Adam Schefter: Today could be last day for Bill Belichick coaching Patriots, but it’s complicated
ESPN’s Adam Schefter addressed the uncertainty surrounding Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.
Sunday against the New York Jets could very well be the final time Belichick coaches on the Patriots sideline. However, it’s a very complicated situation according to Schefter.
There could be a trade, there could be a mutual parting of ways or heck, a reunion.
“Well, I think there are two significant questions … like two immediate significant questions number one, what do Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick decide to do about their future,” Schefter said on SportsCenter. “And I think the feeling right now would be that the two sides will go their own ways. That seems to be the prevailing feeling around the league. Going into the meeting that Bill Belichick today could very well be coaching his final game as the Patriots head coach … That seems to be the way it’s trending prior to any meeting. Now let’s see what happens.
“The other thing is if it is indeed the end for them, when they meet, which could happen as early as tomorrow, how does that conversation go? (Do) Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick just decide to mutually split, where he’s allowed to then go get another job which he wants to coach? That’s what he does.”
The question is, would Kraft want compensation for Belichick or is it okay enough to just let him walk if the perceived GOAT wants to coach elsewhere?
“Or does Robert Kraft say you have a year left on your contract, okay, and now I want compensation,” Schefter said. “What is the direction that Robert Kraft decides to choose? Not a trade per se but you can ask for compensation from other teams right? So does he decide to number one, let him go, does he let him go and doesn’t ask for compensation for another team?
“There’s a lot of ways … There are layers to this that are beyond just a simple meeting and whether or not he’s back. How does that play out becomes a fascinating question if that is the direction that both men go.”
Schefter didn’t rule out the possibility of the two sides coming to some sort of agreement to stay together as well.
“Now maybe they get together and they figure out a way to make this work and stay together,” Schefter said. “That doesn’t seem to be the opinion of most people around the week, but there’s a lot of history, a lot of tradition here. Let’s see what they decide.
“But I think we all agree that there’s a very good chance this could be the final game that Bill Belichick will coach today for the New England Patriots and the two men then meet and the question is, how does that play out?”