FOXBORO — Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick delivered separate statements over a 10-minute press convention asserting a mutual parting of the way Thursday at Gillette Stadium.
Belichick’s tenure in New England ends after 24 years, six Super Bowl titles and 9 Super Bowl appearances. Under Belichick, the Patriots turned the NFL’s premier franchise and skilled unprecedented success. Kraft thanked Belichick for his time and repair in an prolonged goodbye.
Kraft’s full assertion is under.
“Good afternoon, everybody. And as Bill (Belichick) talked about, yesterday we met and mutually agreed to half methods amicably. And like marriage, a profitable head coach-owner relationship requires a whole lot of onerous work. And I’m very proud our partnership lasted for twenty-four years. I don’t assume within the NFL there’s been every other partnership that lasted longer, and has been as productive as ours.
“I trusted my instincts to carry Bill again to New England in 2000 after instantly regretting not hiring him after working with him collectively in 1996. When I did rent him, I used to be nonetheless making the transition from the fan who purchased season tickets in ’71, sitting on the steel benches within the outdated Foxboro Stadium with my boys, to attempt to turn out to be an skilled proprietor. Bill taught me quite a bit over these years, and we had excessive expectations for what we may obtain collectively. I believe we have been the one ones who had these expectations, and I believe it’s secure to say we exceeded them — due to you.
What’s subsequent for Patriots, Bill Belichick after parting methods?
“It’s onerous to place into phrases, actually, once I assume again to sitting on these steel benches; that we might have a possibility to go to 10 Super Bowls collectively and convey six Lombardi trophies residence to Massachusetts. At coronary heart, I’ll all the time be a sentimental sports activities fan, so it is a very emotional day for me. Some of my happiest and most memorable moments have been celebrated with my household throughout Bill’s tenure right here. I acknowledge that it is also a really emotional day for a lot of of our followers — and most of our followers — because it represents the tip of an period, one which hopefully will all the time be celebrated on this area.
“The man standing to my left introduced the management and training expertise that have been wanted to make this sort of unprecedented success, that we’ve got had, doable. Coach Belichick will without end be celebrated as a legendary sports activities icon right here in New England, and I consider go in as a Pro Football Hall of Famer on the primary poll. Why? Because he’s the best coach of all time. Which makes this determination to half methods so onerous.
“But this is a move that we mutually agreed that is needed at this time. What Bill accomplished with us, in my opinion, will never be replicated. And the fact that it was done in the salary cap and free agency era makes it even more extraordinary. I thank coach Bill for his hard work and dedication. It’ll be difficult to see him in a cut-off hoodie on the (opposing) sideline, but I will always continue to wish him continued success — except when he’s playing our beloved Patriots. So I thank you all for coming here today, and being part of this celebration.”
Belichick and Kraft didn’t take questions through the press convention. Kraft is predicted to talk later Thursday afternoon.
Source: www.bostonherald.com