.

Well first off, yes if needs be, they'd fire Gettleman if that's what it took to get BB.

Second, what's credible is the idea that BB has always wanted to coach the Giants. No idea if that's TRUE, but I bet we can all see what that could be a credible claim.

None of that means that BB would really leave NE, and if he wanted to, if I was Kraft, I'd force the Giants to cough up the #2 pick this year and their first rounder next year at a MINIMUM.

 

[Auger34]

All things considered, Wickersham is handling himself ok here. Is everything 100% true in his article? Of course not. But it's obvious some stuff is open for debate.

I completely disagree with this.
His answer to the question about how Brady's blow up with McDaniels happened after the Jimmy G trade which flies in the face of what he wrote previously was cringe worthy. He talks about how Brady was probably realizing that reaching the top of the mountain wasn't all it was cracked it up to be....what the fuck?! How in the world is he feeling that this year but he wasn't feeling that this year?
That's not even mentioning the Bill Walsh quote which has been thoroughly debunked in this thread

 

[DJnVa]

That makes so much sense


/s

So if BB loses McDaniels, he might leave, and McDaniels would be favorite to replace him? WTF?

 

[Jimbodandy]

Yes, that's the thing, for those who have defended Wickersham here and elsewhere. It's not so much that we care a lot about any particular detail, it is that if he indeed spent 'months' on this and can't get the facts right it speaks poorly of him, and makes clear that ESPN has no fact-checking or editorial process (each of which we already knew). For those saying we should defer to the institution---this ain't the NYT or WaPo.

If it's a hatchet job, getting his facts right is not important. Nor does ESPN care, as they are happy to fan the flames.

 

[DJnVa]

I mean, I'd rather all of this (because it doesn't outweigh all the titles) but my Lord, the media tries so hard to make everything less fun these days.

 

[RedOctober3829]

So if BB loses McDaniels, he might leave, and McDaniels would be favorite to replace him? WTF?

He means that McD and Patricia are rumored to leave and B.B. may not want to start over. He implies that McD would take over for Belichick if he leaves.

 

[DJnVa]

He means that McD and Patricia are rumored to leave and B.B. may not want to start over. He implies that McD would take over for Belichick if he leaves.

No, I get that--but if McDaniels DOESN'T leave, then he's not starting over. The article said "if he loses his coordinators"--well that means McDaniels took a job elsewhere. How the hell would he come back to replace BB?

 

[E5 Yaz]

You will address me as Sir

Sir Circlejerker?

 

[genoasalami]

 

[joe dokes]

He means that McD and Patricia are rumored to leave and B.B. may not want to start over. He implies that McD would take over for Belichick if he leaves.

But bb will only leave if mcd does. Someone's gonna have to break the temporal prime directive.

 

[RedOctober3829]

No, I get that--but if McDaniels DOESN'T leave, then he's not starting over. The article said "if he loses his coordinators"--well that means McDaniels took a job elsewhere. How the hell would he come back to replace BB?

If B.B. leaves I’d think McDaniels would not be let out of his contract and he’d be elevated to HC.

 

[steveluck7]

It's simple, really. BB resigned the Jets job by writing shorthand, "HC of the NYJ." McDaniels does the 2018 version of that... he resigns the new job with an emoji filled text

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

The other reason BB will absolutely go to the Giants is that he finally gets to coach the one QB that the Patriots could never beat in the Superbowl.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Is there any way this season doesn’t end with Tom Brady cold cocking Belichick on the podium after the Superbowl?

 

[Auger34]

I just listened to the Mike Lombardi interview on WEEI. One part of it I thought was interesting was that Fauria gave him a fastball to shit on the article by saying "I've played for Belichick and I have never heard of a Patriot of the Week...have you?" Lombardi then fumbles all himself talking about how the Patriot of the Week existed when he was there but he hasn't been in the building in a year

 

[Dr. Winston O'Boogie]

The other reason BB will absolutely go to the Giants is that he finally gets to coach the one QB that the Patriots could never beat in the Superbowl.

If Bill is going to the Giants, he’s cutting Eli to prove both Kraft and Brady wrong and show his power.

 

[DJnVa]

If B.B. leaves I’d think McDaniels would not be let out of his contract and he’d be elevated to HC.

Aren't you missing the part that says BB only leaves if McDaniels and Patricia leave because that would mean he's starting over again?

And if his coordinator leaves, then he can't replace BB. The timeline is (as laid out in the article):

1-Patricia goes to DET (or wherever)
2-McDaniels goes to Indy
3-BB decides not to start over, goes to NYG
4-McDaniels frontrunner to replace BB???

