End of an Era: Bill Belichick and Patriots to part ways
- Thread starter RedOctober3829
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The only thing that stood out to me (beyond the emotional) was that R Kraft was explicit about Bill coaching again on the sidelines.
I thought the usual MO was 'taking some time to evaluate', 'there will be time to think about that later', rather than it being explicit that he is being fired from coaching the Patriots and will move on to coaching another team.
It just made it odd to say in one breath 'greatest coach that ever lived' and nearly the same breath 'and I don't look forward to facing him on the other sideline [next year]. A bit incongruent
I thought the usual MO was 'taking some time to evaluate', 'there will be time to think about that later', rather than it being explicit that he is being fired from coaching the Patriots and will move on to coaching another team.
It just made it odd to say in one breath 'greatest coach that ever lived' and nearly the same breath 'and I don't look forward to facing him on the other sideline [next year]. A bit incongruent
Kraft said all the words that I wanted to hear him say. Like most of us, this is a sad day as the era is officially over. But as the eternal optimist, we should be grateful that we were along for the ride in the first place.
We generally don't watch mom and dad break-up, and it was sad, but there were no dishes thrown.
If the piece is accurate - and it feels plausible that BB was increasingly isolated and his leadership style wouldn't work as well with the younger generations of players - its time.
I have no illusions about what is going to follow as I can just as easily see a decade+ of middling teams and successive coaching hires as easily as more trophies but whether we like it or not, this just feels like a logical point to part ways.
Also, this ending is abrupt and awkward however I think its says something about both sides that they managed to do it civilly (thus far).
It was a sweet press conference. I like the term “celebration” that was used, even though it was a firing. Those two accomplished amazing things together, some which will never be done again. Robert is looking pretty frail these days. Jonathan will be in charge in the near distant future. I’m looking forward to the next chapter of the Patriots, whatever that may be. Hopefully, we land a franchise QB in April and begin our ascension.
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Wel, one things for sure - I have a lot more confidence we draft a QB at 3 than I did 12 hours ago.
Wherever BB goes --- I immediately become a fan.
I (somewhat) liken this to seeing Bird coaching the Pacers...I was always rooting for Larry no matter what.
The same for BB.
I (somewhat) liken this to seeing Bird coaching the Pacers...I was always rooting for Larry no matter what.
The same for BB.
I mean, this is the best case scenario for next year with almost any coach.
The bigger question is do you want to start the new era with a fresh slate and a high pick now or give BB another year or two to hopefully find a QB and fix the offense. If you are just turning over the keys to Mayo or Vrabel to find and develop that QB i dunno.
Yes, this. And if he blows it and they suck then...you're in the same place. I don't really get it unless BB really wanted to move on to get the record...and if that's the case why did he sign the extension?
Do we know when he signed it? It wasn't too long ago we drafted a QB at 15 that got them to the playoffs as a rookie. Looked pretty rosey just a couple of years ago.
I don't know if this is sarcasm or not, but that's my take
It's going to be hard for me to watch this team next year
same here, yet I didn’t feel that way for Tom. Guess I’ve always been #teambelichick
It had to end, but it didn't have to end this way, and this way sucks.
Can we get Vrabel *and* Mayo on the staff somehow?
Can we get Vrabel *and* Mayo on the staff somehow?
You know what, this is a good idea for a poll because now I’m curious about others.
I’d say 99%. If he’s anything other than the complete puddle that he became, none of this happens.
I know this is a throw away comment but the fact that anyone can get here, even jokingly says a lot about the consequences of poor draft evaluations. It should also open everyone's eyes that the Pats could be selecting the next coach/GM's version of Mac Jones in three short months if they cannot get their evals right...and as we have seen, it ain't easy.
probably not. Vrabel is going to want to be HC and probably more power over other areas as well. For Mayo, you talked him into staying last year when he had HC interviews, he'll have some this year, if you shank him 1 year later he's not staying, even if it means DC elsewhere, you've cut off his advancement chances here and you've treated him in a way he'll probably see as disrespectful. It's one hting to ask a guy to wait behind the best ever, it's another to ask him to sit behind Vrabel who is a decent coach, but not exactly BB.
That was a rough rough week, but this may feel a little worse for me, because it's tout fini.
The reports were this past offseason:
https://www.nfl.com/news/bill-belichick-signed-lucrative-multiyear-extension-patriots-offseason
It was pretty hard this year!I don't know if this is sarcasm or not, but that's my take
It's going to be hard for me to watch this team next year
This is the end, but the beginning of the end started after that 2021 game in Buffalo when the Pats didn't pass in the 2nd half. That was the top of the Mac Jones era and the Bill without Brady era. From that point, it's been a slow and steady decline that sped up in 2023.
I think that is why Brady was tougher. First off, it was the heart of the first Covid week. That was terrible on its own and then TB12 left the Pats right in the middle of it. The team was still solid in 2019 and Brady was Tom effin Brady. Now, the Pats need a full overhaul. Bill, at 72 next year, is a bit too old to do a full overhaul.
Thanks, now that's ringing a bell. I guess they just didn't see this coming at all, which is not good to say the least.
I don't know if this has been raised, but, god help me, any chance BB goes to the jets? Rodgers at QB, top 5 defense, both a redemption and revenge angle. Makes some sense.
I don't doubt there will be speculation. Someone will jump on Kraft's comment that he's not looking forward to seeing Bill on the other sideline next year. Edit: but yeah, he ain't going there.
Belichick would coach high school lacrosse in Alaska before he coached the Jets. The Jets are +4000000000000000 to get Belichick.
Don’t worry, Saban will rebuild his confidence next year as HC of the NEP
It was a move that needed to be made. Virtually every person or group has a moment: even when that lasts decades, it eventually needs a new voice.
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I'm more nostalgic/sad with Bill's departure because I don't think he was really taking this franchise anywhere and any recent failures they've had can all be traced back to him directly or indirectly, so my feeling is just appreciation for what he accomplished, but no belief that he could've added to his accomplishments had he remained.
With Brady I was pissed because I thought had they believed in his ability to play until 45 like he said he would and hadn't made a ton of mistakes building the roster on offense the Pats could have extended the run for 3-4 (counting 2019) extra years. I was less appreciative of what was than upset at what still could have been.
With Brady I was pissed because I thought had they believed in his ability to play until 45 like he said he would and hadn't made a ton of mistakes building the roster on offense the Pats could have extended the run for 3-4 (counting 2019) extra years. I was less appreciative of what was than upset at what still could have been.
The team should be focused on the draft and FA, instead they are going to be scrambling to rebuild an entire org. I'm not optimistic they can do that on the fly while building a competitive product for next year.
I feel like I actually understand that I'm really going to die someday, in a non-abstract way, for the first time.
I was not expecting that level of effect.