What’s the hold up on the Belichick decision? Perillo with Felger & Mazz
On Wednesday’s Felger & Mazz program, Paul Perillo of Patriots.com joined the show to give insight on where the New England Patriots stand on a Bill Belichick decision.
Why Hasn’t Belichick Decision Been Made?
Parts of conversation abbreviated for clarity.
Felger: Are you in the building every day? Gillette Stadium.
Paul Perillo: Oh, yeah.
Felger: What’s it like in there?
Paul Perillo: It’s exactly like I’m telling you. People just sitting around waiting to find out what we’re supposed to do and how we’re supposed to react.
Do you think they’re going to keep him, or do you think he’s going? And what does it mean? You know, why is there a delay? And everybody is sort of extrapolating from every little thing.
From our perspective, it’s been fortunate, I’m sure, for you guys too. You have news dumps like the Mike Vrabel situation. To a lesser extent, the Pete Carroll stuff today. That comes up and enters the equation.
Speaking just for myself, I still feel like the Patriots will move on from Bill Belichick. I don’t have any idea as to why it has taken this long.
Felger: Robert can’t just stomach putting out a two-line statement that says the Patriots have parted ways with Bill Belichick. Period. Paragraph. No amicable, no mutual. That’s the hang-up? That would be gross if that were the case.
Paul Perillo: I don’t have the answers for you, unfortunately. I know you guys want—
Felger: —You do. But you’re not giving them to us. That’s fine.
Paul Perillo: You know me, I don’t hold it out. I don’t hold out on you. I give you what I know. Monday, when Bill spoke to us and had a couple of pointed comments, not the least of which was making sure that everybody knew, making sure everybody knew that he was under contract.
My feeling is that Bill wasn’t interested in the amicable part of a statement. Sort of making things easy. Belichick is probably thinking, “I understand you must do this, Robert.” We don’t have to be mortal enemies. But you’re going to have to pay me, or you’re going to have to do it the way that you don’t want to do it. You’re going to have to have to look like the bad guy.”
Or, you know, something along those lines. I feel like they’re hashing stuff out contractually, and I think that might be the hold-up. But your other scenario could be realistic as well. Maybe the two sides are just haggling over wording and whatnot, I don’t know.
Felger: Because it’s important to Robert. Robert’s the one that’s sensitive to that type of stuff.
Segment Audio
Ryan Beaton is a producer for 985thesportshub.com. You can follow Ryan at @ry_beaton on Twitter.
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!