The demise of the Patriots has been fascinating to watch for those of us who don’t reside in the greater New England area. After having arguably the greatest 20-year run in the history of professional sports, the divorce between Bill Belichick and Tom Brady has led to this exact moment. The greatest head coach and quarterback in the history of the sport played in nine Super Bowls, more than any other NFL franchise, and won a league-record six (tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers).
Brady’s departure for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and immediately winning a Super Bowl, only further put pressure on Belichick to begin to figure it out with Mac Jones. But here we are in Year 3 of his tenure as New England’s starting quarterback, and he’s shown no notable signs of improvement, as he was benched for the second time this season on Sunday.
Following the Patriots’ 34-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints, the national media has turned the discussion to Belichick and his job security. It shouldn’t exactly come as a surprise, but the often-imitated, never-duplicated, Stephen A. Smith went in on the future Hall of Fame head coach on Monday’s edition of First Take.
“In 10-plus seasons as a head coach, Bill Belichick’s record without Tom Brady is 72-79. I’m looking at it right here, with two playoff appearances and one playoff victory. That is without the services of Tom Brady. It has to be said, so I’m going to say it. If I’m Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, I call Bill Belichick—the six-time champion, this man who built my organization into a perennial champion, who recognized the fact that Drew [Bledsoe] wasn’t the answer. It was Tom Brady. This guy, I call him into my office and here’s what I tell him, ‘You are no longer the GM, the football decision maker for this franchise. You can coach, but that’s it. You’re not deciding personnel any longer.’
“And if Bill Belichick did not accept that, this would be Bill Belichick’s last season in New England. And I’m gonna tell you why. You pushed Tom Brady out. He wasn’t ready to leave. He showed you that when he went to Tampa. He did not want to leave. You pushed him out. Not only did you push him out and convince me to do it against my will, and I fought you a few times and saved Tom Brady when you wanted Jimmy Garoppolo to be the successor. But then ultimately I caved and I gave in to you. Not only did you do that, but when we got Mac Jones, what did you turn around and do? You brought in Matt Patricia and Joe Judge. You literally impeded this brother’s progress. You’re not making football decisions anymore on personnel matters. You will coach and if you don’t coach—and that’s not enough for you—we’re gonna celebrate the great work that you’ve done and this would be your last year as New England’s head coach.”
This is where Smith is at his best. It’s hard to argue with any of his points. It seems like the future Hall of Fame quarterback was able to mask a lot of his poor personnel decisions in New England and since Brady’s departure (his three seasons in Tampa Bay and eventual retirement), the Patriots have looked like an ordinary franchise that’s been marred by poor coaching and poor roster management.
It remains to be seen what Robert Kraft will ultimately decide to do. It’s a delicate balance when deciding on the future of a Hall of Fame head coach, but three seasons and five games have given Kraft something to think about, especially with the lack of playoff appearances and results.
