I’ve lived in Boston for 20 years, and have read or heard or watched reports on Belichick almost daily for that time. You cannot convince me he’s not an asshole.
There are lots and lots of engaging, personable, and entertaining assholes on TV.
I’ve thought, for years, that the surly persona was an intentional projection on his part, and not unlike the choice to dress like a bum, in baggy gray sweatshirts with the sleeves half cut off.
But, regarding him and not getting much interest from other teams for a coaching role: I suspect it’s a combination of owners and GMs buying into the “Surly Bill” persona, and surmising that he’s difficult to work with, as well as the fact that he did have absolute control of the Patriots, and teams believing that he wouldn’t be happy being just a coach for them.
I think he’d be fine on a panel of other people giving analysis where he can growl out something while flanked by more charismatic personalities. I couldn’t see him doing a late night talk show or anything (though that’s a SNL sketch waiting to happen), but he’d be fine as a member of a group. I’m sure he’d have interesting and informative opinions to give.
Would he want to though? I never got the impression that he liked being in front of cameras very much.
Well, now I just think that Bill should guest host SNL. You could write ten skits around him trying to be funny.
Belichick’s hangup is about control. He wants to be in control of everything, always. He hates press conferences, because reporters were asking him questions that he didn’t want to answer. Since he was winning, he could get away with “We’re on to Cincinnati” and snorting through his nose etc.
But as an analyst? He’d be fine. He’d do a great job telling you exactly the things to watch in a matchup. Since any questions would be from (a) former players and coaches who know what they’re talking about, not journalists, and (b) more chances to display his huge body of knowledge, I think he’d be happy to answer them.
That makes sense.
I used to think the same - that he’d be surly or not great at TV work
But then I took a trip up to Boston for work and a restaurant I visited had some kind of weekly show with him explaining Xs and Os and football strategy. It totally changed my opinion. He was actually personable and interested in what he was showing. And this was during the season so it’s not like he didn’t have other things to do. I don’t think it even matters if he was working with journalists or former players/coaches.
Rather than just being an asshole, I think it’s more about single-mindedness. For the last couple decades, he has been able to focus exclusively on things that mattered to him and cut out the rest - including a lot of the normal interpersonal social behavior and PR stuff most people have to do to keep their jobs or maintain their status in society. From several reports, he’s actually engaging when he doesn’t feel like it’s being forced on him
I wouldn’t put him in a group for that reason - it’s very artificial and forced a lot of the time. He’d be better off one on one in front of a board explaining the nuts and bolts of a game plan
He’s very personable when no one dares to challenge him and everyone is gazing at him with adoring eyes. As soon as someone challenges him he’s in full asshole mode.
For 20+ years he’s had to keep one person happy, Kraft. As long as the Patriots keep winning Belichick was golden. I give him a LOT more credit for the success of New England in the last 20 years than many Patriots “fans”. Particularly in the first ten years I don’t think Brady would have been Brady without Bill. But look how fast his credit evaporated
But there’s one former player who is a very successful broadcaster, who I have had to deal with in real life in business. He’s a complete asshole, crude, vulgar, greedy, bigoted, arrogant beyond imagination. But he’s fantastic on screen and on stage. And charms the pants off our CEO.
So maybe.
Wow. The funny thing is I can’t really narrow down my guesses based on that description. Bradshaw? Collinsworth? Romo? RG III?
Too many choices!
@Mighty_Mouse - I’m not expecting you to answer with any more detail. I certainly wouldn’t want to put you in an awkward situation. I just thought it would be fun to guess and then I realized that your description potentially fit too many people - which is probably a sad commentary on our society.
That’s why I felt comfortable sharing. And you’re only thinking of NFL players.
Ben Johnson takes himself out of the running and is staying with Detroit. Perhaps he’s hoping for a better opportunity?
Maybe
There’s a new GM over in DC, Adam Peters, and they’ve got a big question mark at QB. That’s a lot of uncertainty for a first time HC
That’s not the case in Seattle, though they may already have some other people in mind.
Could be he wanted to come in before or concurrent with the GM and possibly with a better handle on a QB. Or just didn’t like that the basically one option available
That seems to make it even more likely that Seattle is going to want to court Mike Macdonald of the Ravens.
Slowik also takes himself out of the running
Lots of hot candidates deciding to stay put
Sounds like a classic problem. I’m guessing despite a lot of openings, teams don’t want to be left holding the bag and pull the trigger maybe a bit early. Maybe some FOMO there. Something tells me Brian Callahan, Dave Canales, and Raheem Morris would still have been available if Tennessee, Carolina, and Atlanta decided to wait another week or so. OTOH, if those teams really thought they 100% had their coach of the future, why wait?
Macdonald confirmed to the Hawks.
Or he really wants a Super Bowl ring, and figures he has a better chance of that in Detroit, rather than Seattle or Washington.