The sad and unfortunate truth; Belichick did this to himself
I was asked this morning, “how do you feel as a Patriots fan?” My answer? Sad. What number step of grieving is that? We are 4 years post Brady and I have evolved past denial and anger to acceptance. The New England Patriots are the worst team in the NFL. That statement in itself is sad enough, but attach it to the legacy of Bill Belichick, oh it’s a kick in the nads. The worst part is, he did it to himself.
Needless to say letting Tom Brady walk was the greatest of his sins, but this slow self perpetuated walk to obscurity started before that. In 2018 Belichick straddled Brady with the worst offense he’d had since 2006 in an attempt to establish a run first offense anticipating the departure of the long time signal caller. Brady’s greatness shined through again in an AFC Championship game in Kansas City over shadowing what would have been a massive gaffe on behalf of Belichick not giving the offense enough to compete for a Superbowl at the end of Brady’s run. Honestly, you could say that about a lot of Brady’s time in New England. 2019 saw the end of Brady in another attempt at a run first offense. This time Brady couldn’t get them past the Titans as a desperation pick-6 ended Tom Terrific’s illustrious career in New England. Since that pick-6 it’s been the Bill Belichick show, and the reviews are less than stellar.
You have to point your first finger at Bill the GM. Specifically on offense. I mean this year, 2023, is painfully obvious what a disservice he did to the club. The problem is the problems are compounding. His answer to filling the Brady hole was a washed Cam Newton and a 1981 NAVY Style offense. Mac Jones enters as a rookie and we see a slight tick of positive movement after a record amount spent in Free Agency. Then it’s the ingenius idea to replace Josh McDaniels with the walking nut sack of Patricia and Judge. Who miraculously come out as the sympathetic figures after the debocal that has been the 2023 Patriots offense. That decision is not inconsequential. The doubt that was born with that decision lived in the heads of those offensive players returning. Bill was fighting an uphill battle with that position group this year and instead of instilling some confidence and motivation by bolstering the roster, he spent 1/3 of the off season spending and 2 draft picks on Special fucking Teams. Which is currently ranked last in the NFL. Who leads that department you ask? That’s right the same 1/2 a nut sack that completely lost the trust and respect of his players last year, Joe Judge.
Instead of zigging to surround Mac Jones with uber talent the likes of which is fellow Alabama QBs have found success with in Tua and Jalen Hurts, Belichick zagged and strapped Mac with a freshly minted 3 year extended DeVante Parker. Instead of resigning the only reliable WR Mac Jones has had in New England and outside of Troy Brown and Julian Edelman the best home grown WR in franchise history, Jakobi Myers, Bill signs a washed up uninterested JuJu Smith Sheuster to the same contract to suck up 3 catches for 6 yards every other week. Instead of bolstering the offensive line he spends his 1st 3 draft picks on defense and guarantees $10 million to Riley Rieff who was apart of the worst offensive lines each of the past 2 seasons and is as old as me! Instead of signing DeAndre Hopkins he shit in his hand and flung at the rest of us with the other hand flipping us the bird. Who in their right mind is going to look at the decisions made by Bill Belichick over what is now a five year period and have faith enough to play hard? Why, because he has a bunch of Superbowl rings? What about the sub .500 record with out the greatest professional athlete of all time?
I’m not going to sit here and say it was 100% Brady in the 20 year run of unprecedented success for the Patriots. Brady allowed Belichick to take risks and the Krafts to spend less. There is still no one I’d rather have on the sideline game day than Bill Belichick in his prime. But, that shit only goes so far. You’re telling me this 71 year old - eight time Superbowl Winning coach is putting in work like he did even 10 years ago? Fuck outta here. It’s hard to even judge him as a coach on the sidelines because he’s not in enough pressure moments to see if he’s lost a step there. But, the few they have been in… well, he’s lost step.
If not for Kraft’s massive regret in letting Brady go and his soft natured heart when it comes to PR, Belichick would have been shown the door last year. He most likely had a nice long 2-3 year runway laid out for him to catch Shula in New England, but he lit that stretch of pavement on fire. It’s unfamiliar territory for the Kraft’s. They will have to wait for it all to play out, but the way it looks like now it’s hard to see the Patriots not in a top 5 drafting position. I don’t see how they stomach another year of Belichick’s arrogance with no path forward. Bill has no one to blame but himself.