UPDATE: The Patriots and Bill Belichick are parting ways. So that’s that.
READ MORE:
— Top candidates to replace Belichick
— Toucher & Hardy react to Belichick news
— 7 Patriots who should stay long-term
NFL insider Jay Glazer said last Sunday, on Bill Belichick: “I think his tenure in New England’s over.”
But what if it wasn’t?
Even more of an eyebrow-raiser: what if Belichick was out as Patriots head coach, and his tenure wasn’t over?
That is a possible scenario in New England, however unlikely it may seem at the moment. But that’s exactly what just happened with Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks. Shortly after it was reported that Carroll’s out as Seahawks head coach, team chair Jody Allen released a statement reading, in part: “After thoughtful meetings and careful consideration for the best interest of the franchise, we have amicably agreed with Pete Carroll that his role will evolve from Head Coach to remain with the organization as an advisor.”
You’d have to think Robert Kraft is intrigued by Carroll as a possible template for Belichick.
Kraft doesn’t want to pay Belichick to not work, let alone work for another team. He doesn’t want to be known as The Man Who Fired Bill™. And perhaps he recognizes that Belichick did get the Pats to play hard for him down the stretch, as the season had already gone from troubling to hopeless.
But how could Belichick not lose his job as head coach after a 4-13 season? Three of the last four seasons under .500 and out of the playoffs? And now, Belichick has essentially dared Kraft to pull the plug.