There is not any “I” in staff.
But there’s a “me.”
Just ask Bill Belichick. Or Robert Kraft.
The beloved, gruff shepherd of the Patriots rushed to remind everybody on Monday that “I’m under contract” lower than 18 hours after ending his worst season in New England.
This was the primary in his 24 years teaching this staff anybody may keep in mind, at the least by way of reminiscence and a cursory web search, that Belichick talked about his contract standing from any podium.
Those protecting his “press conference” remotely could have been incapacitated from the electromagnetic pulse triggered by Belichick’s pace in protecting his personal bottom on “Black Monday.”
Belichick additionally opened the door to additional questions on his contract which have but to be requested.
“Bill, when does your contract expire?”
“Are there terms within your contract that allow ownership to modify your positions/responsibilities?”
“Is the amount of your salary in any way tied to the team’s performance, either on the field, or in regard to the cash or salary cap?”
“Are the positions held by your sons tied in any way to your contract?”
“Do you have final say over the entire coaching staff? Or can Stephen and Brian be shown the door if the Kraft family goes full-Corleone in the next few weeks?”
“The Wolf Of Route 1” made it clear: “I am not (expletive) leaving.”
Then there may be Kraft. He is (allegedly) nonetheless the boss. Kraft has adopted the lead of John Henry and all however disappeared when it got here to addressing the followers or media. Kraft needed to go all the best way to Germany to discover a pleasant viewers throughout this previous season.
Kraft and Belichick share within the Patriots Original Sin in Losing Tom Brady. Nothing can ever erase that stain. The Patriots Dynasty has because the method of the Byzantine Empire.
Neither Belichick nor Kraft has finished “what is best for the team” since.
Belichick stacked the payroll together with his buddies and progeny, sabotaged the profession of Mac Jones, and did not be sure that there was a succession plan in place for Brady’s departure, considering he may wing it at a very powerful place in sports activities.
Kraft has allowed all of it to occur, has restricted spending on gamers, and light from view as his staff sank into NFL irrelevance.
In the case of Belichick, at the least, there are a number of choices transferring ahead.
And Belichick, in his panic Monday, forgot a very powerful rule in any negotiation.
“Never make the first offer.”
Belichick’s “pay me or else” demand misplaced no matter legendary leverage it had on Monday night time when Michigan received the College Football Playoff.
And once more on Tuesday when the Tennessee Titans fired Mike Vrabel.
Even if Belichick discovered himself on the NFL teaching market, he’d be the second-most coveted candidate after Jim Harbaugh.
Vrabel and the Krafts genuinely admire one another. Check these quotes about Vrabel from none than Belichick after Vrabel was traded to the Chiefs: “Mike Vrabel epitomizes everything a coach could seek in a professional football player: toughness, intelligence, playmaking, leadership, versatility, and consistency at the highest level. Of all the players I have coached in my career, there is nobody I enjoyed working with more than Mike.”
Wowser. Those phrases have been normally reserved for Lawrence Taylor and the Navy long-snapper.
Since Robert Kraft shall be paying Belichick $25 million (or so) subsequent yr it doesn’t matter what, that leaves out Harbaugh. Yes, $25 million is some huge cash. But the Krafts have already paid Belichick and his youngsters greater than $100 million since his soccer staff received a playoff recreation. The Patriots are value an estimated $6 billion (largely resulting from Belichick’s soccer mastery). The cash owed to Belichick is 0.4% of that whole.
Call it a Patriots Pension.
Vrabel is the most suitable choice to run it again with a watch towards the longer term in a post-Belichick universe. He’ll come low cost given the cash owed to him by the Titans. He will fulfill the fanbase that can’t let go of the primary 20 years of the twenty first century, whereas offering a transparent break from the reign of William I.
And he’s an offensive genius. Vrabel has 12 profession catches. All touchdowns.
Let the soccer nerds rent their GM of selection.
Josh McDaniels can run the offense.
Jerod Mayo can run the protection.
It’s easy as a result of it’s easy.
All they want is Tom Brady at QB – and it’s 2014 another time.
Or possibly Joe Flacco? The ever-elite Cleveland QB Flacco turns 39 subsequent week and is the oldest participant within the postseason. He can be a super starter to offer cowl for Mac Jones if the Patriots need to take into account a return to the Mac.
The Patriots are anticipated to have near $80 million in obtainable cap area. Several veteran QBs shall be obtainable in free company. And there’s all the time Jayden Daniels.
Or draft Marvin Harrison Jr., and a brand new offensive line. Sign Mike Evans, Derrick Henry and will probably be like 2023 by no means occurred.
Boy, that was straightforward. (We child as a result of we care.)
Belichick on Sunday turned the Biggest Loser in NFL historical past. He tied the file of 165 teaching losses shared with Jeff Fisher and Dan Reeves.
There is a scrumptious Shakespearean irony written into the truth that in his quest to set the all-time NFL win file, Belichick has all however assured himself proudly owning the all-time shedding file outright.
There’s no disgrace in that. Cy Young holds the unbreakable MLB file for many wins and losses at 511-315. He obtained an award named in his honor.
Cy Belichick wants simply 15 wins to cross Don Shula.
Like Young. who was traded by the Red Sox after the 1908 season, Belichick, too, will set these data elsewhere.
Bill Speros (@RealOBF and @BillSperos) could be reached at [email protected]
Source: www.bostonherald.com