A Belichick trade will probably be set up sooner if it occurs later.
The NFL Network story on Sunday about Bill Belichick’s contract extension through 2024 may serve as a warning to potential employers of the Patriots for anyone considering hiring him after the current campaign.
He will not be let go. You will need to work things out with us if you want him.
Now that the information is public, the question is whether one or more teams will get in touch with the Patriots right away in the hopes of negotiating a deal with them and, ultimately, a deal with Belichick. In essence, the dominoes would fall before Week 18. Subsequently, once the regular season concludes and the concerned team has dismissed its current coach and conducted a standard search, the first domino would be turned
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A strategy like this would go against many tiers and levels of league regulations, chief among them the spirit, if not the letter, of the Rooney Rule. Before beginning its search, the team that signs Belichick will have already made up its mind about him. That team’s silence, though, increases the likelihood that nothing will come of it.
The concerned team will conduct interviews with multiple prospects, fulfill all necessary formalities, and promptly initiate the process of negotiating a deal for Belichick with the Patriots (as well as negotiating directly with Belichick).
This is presuming that, before the regular season ends, a team will quietly work out a deal with the Patriots and Belichick. In the event that it doesn’t, the Patriots will have no choice but to bite the bullet and let him go, hoping that he’ll earn enough money from another team in 2024 to cover the remaining amount on his contract.
Which teams, then, might be thinking about Belichick? Within the league, there are rumors that connect Belichick and the Commanders. Another option are the Buccaneers. Considering that they have Justin Herbert as their franchise quarterback, the Chargers would have to be taken into consideration. The Panthers are included on the list merely because David Tepper, the team’s owner, is involved, wealthy, and desperate enough to try.
There may be interest from other teams. With a top quarterback and the right restrictions on his ability to manage personnel, Belichick might succeed once more. Possibly.
Even if he doesn’t, his presence would guarantee prime-time games, sell tickets, and in general elevate an insignificant team to a highly relevant status in 2024 and beyond. That’s all that matters to a lot of owners.
