What is the exit route from New England for Bill Belichick?
According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Bill Belichick’s exit plan from the New England Patriots could be a trade to the Washington Commanders. On Thursday’s Felger and Mazz the guys react to the news and wonder if Bill Belichick to the Commanders would be a good fit.
Is a trade to Washington the exit route for Bill Belichick in New England?
Felger: It’s not just is Bill Belichick back or not? It’s the jockeying. It’s the leveraging. It’s the next chapter. That’s what fascinates me, the next chapter. Where is Belichick’s next chapter? And that, to me, is the story of the second half. I’m sorry, I can’t watch Oregon football or North Carolina. I’m not going to do it.
Mazz: Oh, you mean because of the quarterback?
Felger: I’m not going to do it. I’m not I’m sorry, i’m just not.
Mazz: Worry about that later.
Felger: I watch football on Sundays. I’m just not doing it. I’m sorry.
Jim Murray: I like the defiance.
Felger: I’m just not going to do it. I mean, if I’m sitting there at a bar and I got nothing else to do and I bet the thing…fine. But you know what I mean? It just doesn’t interest me watching college football on that level. I’m sorry, it doesn’t. I’ll get into in the spring. But this I can do. The contractual stuff, the leveraging stuff, the posturing, the rumors, so this I’m into and this, I think, is what it’s going to be. I mean,this is the dance that Belichick and Kraft are going to engage in before we get to the offseason and decisions are made and action is taken. So there we go. You heard it right there. Florio heard it over the weekend…..The exit route for Bill Belichick is a trade to the Washington Commanders. Your thoughts?
Oct 16, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft shakes hands with head coach Bill Belichick following the win against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Mazz: I love the idea. Again, at least then the Patriots get something for him. So I take that. As long as he’s not here, I don’t care where he ends up. So the idea of doing it via trade, to me, is almost ideal. At least you get something for him at this stage of his career in particular, because if he’s going to be an asset, then you might as well get something for it. That’s sort of my feeling on it. It would make sense with the Commanders. I mean, listening to it, I start to wonder, did it have any implication at all on what the Commanders did at the deadline?
Felger: Yes.
Mazz: Right? So like I immediately draw that connection.
Felger: Clearing the decks for the next guy.
Mazz: Exactly.
Felger: And if anyone would want a clean slate financially, it’s Belichick. You know, again, given the way he manages money, he wouldn’t want to be handed any contracts.
Mazz: No! It makes all the sense in the world. So we have we were asking the question, who’s running the Patriots deadline? And the question is, who’s running Washington’s? That might have been Belichick chirping in there for all we know if you really let your imagination run wild. So I like it. I like the idea. I’m all for it. I hope it’s absolutely in play.
Jim Murray: I’m for anything that, you know, blows this up and we start anew with a new coach and new quarterback. But that’s, you know, a different conversation with the quarterback. So, while I think the game has started to pass him by or has passed him by, you know, his name still rings out, it has cache. So if you’re one of these teams with a new owner, who is a Josh Harris with the Commanders, that still puts asses in seats, kind of like how, you know, it’s different. But, you know, when the Patriots signed Parcells that was like a “holy crap” moment. For Washington with a new owner, you get Belichick? That’s going to be a “holy crap” moment for that fanbase.
Listen to Felger and Mazz from 2-6 every Monday-Friday on 98.5 The Sports Hub, with hosts Mike Felger, Tony “Mazz” Massarotti, and Jim Murray “Big Jim”. You can listen live in the Sports Hub App and subscribe to their podcasts here. Follow @FelgerAndMazz on Twitter to keep up with the show!
Greg Bedard: '3 Up & 3 Down' after Pats embarrassed by Dolphins
3 UP
Keion White
Oct 29, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; New England Patriots defensive end Keion White (99) reaches for the pass of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Felger: Who’s your number one star for the Patriots, Greg?
Greg Bedard: Keion White. I thought he was tremendous in his opportunities against the run. He did have one hurry. You know, I thought he was really good in this game against the Dolphins.
Christian Barmore
L-R: Patriots DT Christian Barmore, Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill (USA Today)
Felger: Alright. Number two?
Greg Bedard: Christian Barmore. He’s been impactful on both sides. He did. He completely lost his mind after that last play, you know, the JuJu Smith-Schuster hit. He was still in the locker room half an hour after the game and was still hot about the play. But he’s played really well the last three or four weeks.
Kyle Dugger
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – AUGUST 11: Kyle Dugger #23 of the New England Patriots looks on during the preseason game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on August 11, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Felger: Your third star, Greg?
Greg Bedard: I’ll go with Kyle Dugger. He was impactful even though he had issues in coverage. I think on that final Waddle touchdown, he could have been better. I do think Dugger is supposed to be there in the middle of the field to at least give the illusion of help.
3 DOWN
Mac Jones
Oct 29, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) leads the team to the field prior to the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Felger: Now, three down. Who are your duds?
Greg Bedard: Mac Jones wasn’t good enough and had a chance to make some plays. Plus, there was the interception. **3 More Minutes of Anti-Mac Jones Ranting**
J.C. Jackson
Nov 18, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New England Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson (27) runs after intercepting a pass against the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Felger: Number two, Greg?
Greg Bedard: J.C. Jackson. I gave him one and a half touchdowns against. You don’t know what you’ll get with him down to down. Will he be in the right place? Is he going to bite on a play fake? He’s just very undisciplined on the field. I would say it’s been hurting more than helping in his return so far.
Trent Brown*
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ: Trent Brown of the New England Patriots in action against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 24, 2023. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
Felger: Alright, Greg. Number three?
Greg Bedard: Trent Brown with an asterisk. I saw him in the locker room after the game. He’s barely walking on his right ankle. He gave up four total quarterback pressures and three hits. I’ve got to give the big guy credit, though, because we’ve been all over him. We’ve questioned him at times. He toughed it out on Sunday. He probably shouldn’t have been out there. He was, though, and I think he did as well as he could, but still not good enough.
