Beetle: I’d rather Patriots trade back than take J.J. McCarthy 3rd overall

On Wednesday's edition of Zolak & Bertrand, Marc "Beetle" Bertrand dove into why he'd rather the Patriots trade back for Michael Penix Jr. than take J.J. McCarthy 3rd overall.

Marc Bertrand: I actually think Penix is hugely talented. I really like Penix. I liked watching him play at the college level. I would not draft Penix for this reason. He's had his knee put back together twice and he was always hurt over the course of his college career. Knee injury, shoulder injury. Missed parts of a million seasons throughout his college career at two different places and that's why I'm not taking him. It has nothing to do with his talent or his ability because when he's healthy and he's available, I think he's really good.

Paul Perillo: I think he can throw the ball down the field better than anybody. His short stuff is not good and you're not going to get by in the NFL.

Marc Bertrand: I feel like that's fixable though. I think it's fixable the same way it was fixable for Lamar Jackson. As you just mentioned, guys can get better at the next level. That's why I believe in Drake Maye. Guys can get better at the next level. You don't have to be the best version of yourself when you get drafted in the spring of whatever year you come out, you don't.

Paul Perillo: That makes you Andrew Luck. You know what I mean? Like when you come in as a finished product and you're already doing all these things at an NFL level, then that makes you a generational talent.

Marc Bertrand: That's rare. So I want to just put it out there. And it got me thinking about our next Twitter poll. Our next draft Twitter poll. I would prefer taking Michael Penix because he is more talented, than taking J.J. McCarthy. Phil Perry, he's been challenging me to engage on the possibilities of trading back. And while listening to Felger driving home yesterday, I thought this is the one guy that I would trade back for if you had to force me into choosing between drafting J.J. McCarthy at three or trading back and taking Michael Penix. I would rather take the risk on Penix with his injuries and bad knees than drafting J.J. McCarthy at three, because he's more talented in my mind and he's a better passer.

When Bill Belichick parted ways with the New England Patriots back in January, the biggest question on most people's minds was where he would end up coaching in the future. As the weeks rolled on through the NFL coaching carousel though that question changed from where, to if.

With the Washington Commanders hiring of Dan Quinn on Feb. 1 all the openings were filled and it became official - Belichick wasn't going to have a head coaching job to start the 2024 NFL season. How did the greatest coach in the history of the sport get left out during the hiring cycle?

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On Wednesday morning, ESPN's Seth Wickersham, Jeremy Fowler, and Don Van Natta Jr. published a report attempting to answer that question. It's an inside look at Belichick's path since parting ways with the Patriots on January 11, with a main focus on his conversations with the Atlanta Falcons - the only team he formally interviewed with.

The piece contains new information about Bill Belichick's past, present, and future aspirations. There was also some information about his relationship with Kraft and the Patriots. Here's what stood out...

According to this piece, "a source close to Robert Kraft said he considered moving on from Belichick after the 2022 season, but his son Jonathan talked him out of it." This would have come after the season in which Belichick elected to replace offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels with former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and special teams coordinator Joe Judge.

Instead of firing Belichick, immediate following the season the Patriots put out a release saying they planned on going through a full hiring process for a new offensive coordinator (the job later went to Bill O'Brien) and that they had reached a contract extension with then-linebackers coach Jerod Mayo. We later found out that contract included a clause that Mayo would be Belichick's successor.

The piece runs the majority of the teams that were looking for head coaches back in January, and why they chose not to interview Belichick. There were two common themes in the reasoning - Belichick's all-controlling coaching style, and a belief he wasn't a long-term option, and would coach a season beyond getting the 15 wins needed to break the all-time record.

"Belichick's leadership style led, in part, to the decision by seven team owners to pass on him this offseason, and the bad blood between Kraft and Belichick was no secret around the league, according to more than a dozen sources close to the coach and owners," the piece reads.

That's still expected to be an issue for Belichick if/when he looks for another job in 2025 as well.

"Next season, the list of potential suitors for Belichick will be limited," ESPN reports. Former Belichick co-worker Michael Lombardi is quoted as saying, "There's an inherent discomfort with change because people want to protect their jobs."

