Exploring which three New York Jets players Bill Belichick would love to have on the New England Patriots roster.
Part of the intensity of the rivalry between the New England Patriots and New York Jets is the number of players that have gone back and forth between the two teams.
As with the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins, players swap jerseys due to how well the coaches knows those players. No coach has been as successful as picking players off AFC East teams than Bill Belichick.
Given his history with the Jets, the Patriots head coach gets just as much please out of coaching former Jets players in helping his team win as he does in beating his AFC East rival as much as he has over the past two decades.
Notable players who have come over from the New York Jets to make contributions on the Patriots include Bryan Cox, Shaun Ellis, Danny Woodhead and David Harris.
Some notable former Bill Belichick players who took their talents to the dark side are Ty Law, Damien Woody and running back Stevan Ridley.
Darrelle Revis isn’t mentioned because he had a stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before joining the Patriots, but he is a player Belichick spent many years coaching against and finally had the opportunity to coach him during the team’s Super Bowl season in 2014.
So, who on the current New York Jets roster would Bill Belichick love to coach?
We’ll after taking a flight though the roster and depth chart, here are three players the New England Patriots coach would love to coach.
Le’Veon Bell in a New England Patriots uniform would be gold.
Imagine Le’Veon Bell in a New England Patriots uniform playing for Bill Belichick.
Okay, maybe not the New York Jets version, but the dynamic running back who made the Pittsburgh Steelers offense so hard to defend from 2013 to 2017.
That Le’Veon Bell could still resurface for a Jets team that will depend on his tremendous skillet to make defenders miss in both the passing game and running game.
At just 28 years old entering the 2020 season, Bell is at his prime and is still a playmaker opposing defenses have to prepare for. As a dual threat out of the backfield, Le’Veon Bell is exactly the kind of running back Bill Belichick would love in a Patriots’ uniform.
A nice combination of Corey Dillion and any choice between Kevin Faulk, Shane Vereen or James White, Bell is exactly what Belichick was looking when he drafted Laurence Maloney and hopes he can still find in Sony Michel.
Don’t believe me?
Well, Belichick said basically that in praising Le’Veon Bell back in 2019.
"“Well, he’s not only a good runner but a good receiver,” Belichick told the media prior to a game with the Pittsburgh Steelers. “He does a great job with the ball in his hands however they get it to him. Tackling will definitely be an issue for us. [He has] good balance, good vision and I’d say he’s a very determined runner. He does a good job of fighting for extra yards, keeping his balance, but just making it difficult, too, to get him down.”"
The New England Patriots have had some success defending Bell during his time with the Steelers and in 2019 against the New York Jets. But, like with any dynamic playmakers, you can’t completely shut them down.
The only thing Bill Belichick wouldn’t put up with when it comes to Le’Veon Bell is the contract drama. Other than that, the Patriots head coach would absolutely embrace a chance to coach Bell if he is ever free on the market again. Given his relationship with Adam Gase, that could come sooner rather than later.
Left tackle Mekhi Becton would do wonders in a New England Patriots uniform.
A combination of former New England Patriots left tackles Trent Brown and Nate Solder, just imagine if Bill Belichick and his coaching staff got a chance to coach New York Jets first round pick Mekhi Becton.
More from Chowder and Champions
- 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
- 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
- MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
- 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season
- Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win
At 6-foot-7, 364 pounds, the University of Louisville alum is a monster who should protect the blindside of Sam Darnold for years to come. In that respect, the Jets are very lucky to have a mammoth of a player on their side to throw defenders around. The Patriots can only be envious as they are still hoping Isaiah Wynn becomes a reliable left tackle.
With an ability to “move people like furniture” as described by Jets assistant general manager Rex Hogan, Mekhi Becton would be the most talented offensive lineman Bill Belichick would coach. And just think about what retired offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia could do with this beast if he had the opportunity to coach up his talent.
While the No. 11 pick overall in the NFL Draft hasn’t put on NFL pads yet, both his size and college resume obviously have Jets coaches mesmerized. Judging from what the New England Patriots got out of fifth-round pick Trent Brown, Belichick and company would be all set at the left tackle position for years to come.
Who knows, perhaps somewhere in the future Mekhi Becton will be available. If Bill Belichick isn’t retired by then, perhaps he will jump at the chance to coach the man who is already adapting the nickname “the Green Monster.”
Jamal Adams the next great New England Patriots safety?
One of the biggest stories in the NFL offseason is the contract status of New York Jets safety Jamal Adams and his demand to be traded.
With several teams involved in trade rumors surrounding the disgruntled star, most notably the Dallas Cowboys, the New England Patriots have not been a team included in rumors.
That does not mean Bill Belichick would’ve salivate at the opportunity to coach a physical safety like Adams.
A more talented version of Patrick Chung and a player as physical as Rodney Harrison, there is a lot about Jamal Adams Belichick would love in a player. He not only has the ability to be disruptive, he is a player who does everything on the field well. If that sounds like something Bill Belichick would say, it is because he did say exactly that.
"“He usually plays down close to the line of scrimmage in a strong safety type of role,” Belichick said of Adams back in 2018. “He’s very good against the run, he’s a good blitzer, and he’s a strong tackler.”"
While it would seem ludicrous that the New York Jets would ever trade such a talent within the AFC East, especially to the New England Patriots, it sounds like Jamal Adams would be the perfect player to eventually replace Patrick Chung.
If Adams does become a free agent following the 2021 season, Bill Belichick will be inquiring. Bank on that.