Particularly these last 18 weeks, which have been trying on all of us.
In my 20 years in this job, this is the hardest case I’ve ever been confronted with.
He turned the Patriots irrelevance into hyper-relevance.
And made them the center of the national discourse for over two decades.
But to me personally, it’s much more than even that.
I have an emotional and professional attachment to the defendant.
It’s not often one gets to say someone helped change his life for the better.
Which is why this is such a troubling moment.
But one I have to face head on, as part of my responsibilities to the people I serve.
And whatever the outcome, the decision before you now will have far reaching implications.
Whether for good or ill, no one can say.
All we can do is lay out the case in favor of moving on from Belichick now.
It should be pointed out that every team has them.
But his in the two days of the draft have been especially troubling.
I can stand before you and rattle off the names.
But that’s not necessary.
Instead, I’ll direct you to this one fact that sums up the futility.
He was taken in 2013.
And how many picks has he had in those Rounds 1-3 in that time?
The answer is 36.
Pro Talent Evaluation
Here I will mention names.
Though I don’t want to get too lost in the weeds on them.
So I’ll cherry pick a few recent examples.
Belichick traded a 2nd round pick for Mohamed Sanu, who was of no use whatsoever.
But it also squandered millions on Nelson Agholor and Jonnu Smith.
I’ll conclude by pointing out that there are zero Pro Bowlers on this year’s roster.
And last year the only selections were Judon and Marcus Jones, who went as a kick returner.
Or out of work entirely.
Which then brings me to:
The Offense
The Patriots are last in the league in points.
That alone should be damning enough.
But coming on the heels of the major offseason investment of 2021-22, it’s unforgivable.
The decision to draft Tyquan Thornton in the 2nd round of 2022 had yielded nothing.
187, and ignore the offensive tackle spot altogether was absymal.
The decision to name Matt Patricia as the on-the-offensive-coordinator’s-job-trainee was catastrophic.
And it’s only gotten worse under Bill O’Brien.
Both position groups feature underdeveloped high draft picks and rank among the leagues worst units.
…
Members of the front office shared OBriens frustration with the lack of development as the season wore on.
Its just a lot of bad s, another team source said.
Both young quarterbacks have suffered behind it.
Bad decisions have consequences.
14.6 points per game is a consequence.
And Ezekiel Elliot was a late summer addition, or else they’d have only Rhamondre Stevenson.
There was never a clear WR1.
On the defensive side of the ball, anyway.
Offensively is another story.
Watch these games every Sunday at 1.
Then put on the 4 o’clock games.
The NFL is a fast-evolving league, where systems become obsolete faster than phones or laptops do.
In 2023 and beyond, it’s all about making plays out of structure.
Belichick’s offense needs to be perfect so you can work.
Perfection is no longer possible the way it once was.
Because the perfect person to run it no longer does.
But like Michael Corleone said, “You have to answer for Sonny, Carlo.”
And it’s a complicated issue I won’t take too deep a dive into.
But as I quoted the Atlantic the other day:
[In 2019] Belichick refused to change.
He told Kraft that Bradys play was declining.
… [H]e wasnt going to for one player, even Brady.
Brady was offered a contract that allowed him to bounce after that season.
And bounce he did.
At 44, he led the league in attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns.
And right now stand at a dismal, unacceptable 4-12.
That, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, is the bottom line in all of this.
Not past glories or all time wins records.
And the future alone.
Which hangs on this decision.
And that is to do what is in the best interest of the football team.
Thank you for listening.
P.S.I hate myself for even thinking these thoughts.
I’m getting to work on the defense’s closing statements immediately.
