FOXBORO — What?

You thought the famously defiant, pushed, crafty and calculated Bill Belichick would lay down?

Never.

Not at 2-10. Not inside a swirling snowstorm at 4-12. Not even at what seems to be the icy finish of his legendary run in New England.

Belichick needs to remain, coach and battle. Period.

In standing his floor Monday throughout an end-of-season press convention, Belichick broke a cardinal rule of his personal media playbook. He volunteered details about his contract; one thing, to my information, he’s by no means carried out.

“So, I’m under contract,” Belichick mentioned. “(I) do what I always do, which is every day I come in and work as hard as I can to help the team in whatever way I can.”

That remark wasn’t prompted by a query. Belichick mentioned that in his opening assertion. He began with six sentences on the season, then the subsequent place he pivoted was his contract.

This was intentional. Belichick has shut down contract-related questions for many years, together with some as lately as a couple of months in the past on WEEI. He gained’t even talk about participant contracts, the main points of that are all mainly public information.

Now, he’s wanting to remind everybody he’s obligated to remain?

Belichick additionally confirmed uncommon vulnerability Monday in answering a query about probably relinquishing his personnel management.

“Yeah, look, I’m for whatever, collectively, we decide as an organization is the best thing to help our football team,” he mentioned.

That’s a primary. One of essentially the most highly effective males within the NFL is open to ceding a few of that energy and declaring so publicly?

(Of course, the case for Belichick eradicating his basic supervisor hat is a simple one even he would possibly discover persuasive. Just run down the workforce’s final 10 drafts, and three most up-to-date free-agent courses.)

As for all different subjects, although, Belichick performed predictable protection.

He declined to offer any particulars on previous or future conferences with Robert Kraft. He provided nothing on whether or not Kraft has indicated his job is at stake. Or if he could be open to teaching one other workforce.

Seemingly, Belichick sat down with two ready messages Monday. Combined, they mentioned this: your transfer, Robert.

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The undertones of Belichick’s feedback additionally recommend he isn’t concerned about a mutual parting of the way.

Everyone is aware of the place Belichick stands now: he needs to remain put. If Belichick is finally moved, the general public will return to those feedback and see his exit as Kraft’s doing; one thing {that a} perception-conscious Kraft, at age 82, on the precipice of the Pro Football of Fame and having already misplaced a breakup with Tom Brady, will definitely weigh.

Might the Krafts’ determination be drawn out? Does this point out Belichick is in opposition to a commerce? Could this get ugly, if Belichick has a no-trade clause in his contract and weaponizes it in opposition to an possession group that desires him out however refuses to fireside him?

Who is aware of. No one is extra snug being uncomfortable than Belichick. He is disciplined, deliberate and dispassionate, particularly in negotiations and when coping with the media.

Which returns us to his obvious willingness at hand over personnel management. On the floor, which may sound like an olive department and the best answer accessible to the Krafts: retain the best coach of all time and hand roster-building duties to another person who can rejuvenate a roster that rotted on Belichick’s watch.

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Except his olive department and this plan carry a couple of thorns. For starters, is it actionable? Is it actually sensible to anticipate Belichick to report back to an govt who as soon as reported to him?

And who would that be?

Would the Krafts belief present director of participant personnel Matt Groh to be his personal man? Groh realized at Belichick’s knee, got here up in his entrance workplace and has fortunately proven deference throughout his time on the high. Not to say, Groh’s resume because the division head is way from glowing.

What about director of scouting Eliot Wolf? The 41-year-old spent most of his profession in Green Bay, the place his father, Pro Football Hall of Fame GM Ron Wolf, resurrected the Packers and gained a Super Bowl. Wolf is the one Patriots govt whose league expertise has principally come outdoors of New England, which may bolster his case as a unique thinker able to rebuilding the entrance workplace from inside.

Might Dave Ziegler return? The ex-Raiders GM could also be in no rush to discover a new job, having been paid out the final three and a half years of a 5-year contract in Las Vegas, the place he was unceremoniously fired midseason. He additionally could possibly be cautious of returning to New England, understanding which may cement his popularity as simply one other ex-Patriot coach or govt incapable of succeeding with out Belichick.

And if the Krafts do not belief anybody inside the household to function their new GM, can Belichick co-exist with an outsider who would implement a brand new scouting system, course of and philosophy? And who would need that job, if Belichick could be gone subsequent yr? And how do they get together with Jerod Mayo, Belichick’s supposed successor?

All of those questions can solely be answered behind closed doorways, each time and wherever Belichick meets with Robert and Jonathan Kraft. And but, even then, as Belichick recommended Monday, that assembly simply would possibly spawn extra conferences.