Patriots rumors: Bill Belichick nearly powered his way out of New England

The New England Patriots dynasty is really the headline of the power struggle between three men.  The owner, Robert Kraft, the coach, Bill Belichick and the quarterback in Tom Brady.  While we are at it let’s throw another quarterback’s name in the mix, Jimmy Garoppolo.

According to ESPN’s Seth Wickerham, Patriots head coach was looking to take his talents elsewhere after he was forced to trade Garoppolo during that 2017 NFL season.

At this point, there is no doubt that there were some cogs in that well-oiled machine known as the six-time Super Bowl champions, but Wickerham is really adding in some juicy details that is making the New England Patriots saga one of the most intriguing and interesting dramas in sports history.

While Kraft, Belichick and Brady are saying all the right things publicly, their actions are telling another tale.  The owner has publicly stated his desires and have highlighted his coach’s decision-making, the quarterback has gone on to another franchise and captured a seventh ring and the head coach has turned into the punching bag of the NFL because of one losing season without No. 12 covering up all the team’s major holes.

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Patriots head coach Bill Belichick looked to take his talents elsewhere

So, let’s go back to that 2018 offseason.

As Wickerham detailed during an appearance on The Harrison Vapnek Podcast this week, the drama that ensued after Belichick was forced to trade Garoppolo to the 49ers escalated to a point that had the Patriots coach inquiring about other NFL head coaching jobs.

"“At the time, I think there was a sense that Brady wasn’t going anywhere, and Bill left the impression that he might be open to move,” Wickerham said, as transcribed by WEEI.  “There were some reports that came out at the time that the Giants were looking at him.  I think he talked to the Washington Football team and the Dolphins about sort of their openings.  And it was unclear whether he was interested or not, but he was still talking to them and subsequent reporting has only sort of shown how in that offseason, Brady skipped the offseason program for the first time in his career and he had just kind of had enough.”"

Very interesting indeed.

While the Belichick and Brady tug-o-war is not surprising at all, the fact that the future Hall-of-Fame coach was even kicking the tires on moving on from Kraft and the Patriots is a fascinating new detail.

Of course, there were rumors following that season surrounding Belichick possibly moving on, especially when that Giants job opened up, but it seemed highly unlikely he would walk about from a dominate football team that went on to win a sixth Super Bowl title during that 2018 NFL season.

And to think, it was all over Belichick’s desire to move on from an aging quarterback in favor of a second-round pick in Jimmy Garoppolo who at the time was the next guy.

Yes, the same Garoppolo who Belichick would love to have back.  The same Garoppolo who he may indeed get back if fate has its way.

Folks, the chapters of this story are most intriguing, mostly because the book has yet to be completed.

Stay tuned.