Bill Belichick to the Philadelphia Eagles?
Greg Bedard of BostonSportsJournal.com joins Felger and Mazz every Tuesday during the NFL season. On his latest stint with Felger and Mazz, Bedard mentioned the Philadelphia Eagles as a team that possibly sniffed around Bill Belichick before they made the decision to stick with current head coach Nick Sirianni.
Were the Philadelphia Eagles sniffing around Bill Belichick?
Greg Bedard: Other scuttlebutt as far as Bill Belichick, and I had heard this before, at some point in time things went poorly with the Falcons, or he thought it was going to go poorly and his eyes were more on next year, and his eyes are more on the jobs that could be opened up next year including, you know, Dallas, possibly Buffalo. Probably the most interesting thing that I’ve heard, and again this is just Senior Bowl rumor mill, is that the Eagles were very interested in Belichick if things didn’t work out with Nick Sirianni and they could be at the front of the line if things again go poorly for him next year.
Felger: So didn’t things not work out with Nick Sirianni? Like, what does that mean? They got blown out in the first round.
Greg Bedard: Well yes, but similar to Doug Pederson, like Doug Pederson was coming back until he had that postseason meeting with Howie Roseman and Jeffrey Lurie and they wanted Doug Pederson to do certain things, fire certain people, and he wouldn’t do it so he got fired. Apparently, Nick Sirianni was amenable to all that stuff. So, they decided for one more year that they’re going to keep him. But I do think, remember I told you guys before the end of the season that that teams had already reached out to Bill. Back channeled on Bill. I thought the Falcons were definitely one of them. I’m now pretty convinced that the Eagles were the other one. When things were going south, they thought this might end poorly with Sirianni, and I wouldn’t be surprised, given the relationship that Howie and Bill have, that the Eagles were one of those teams to back channel through Bill.
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Greg Bedard: 10 questions from around the NFL following Championship weekend
Greg Bedard of BostonSportsJournal.com joined the Felger and Mazz program on Tuesday, as he does every week to discuss the Patriots and the NFL games from the past week. While on, Greg Bedard did his weekly “10 Questions” segment on the program following Divisional weekend of the 2023 NFL season…..
But before 10 questions, here are some notes from around the NFL….
The matchup between the Chiefs and 49ers will be a rematch of Super Bowl 54, which resulted in a 31-20 victory for the Chiefs.
Super Bowl 58 will be hosted at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. This will be the first time the Super Bowl will be held in Las Vegas.
The Detroit Lions held a 24-7 lead over the San Francisco 49ers at halftime in the NFC Championship game but blew the lead in the second half. Lions head coach Dan Campbell has been under fire by some due to his play calling in the second half of the game.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff leads all passer in passing yards through 3 weeks of the NFL playoffs. Goff has thrown for 837 yards. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes can pass Goff in yards if he throws for 120 yards in the Super Bowl.
Chiefs running back Isaiah Pacheco has rushed for 254 yards in the playoffs and leads all rushers in the playoffs. 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is third amongst rushers with 188 yards.
Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown leads all receivers with 274 receiving yards in the playoffs. Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, who plays Tight End for the Chiefs, sits just 12 yards behind him and can easily pass St. Brown in the Super Bowl.
![The Las Vegas Raiders have a system that allows them to use natural grass indoors at Allegiant Stadium. The grass is grown outside [pictured in the bottom right] then rolled inside the stadium on gamedays. The Arizona Cardinals use a similar system at State Farm Stadium. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)](https://985thesportshub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2023/09/GettyImages-1226301228-1.jpg)
The Las Vegas Raiders have a system that allows them to use natural grass indoors at Allegiant Stadium. The grass is grown outside [pictured in the bottom right] then rolled inside the stadium on gamedays. The Arizona Cardinals use a similar system at State Farm Stadium. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 03: Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers makes a pass against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 03, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
8. If you were starting a team, and could pick between these four quarterbacks, who would you take – in order: Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Jordan Love, Lamar Jackson.
Greg Bedard: Justin Herbert slightly over Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Jordan Love. I’m sure Murray’s going to have something to say about Justin Herbert, but I just think he’s been let down by the coaches. I think that Josh Allen’s had his chances. These might have been his best chances and he was certainly let down by people, but, just not good enough yet.
7. Some have suggested the conference title games should go to neutral sites – perhaps even split them between a Saturday and Sunday. Your thoughts?
Greg Bedard: I am a fan of splitting the games between Saturday and Sunday. I don’t know why we need to have them both, like rushed on on a Sunday night. I like marinating over one game for a while, maybe putting additional pressure on the next game. But neutral sites? No way. I want home field advantage to mean something. I like the atmosphere of Patrick Mahomes going into Baltimore, Tom Brady going into Kansas City and knocking off Mahomes. Like those are iconic moments in the NFL.
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 28: Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions reacts prior to a game against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game at Levi’s Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
6. Thoughts on the broadcasters. What grade would you give Tony Romo. How do you feel about Tom Brady replacing Greg Olsen?
Greg Bedard: I think Greg Olsen been outstanding. He’s been tremendous all the way along. I will say that Tony Romo, I killed Tony Romo last year and he totally deserved it, I will say he was better this year. He actually sounded like he watched film this year as opposed to last year where he just played golf and showed up and talked out of his rear end like we normally do. But man, that is it’s a tough act to follow for Brady, you know, replacing Greg Olsen. But look, I don’t bet against Tom Brady in any sort of realm.
5. Biggest toolbag from conference title weekend?
Greg Bedard: The nerds for trying to “nerdsplain” to us why Dan Campbell wasn’t wrong, why Andy Reid wrong taking the points when they got a turnover and kicking a freakin field goal early in that game. I’m just I’m tired of it. Like, anytime you say take the points, all you do is hear from these idiots on Twitter about like, you know, “how you’re old and things like that”.
HENDERSON, NEVADA – JANUARY 24: Three Vince Lombardi Trophies from Las Vegas Raiders championship wins in Super Bowls XI, XV and XVIII are displayed before a news conference introducing Tom Telesco as the team’s general manager and Antonio Pierce as the head coach at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on January 24, 2024 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
4. You aren’t going to the Super Bowl. What about the week will you really not miss?
Greg Bedard: I mean, the whole radio row concept, like these people walk around with handlers and, you know, former players and all this stuff, like, it’s tired and I it just drives me up a wall.
3. Give me something you’ll actually miss at Super Bowl week…
Greg Bedard: So when I did go, especially when the PAtriots were there, I would work my through Thursdaywhich is basically when availabliltiy for the teams ends, and being off in a nice warm weather city from basically would have Friday, Saturday, and until the game on 6:00 Sunday. So play golf, eat nice meals, enjoy the weather. Like that was my favorite part of the week.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – SEPTEMBER 24: Donna Kelce and Taylor Swift are seen during the first half of a game between the Chicago Bears and the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 24, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jason Hanna/Getty Images)
2. What’s the one story next week we will hear that you’d just like to ignore?
Greg Bedard: Anything related to the Patriots last season and Mac Jones.
1. For all of you a-holes who said Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were fake – that she was just doing it to promote a movie, or a tour, or whatever – can I please officially cash in my receipt on that?
No answer…Felger went off on a rant.
