UNC GM Michael Lombardi calls out report of concerns about Bill Belichick filling out coaching staff

The fascinating experiment that is Bill Belichick at North Carolina is already taking some wild swings, and Belichick’s general manager Michael Lombardi took to Twitter on Tuesday to take down “a completely fabricated story” about the program.

Lombardi called out a piece from Pro Football Talk that suggested Belichick’s slow pace in hiring staff members has left some nerves in Chapel Hill about “the possibility that Belichick will activate his $10 million buyout and bolt for the NFL.”

Nonsense, said Lombardi.

“We are not slow, just being diligent, hired three people on Sunday, not one is nervous other than this erronous report,” Lombardi wrote. “A completly fabracated story. thank you.”

North Carolina has already hired some staff members.

Freddie Kitchens, a holdover from Mack Brown‘s staff, has been named the offensive coordinator. Steve Belichick, Bill Belichick’s son, has been named the defensive coordinator. Matt Lombardi is an offensive assistant, while Chris Jones is a defensive assistant. And Moses Cabrera, a Bill Belichick associate from his days in New England, is the head strength and conditioning coach.

That does leave plenty of open staff slots to fill still.

But the suggestion that the pace is indicative of some sort of potential out for Belichick was hotly contested by Lombardi.

Keep in mind, Bill Belichick also has a $10 million buyout — which reduces to $1 million after June 1 — that certainly isn’t prohibitive for NFL teams, but does serve as a deterrent.

In any case, Pro Football Talk cites concern in the ranks, writing the following:

“Maybe it’s part of a broader plan. Regardless, it’s making people nervous, from the athletic director all the way up to (we’re told) the ACC Commissioner.

“Again, the concerns won’t have teeth unless and until someone in the NFL hires Belichick. And the repeated criticism of the NFL generally and some teams specifically by Mike Lombardi won’t help effort. Neither will the perception/reality that it’s impossible to hire Belichick without letting him essentially run the show.”

In any case, it seems much ado about nothing on the Bill Belichick front, at least if you’re inclined to believe the folks doing the hiring right now at North Carolina.