In keeping with a report late final week, the ultimate stand of the Invoice Belichick period might happen within the unlikeliest of soccer settings: Frankfurt, Germany.
The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin wrote final Friday that, based mostly on “conversations” he had, there may be “an opportunity” that an abroad loss to the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday might immediate Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft to fireside Belichick and promote Jerod Mayo to interim head coach for the rest of the season.
“Primarily based on my conversations, I don’t assume it’s 100% that Belichick finishes out this season,” Volin wrote. “… If Belichick loses at dwelling to the Commanders after which to the Colts, and comes dwelling from Germany with a 2-8 report, I feel there’s an opportunity the Krafts might make the transfer within the bye week.”
Belichick already misplaced at dwelling to Washington — 20-17 at Gillette Stadium in an ugly, error-filled sport towards a staff that simply traded away two of its greatest gamers — to fall to 2-7 on the season. One other defeat towards a feisty Colts squad would put New England at 2-8 coming into its Week 11 bye.
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Historically, the bye week has been the popular time for an in-season teaching change, because it provides the newly reshuffled employees additional time to arrange for its subsequent sport. And with the Patriots now trying like one of many worst groups within the NFL after 4 straight seasons with no playoff win, Belichick’s job safety must be at an all-time low.
However would Kraft actually terminate probably the most profitable partnerships in American sports activities historical past that abruptly? Would he deal Belichick the ignominy of canning him in the midst of the season? Different NFL insiders are skeptical.
When NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport first reported Belichick’s “multi-year” new contract final month, he added that his understanding was Kraft “wouldn’t be inclined to make a change midseason.” Sports activities Illustrated’s Albert Breer this week stated he doesn’t consider Belichick’s job is on the road in Germany.
Belichick predictably had no remark on the matter, saying Monday that he’s “going to regulate what (he) can management” and “prepare for the Colts.”
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That Colts staff, by the best way, has scored 20 or extra factors in all 9 of its video games regardless of shedding promising rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson to a season-ending shoulder harm. Indy not too long ago hung 27 on a New Orleans Saints squad that shut out New England three weeks earlier.
The Patriots have crept above the teenagers simply twice this season, with extra single-digit scoring outputs (two) than 20-point performances (one) during the last eight weeks. New England’s protection has held only one opponent — Zach Wilson’s Jets in Week 3 — beneath 20 factors. Errors abound, with the Patriots rating within the backside 10 in each penalties and turnovers dedicated. The Gardner Minshew-led Colts unsurprisingly had been pegged as 1.5-point favorites as of Tuesday afternoon.
With this season extra more likely to worsen than higher over the ultimate 9 weeks, the warmth beneath Belichick’s seat will proceed to accentuate. The tip of his dynastic run is starting to really feel like a foregone conclusion. It will not be outright surprising if an eighth loss Sunday value the legendary head coach his job.
However a post-season divorce nonetheless appears extra probably than a midseason break up. It will be the extra swish solution to lower ties with a coach who gained six Tremendous Bowls and helped the Patriots dominate the game for 20 years. A coach will Belichick’s Corridor of Fame resume deserves to be handled otherwise, even when these glory days are actually a distant reminiscence.
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An in-season firing additionally probably would eradicate the commerce state of affairs that’s grown in recognition in latest weeks. If Kraft needed to ship Belichick to, say, Washington and recoup a draft choose for his exit, that’s one thing that just about actually couldn’t occur till the offseason.
However Kraft has not hidden his frustration over the Patriots’ poor outcomes in recent times. He needs and expects his staff to be at the least successful playoff video games, and Belichick at the moment has it nearer to the No. 1 total choose than a postseason berth.
If this free fall continues in Frankfurt, Kraft might attain his breaking level.