***to the tune of "Candle in the Wind*** "Goodbye, Billy B. Though I never knew you at allll."
Well, it's officially over. Bill Belichick is out as HC and GM of the NE Patriots after 24 seasons and SIX Super Bowl rings.
I love that he dropped a Tebow reference in his final presser.
In the upcoming days, we'll see plenty of articles and videos of people debating whether or not this is the right decision for the Patriots, and the truth is we won't know for a couple of years. That's not the purpose of this blog. This post is about appreciating what Bill Belichick meant to the New England Patriots.
On second thought, we miiiight know within a couple of weeks if the next coach has "it." Still, the point remains....outside of me saying right now that I want the Pats to hire Mike Vrabel as their next head coach (it looks like they're going with Mayo); this post is not about speculating who will replace Bill Belichick. I'm paying respect to the best head coach in NFL history. Over the life of DOL, I've been critical of Belichick and some his decisions, but I also know he's one of, if not THE greatest coach in the history of the National Football League. He won games in every way imaginable and accomplished feats (6 Super Bowls, 9 Conference Championships, 24 years with one organization) that will likely never happen again. Of course, having Tom Brady helped, but only a fool would say that it was all him. It wasn't. I hate these debates. Why does it have to be who's more responsible? That's such simplistic bullshit. Tom Brady passed for a whopping 145 yards in Super Bowl XXXVI. Brady didn't have the 2014 Patriots' defense prepared for a goal-line pass in the closing minutes of Super Bowl XLIX with altered NFL history. Brady didn't hold the Rams to 3 (three) points in Super Bowl LIII. I love TB12 and know he's the goat, but despite the importance a quarterback, football is a team game. And who gets the team prepared? The head coach. While I disagreed with a bulk of his personnel decisions in the latter half of his tenure (I'll never get over benching Malcolm Butler in the Super Bowl), I know Bill Belichick acted in what he thought was best for the New England Patriots going forward. He earned the right to do it his way. Yes, BB drafted bums like Tavon Wilson, Chad Jackson, Derek Rivers, Jordan Richards, Ras-I Dowling and N'Keal Harry far too high, but he also selected Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Vince Wilfork, Richard Seymour, Logan Mankins, Devin McCourty, Dont'a Hightower, Patrick Chung, Matt Light, Julian Edelman, Stephen Gostkowski, Jerod Mayo, and Matthew Slater. The Brady-Belichick era truly ended when Brady left us for scuzzy Tampa, Florida, but with Bill gone (and this way), it truly is the end of "the Patriot Way." For the first time in my conscious life, the Patriots don't have a coach..and that's just kinda weird. 24 years. 6 Super Bowls. Millions of memories. I know many of you, like me, are feeling a mix of sadness, nostalgia, and perhaps even a bit of anger. I'm like mad and sad it came to this, but "it's a bUsIneSs." It's tough to see such an iconic figure in not just sports but American history leave, especially with all we've been through together (two-BS-gates). It's just heartbreaking to see it end this way. Even in an 4-13 year, there were still gimples of his old greatness. The Bills win was awesome and unexpected AF. There was like a month stretch were a no name defense allowed 10 points or fewer. The Pats beat more teams with a winning record than the Dolphins this year (technically, they could surpass them if they go on a playoff run...but idk with that weather report in KC). Brady might've broken the all-time passing yardage in Foxboro, but he was playing for Tampa. Now Bill is going to break the all-time win record with another team. That sucks. It's a major bummer that all parties couldn't work something out that had them finish their careers in New England. IMO that falls on the shoulders of Mr. Kraft, although all three played a role in the triumvirate falling. Sports no longer dominate my life like they once did, but being a Patriots fan certainly shaped who I am. Coach Belichick is partly responsible for some of my favorite memories. There is no dozonlife.com without him (and many others...but BB played a significant role in my love of sports). I've learned so much from him and regard BB as one of the greatest football minds ever. He taught us the importance of sacrifice for the greater good, blocking out the noise, and simply doing our job. He pissed a lot of people off but couldn't give a shit. He did it his way, and it worked for decades. He was an innovator....the intentional safety vs. Denver in '03. He was crazy for 4th & 2 in '09, but now that type of decision is low key common place. I cannot express my gratitude enough for the incredible ride it was. I feel bad that I'm writing this while mentally and emotionally exhausted; thus, it's not my best work...I'm just tryna get something out in a timely fashion. Bill deserves better! This man helped turn the Patriots from a team that didn't matter to a premiere organization in the North American Big Four. From the time I was in 4th grade until I was 28, the Patriots were the best team in the NFL and a model organization in all professional sports (even with the BS-gates and a TE who murdered people). They made you proud to be from New England. One bad year doesn't erase six Super Bowls and all our fantastic times together. Before Bill Belichick, the Patriots NEVER had a 12+ win season; under him they had a baker's dozen. I'm sad the run is officially it's over, but I also understand it may be for the best. Bill's 72 and we have the 3rd overall pick in a supposedly loaded draft. This pick could alter the Pats' next decade. I hope he doesn't end up coaching a team I hate, but then again...our democracy is on the ropes, the world is on fire and the Celtics are undefeated at home. There are more significant issues to worry about. Unless BB ends up with a New York team or a rival, I'm gonna root for him to get the win record. TBH, even if he ended up with the bum-ass Jets (congrats on your first win against us since Obama was President), I'd wanna see him do well. He's a historian of the game and that with be legendary narrative. Imagine if Belichick led the Jets to their first Super Bowl since man walked on the moon. Last night, I watched this video of Belichick's most savage moments and it made me go down memory-lane biiiig time. It's such a cliche at this point, but Bill can be pretty funny. I'd definitely rather see him calling games or doing more NFL history-type content like he did with the NFL 100 show, but knowing the competitor he is and how close he is to Halas' record..he's gonna coach another team next season. When it comes to who was more important to the Patriots' success, Brady or Belichick, I ask you this. Which wheel is more important for a motorcycle? It only works with the other. Yes, Brady won a Super Bowl with a loaded Bucs roster..but let's see what Bill does elsewhere. It's clear that his players recognize how great he was. Seeing these posts hit ya boi in the feels! Thank you Coach Belichick for everything you did for this organization and region. You are the Paul Brown of the 21st century.
P.S.
I love this from Rhode Island's own Joe Mazzulla.
Double P.S.
I CANNOT wait to watch this. I wonder if they'll do an update now that Bill is out as HC of NE.
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