There is no “I” in team.
But there is a “me.”
Just ask Bill Belichick. Or Robert Kraft.
The beloved, gruff shepherd of the Patriots rushed to remind everyone on Monday that “I’m under contract” less than 18 hours after finishing his worst season in New England.
This was the first in his 24 years coaching this team anyone could remember, at least via memory and a cursory internet search, that Belichick mentioned his contract status from any podium.
Those covering his “press conference” remotely may have been incapacitated from the electromagnetic pulse triggered by Belichick’s speed in covering his own backside on “Black Monday.”
Belichick also opened the door to further questions about his contract that have yet to be asked.
“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 is Kraft. He is (allegedly) still the boss. Kraft has followed the lead of John Henry and all but disappeared when it came to addressing the fans or media. Kraft had to go all the way to Germany to find a friendly audience during this past season.
Kraft and Belichick share in the Patriots Original Sin in Losing Tom Brady. Nothing can ever erase that stain. The Patriots Dynasty has since the way of the Byzantine Empire.
Neither Belichick nor Kraft has done “what is best for the team” since.
Belichick stacked the payroll with his pals and progeny, sabotaged the career of Mac Jones, and failed to make sure that there was a succession plan in place for Brady’s departure, thinking he could wing it at the most important position in sports.
Kraft has allowed it all to happen, has limited spending on players, and faded from view as his team sank into NFL irrelevance.
In the case of Belichick, at least, there are multiple options moving forward.
And Belichick, in his panic Monday, forgot the most important rule in any negotiation.
“Never make the first offer.”
Belichick’s “pay me or else” demand lost whatever mythical leverage it had on Monday night when Michigan won the College Football Playoff.
And again on Tuesday when the Tennessee Titans fired Mike Vrabel.
Even if Belichick found himself on the NFL coaching market, he’d be the second-most coveted candidate after Jim Harbaugh.
Vrabel and the Krafts genuinely admire each other. 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 words were usually reserved for Lawrence Taylor and the Navy long-snapper.
Since Robert Kraft will be paying Belichick $25 million (or so) next year no matter what, that leaves out Harbaugh. Yes, $25 million is a lot of money. But the Krafts have already paid Belichick and his kids more than $100 million since his football team won a playoff game. The Patriots are worth an estimated $6 billion (in large part due to Belichick’s football mastery). The money owed to Belichick is 0.4% of that total.
Call it a Patriots Pension.
Vrabel is the best option to run it back with an eye toward the future in a post-Belichick universe. He’ll come cheap given the money owed to him by the Titans. He will satisfy the fanbase that cannot let go of the first two decades of the 21st century, while providing a clear break from the reign of William I.
And he’s an offensive genius. Vrabel has 12 career catches. All touchdowns.
Let the football nerds hire their GM of choice.
Josh McDaniels can run the offense.
Jerod Mayo can run the defense.
It’s simple because it’s simple.
All they need is Tom Brady at QB – and it’s 2014 all over again.
Or maybe Joe Flacco? The ever-elite Cleveland QB Flacco turns 39 next week and is the oldest player in the postseason. He would be an ideal starter to give cover for Mac Jones if the Patriots want to consider a return to the Mac.
The Patriots are expected to have close to $80 million in available cap space. Several veteran QBs will be available in free agency. And there’s always Jayden Daniels.
Or draft Marvin Harrison Jr., and a new offensive line. Sign Mike Evans, Derrick Henry and it will be like 2023 never happened.
Boy, that was easy. (We kid because we care.)
Belichick on Sunday became the Biggest Loser in NFL history. He tied the record of 165 coaching losses shared with Jeff Fisher and Dan Reeves.
There is a delicious Shakespearean irony written into the fact that in his quest to set the all-time NFL win record, Belichick has all but assured himself owning the all-time losing record outright.
There’s no shame in that. Cy Young holds the unbreakable MLB record for most wins and losses at 511-315. He got an award named in his honor.
Cy Belichick needs just 15 wins to pass Don Shula.
Like Young. who was traded by the Red Sox after the 1908 season, Belichick, too, will set those records elsewhere.
Bill Speros (@RealOBF and @BillSperos) can be reached at bsperos1@gmail.com