Pretty much up until they hired Raheem Morris, Belichick was considered the favorite for the Atlanta job. According to ESPN that was the case at one point, after his first interview with team owner Arthur Blank.

However, things changed once the rest of the Falcons' top decision makers - team CEO Rick McKay, general manager Terry Fontenot, and team president Greg Beadles - got involved. After that meeting the Falcons interviewed a few more head coaches. When the group then had to make a decision, Belichick wasn't even second on the list according to ESPN.

"Blank and the Falcons execs compared notes. Morris was the unanimous first choice," the piece reads, explaining the Falcons' brass "voted on the team's next head coach, ranking each candidate."

"The team then discussed alternatives if they couldn't hire Morris. In that straw poll, Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, eventually hired by the Seahawks, was the second choice. [Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby] Slowik finished third."

"Bill Belichick didn't even finish in anyone's top three," the piece includes.

What happened that left Belichick on the outside looking in?

"A source familiar with the Falcons' thinking said neither McKay nor Fontenot wanted to work with Belichick," the piece reads, continuing that the belief was "if you hire Belichick, he will inevitably run the team, even if he doesn't demand total control."

"They viewed Belichick as 'an older, stoic coach who'd blow up the building' and wouldn't likely stay beyond two years after he sets the all-time wins record," ESPN adds. "Also, Blank hates coaching searches and he would have to do another."

Belichick's staffing choices were also reportedly an issue. "The executives also were concerned about the staff Belichick would bring with him, including assistants who had worked with him in New England and who had struggled on their own: Josh McDaniels, Joe Judge, Jack Easterby, Matt Patricia. At one point, Blank asked Belichick why his charges had failed elsewhere. Belichick replied that he thought they were better soldiers than generals."

If Blank had such a good initial interview with Belichick, why wasn't he one of his top three choices to run the team? That may have been due to a conversation he had with Kraft, according to ESPN.

"In a conversation with Blank, Kraft delivered a stark assessment of Belichick's character, according to a source who spoke to two people: a close Kraft friend and a longtime Belichick confidant. The source quoted the Belichick source as saying, 'Robert called Arthur to warn him not to trust Bill.' That account was backed up, the source said, by the close Kraft friend. Multiple sources said that Kraft spoke with 'some candor' to Blank about Belichick, though the sources declined to elaborate," ESPN says.

"The sources said Kraft made clear to Blank that 'you'll never have a warm conversation with' Belichick, echoing what Bill Parcells told Kraft in 1996 when he wanted to bust the budget and hire Belichick. 'Blank likes coaches who feel part of a family,' a Falcons source said, 'and it wasn't going to be that way with Bill,'" the piece continues.

"One source close to Belichick said Kraft 'was a big part' of why the Falcons passed on hiring him," the writers add.

Patriots VP of Communications Stacey James is quoted directly in the post, denying that report. "Robert steadfastly denies saying anything negative to Arthur Blank about Bill Belichick after Robert and Bill mutually agreed to part ways," he says. "In fact, Robert advocated for Bill to get the job."

"When asked if Kraft had ever criticized Belichick in conversations with Blank, James said Kraft had no recollection of doing that," ESPN relays. "But James acknowledged Kraft might have done so prior to January."

"It would not surprise me to learn that owners sometimes lament to those close to them when their teams are struggling," James continues in the piece, "but Robert Kraft never questioned Bill's character or trust when talking with Arthur Blank. Trust is important to Robert. He wouldn't have employed Coach Belichick for the past 24 years if he ever questioned his trust."

According to ESPN, Belichick expects to be back interviewing for head coaching jobs next season. "He has told confidants he thinks he'll get at least one interview next year," ESPN reports. Where might that be?

"Belichick has told confidants that he hopes if a team in the northeast has an opening, it will consider him," according to ESPN, which specifically mentions the Dallas Cowboys as Mike McCarthy is entering the final year of his contract. "That way, key former assistants who live in the region, such as Patricia and McDaniels, will be able to join him with minimal family disruption."

Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.