 

[snowmanny]

As i think about it, I actually can see this all playing out. I remember BB getting all misty eyed visiting the Meadowlands before the final regular season game in 2007 so i believe he has a soft spot for the team and the history. The Pats have the future coach on staff anyway, so Belichick goes to the Giants, McDaniels is elevated to HC, there's some token compensation to the pats, Brady plays a couple more years, and a thousand monkeys fly out of my ass.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

As i think about it, I actually can see this all playing out. I remember BB getting all misty eyed visiting the Meadowlands before the final regular season game in 2007 so i believe he has a soft spot for the team and the history. The Pats have the future coach on staff anyway, so Belichick goes to the Giants, McDaniels is elevated to HC, there's some token compensation to the pats, Brady plays a couple more years, and a thousand monkeys fly out of my ass.

Totally unrealistic. I don't know you but there is no way you can fit a thousand monkeys in your ass. Everything else sounds spot on though.

 

[pappymojo]

Pretty much. One asinine take only being outdone by the next one.

Sounds like the description of every show on ESPN.

 

[H78]

Is there any way this season doesn’t end with Tom Brady cold cocking Belichick on the podium after the Superbowl?

I laughed.

 

[DJnVa]

For funsies: Would you take the #2 pick/McDaniels as coach if there truly is a rift?

 

[Helmet Head]

Funny how the NY media has claimed how big of a cheater BB has been over the last decade, now he is the savior for their shitty team when he may become available. What frauds.

 

[Seels]

For funsies: Would you take the #2 pick/McDaniels as coach if there truly is a rift?

Nope. Wouldn’t trade Belichick for the next three Giants drafts .

 

[troparra]

For funsies: Would you take the #2 pick/McDaniels as coach if there truly is a rift?

I would like to see BB go to the Giants and the Pats get the #2 pick. But then BB resigns one day later to go back to the Pats, and for compensation the Giants get the #32 pick.

 

[Marciano490]

I laughed.

Me too, but I read it as cold cuckolding Belichick at first.

 

[Deathofthebambino]

Here is everything you need to know about the article. Wickersham writes an extensive piece, with a long focus on why Jimmy G. was traded and the following two words do not make an appearance anywhere:

"Salary Cap."

Not once. The idea that you write a piece this lengthy, and draw conclusions as to why Jimmy G. was traded and Brady kept, and not even fucking mention what is probably the single most important, obvious reason is mind-numbing.

 

[Mystic Merlin]

Maybe he's a student of Felger's Cap is Crap! school.

 

[Deathofthebambino]

Maybe he's a student of Felger's Cap is Crap! school.

He's a student of some type of crap. That's for sure.

 

[bankshot1]

BB is going to divorce the Pats?

But what about the kids?

And who gets Ernie?

 

[nighthob]

It's simple, really. BB resigned the Jets job by writing shorthand, "HC of the NYJ." McDaniels does the 2018 version of that... he resigns the new job with an emoji filled text

Any excuse to post this video, it’s right up there with the buttfumble (can I just say that it’s hilarious that autocorrect recognizes “buttfumble” as a word?) silent film in the annals of great NFL videos.

 

[Mystic Merlin]

BB is going to divorce the Pats?

But what about the kids?

And who gets Ernie?

When Jonathan tries to take his key card and prize files, he'll dissipate like Obi Wan Kenobi, becoming more powerful than you could ever imagine.

 

[dcmissle]

For funsies: Would you take the #2 pick/McDaniels as coach if there truly is a rift?

For funsies, this has become a parlor game in places known for big egos.

https://www.google.com/amp/amp.star-telegram.com/sports/nfl/dallas-cowboys/article193275189.html

The only people having fun are in the media. The NFL should not be pleased and almost certainly isn’t.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Aren't you missing the part that says BB only leaves if McDaniels and Patricia leave because that would mean he's starting over again?

And if his coordinator leaves, then he can't replace BB. The timeline is (as laid out in the article):

1-Patricia goes to DET (or wherever)
2-McDaniels goes to Indy
3-BB decides not to start over, goes to NYG
4-McDaniels frontrunner to replace BB???

I’m not going by the article. BB wouldn’t waste any time leaving for NY if he intends to leave. If this has any smoke, McD would be smart to wait out the situation before agreeing to anything. If BB stays, then he can go elsewhere. If B.B. leaves, then he’ll definitely be considered to be his replacement. Maybe even Patricia should wait too.

 

[wiffleballhero]

To make matters worse, my sources tell me both BB and TB are anonymously writing nasty things about each other over on Saved by the Bellhorn!

 

[luckiestman]

Any excuse to post this video, it’s right up there with the buttfumble (can I just say that it’s hilarious that autocorrect recognizes “buttfumble” as a word?) silent film in the annals of great NFL videos.

Et tu, Brute?