Costs Belichick constantly has a plan.
Without any further details provided, one possible interpretation (that numerous on social networks concluded) is that Belichick sees his groups decreasing star power as an organic method to discover a follower for six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, who left through free agency in March, without having to tank purposefully.
The team was not able to pursue a high-ticket quarterback throughout free agency due to salary-cap limitations, and eventually signed Newton, the 2015 NFL MVP and previous No. 1 overall pick, to a veteran minimum offer in June.
” Bill is masterminding all of this in some way,” the source told Schefter through text.
After within linebacker Dont a Hightower, right deal with Marcus Cannon, security Patrick Chung, running back Brandon Bolden, fullback Danny Vitale and lineman Najee Toran all decided out of the 2020 NFL season in the middle of coronavirus concerns, things began to look bleak for the Patriots season. But a league executive who spoke with ESPNs Adam Schefter on Tuesday stays positive that Belichick will find a way to make the scenario work in his teams favor.
Lawrence, 20, led the Tigers to a National Championship in 2019 as a freshman and has earned a bounty of awards to date, consisting of USA Todays 2017 High School Player of the Year, 2018 ACC Rookie of the Year, 2018 Cotton Bowl MVP, 2018 CFP National Championship MVP, 2019 First Team All-ACC and 2019 Fiesta Bowl MVP.
” No way in hell Belichick tanks this year,” former Patriots cornerback Darius Butler wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. “Anyone whos saying that has never been around the person!”
Belichick-ian or not, the truth is that the calculus has actually shifted substantially this offseason. The jilted coach and de facto general supervisor has to rebuild the dynasty he and Brady integrated in their 20-year run together, with a quarterback space made up of Cam Newton, Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer.
Chung chimed in and quote-tweeted Butler, “Whoever said that is dumb.”
The sensible target– not simply for the Patriots– would be Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence. However with the Heisman frontrunner anticipated to be extremely popular and a preferred to be the No. 1 choice in the 2021 NFL Draft, the group would have to end the season with an abysmal record in a soft AFC East to even have a chance at preparing him.
A growing list of NFL gamers have bowed out of the season– coincidentally as MLB handle the Marlins coronavirus break out– though the pattern has actually struck the Patriots organization disproportionately hard. According to CNN, the opt-outs from New England comprise about one-third of all the gamers opting out across the league.
If healthy, the 31-year-old dual hazard might bring a lot to the Patriots offense, however Lawrence provides a more attractive long-term option.
Expense Belichick, Trevor LawrenceGetty ImagesLosing purposefully would usually be an anathema for the stern head coach, and the “Tank for Trevor” theory was rapidly rebuffed by former and current players alike.
