With Bill Belichick and the Patriots on the verge of what appears to be an inevitable divorce, it is unknown where he will coach next year. If he’s trying to make himself as attractive as possible for a new team, he may want to reconsider his approach in the final days of his time in New England.
His sudden refusal to reveal the name of the team’s starting midfielder seemed a bit strange at first. A bit strange. Now, two days before the 2-8 Patriots take on the 3-8 Giants, Belichick’s stubbornness in naming a starter has become bizarre.
This isn’t the first time he’s been a little crazy. He plays best when the team plays well. Since the Patriots are currently one of the worst teams in the NFL, it’s strange that we’re suddenly engaging in the art of gaming over who will play at quarterback on Sunday.
Consider this portion of text from Friday’s press conference, when Belichick again didn’t mention who he would play quarterback.
Q: Bill, Mac Jones said on Tuesday or Wednesday that he hopes to be the starter against the Giants and felt like that was the plan. Is this the plan?
BB: I told everyone to be ready to go. Hopefully that’s what they all do. I’m not going to announce the starters at every position or whatever. Everyone will be ready to go.
Q: Is it mostly Mac and Billy [Zappe] Taking first team reps in practice?
BB: I told everyone to be ready to go.
Q: Even though you told them to be ready to go, have you settled on a man in your mind yet?
BB: I told everyone to be ready to go.
Q: Bill, why won’t you announce it?
BB: Then we’ll announce who started this, who’s playing this, who’s doing this, who’s doing that. I mean, once we get down to it, I’m not going to go that route. very sorry.
Q: We promise to keep it in just one position.
BB: Yes, right.
Q: Is this because it is a competitive advantage in your opinion?
BB: I don’t get into that. Whichever player we bring in, I hope he is ready to play well. Whenever. This may be the first match of the game, or it may be the last of the game. I don’t know.
Q: Could practice today dictate this one way or another?
BB: Practice is important for every player.
Q: Will the match impact this decision much for you? I’m just thinking that the Giants, they seem to be a pretty top-heavy team, does that factor into that?
BB: You’d have to ask the Giants what they do, I don’t know. Don’t attack on every play, maybe they do, I don’t know. You have to ask [Don] wink [Martindale] This, I don’t know. I can’t tell you what they’ll do.
Q: But is that a factor in your call?
BB: I don’t know what they’ll do. Can you tell me what their game plan is? I don’t know.
Question: Bill, do you think there would be any benefit in announcing to the team who they are, so they can know them and rally around them?
BB: I’ve asked everyone to gear up and get ready to play. That’s what they all do. I think everyone has their own things to work on. Just focus on what you need to do, be ready to go and don’t worry about what others are doing. I think this is good advice for all of us. . . .
Q: Bill, do you tell all the players to be ready for every game?
BB: Yes, that’s true. What? Do you think I’m telling them not to be prepared? “Don’t worry about it, just take a week off.” Every day, every game, that’s what we came here for. every day. There are goals that we try to achieve every day and that we try to achieve. every day.
That’s all fine. everything is clear. Every player must be ready to play in every match. I got it.
In this particular case, the question is simple. Who is the midfielder?
Either Belichick and the team know who he is and no one will say, or the players really don’t know and will be out on Sunday.
My money is on the former. Regardless, it’s all weird. And that’s the kind of thing that could make owners who might consider trying to hire Belichick think twice before bringing the full Belichick experience to their city, their team, their fans, and the reporters who would have to deal with him. , several times a week.
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