Just seeing those names under the headline was a dead giveaway about what was to come.
And they did not disappoint.
From Belichick’s perspective, according to sources close to him, he had done everything right.
He pledged to work with the team’s existing group of decision-makers, including general manager Terry Fontenot.
“A living legend,” Blank called him.
Bill Belichick didn’t even finish in anyone’s top three.
So far this is all pretty self-explanatory.
In a lengthy interview with Blank, Belichick showed no rust, sources said.
Blank told colleagues that he was very impressed.
A second meeting was planned with team CEO Rich McKay and other Falcons executives.
Blank spoke by phone, at least twice, to Robert Kraft.
Among the NFL owners, Blank considers Kraft his closest friend.
Publicly, Kraft and Blank have said Kraft expressed only support and offered praise of his former coach.
That account was backed up, the source said, by the close Kraft friend.
And also very, very, very arrogant."
“I don’t think they’d have a go at hurt Belichick,” he said.
“But I don’t think they’d take a stab at help him either.
They weren’t going to give a shot to sink him.
He was finished as an effective head coach.
Just look at his last four years in New England.
If you’re Arthur Blank, why do you want the headaches?”
You’ll never have a warm conversation with Bill Belichick?
He’d never be the kind of guy who feels part of Arthur Blank’s family?
Extremely difficult, obstanate, stubborn and arrogant?
These aren’t scurrilous accusations.
This isn’t slander.
These are some of Belichick’s defining character traits.
Plus, I’ll add, a sense of humor.
Trust is important to Robert.
He wouldn’t have employed Coach Belichick for the past 24 years if he ever questioned his trust."
That’s how I’m reading this entire episode.
Mr. Kraft and Blank are work friends.
RKK did what work friends do every day in ever field of endeavor.
He bitched about a coworker he was frustrated with.
So he goes with the safe, easy pick of Morris.
He’s still getting checks.
Nobody knows exactly how much, but 25 million KraftBucks is a pretty fair guesstimate.
Not in this world.
And he has every right to be.
Because that style has worked for him, and because he’s earned it.
Super successful people get to be high maintenance because the results balance it out.
Sure, you have to be funny.
But you also have to be on time.
Be good to work with.
Do the time you’re told to do, etc.
Nobody was a bigger handful to deal with than David Ortiz.
And he absolutely earned every right to by what he did on and off the field.
Driving in millions of runs.
Being the clutchest hitter the world has ever seen.
Being a team leader.
Being great to kids.
Working for the Jimmy Fund.
It’s why the Falcons will always be the Falcons.
