Former Patriots star responds to Invoice Belichick, Jets report

Three-time Tremendous Bowl champion and present NFL analyst Devin McCourty performed underneath head coach Invoice Belichick with the New England Patriots from 2010 by the 2022 season and, thus, is aware of loads about Belichick’s supposed emotions relating to the New York Jets. 

Through the newest version of the “Eye on Foxborough” podcast, McCourty addressed a report that exposed Belichick reached out to the Jets about their head coach opening earlier than he agreed to change into the brand new coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels. 

“The very first thing that popped up in my thoughts was, he simply cared about coming again to Foxborough and attempting to beat up on the Patriots,” McCourty mentioned, as shared by Karen Guregian of MassLive. “However second, from the Patriots’ twisted thoughts of hating the Jets, how humorous wouldn’t it be subsequent yr if the Jets are dangerous, and all we see are articles: ‘Nicely, Invoice Belichick did attain out. And he tried to go there, and also you mentioned no, and that’s why you continue to suck.’ So there are such a lot of angles to consider. However I couldn’t think about him being the Jets head coach. I couldn’t see that.”

Belichick famously resigned as New York head coach in January 2000 with out having ever coached a sport for the franchise and has since made it identified that he is not all that fond of Jets proprietor Woody Johnson. In actual fact, it was instructed earlier than Belichick accepted the North Carolina gig that he would advise former Tennessee Titans head coach/former Patriots participant Mike Vrabel in opposition to taking the Jets job.

Nonetheless, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini shared that “a really small circle of individuals within the Jets constructing had been made conscious of [Belichick’s] curiosity” in doubtlessly working for the group. Russini added that “no assembly or formal dialog ever occurred as a result of the UNC alternative popped up.” 

“As a lot as Jets followers hate him, they might have beloved to have him of their constructing simply to present payback to the Patriots. Every part about that will have been fascinating,” McCourty mentioned. “It will have made for the most effective ‘Laborious Knocks.’ Every part they may have finished with that, we’d have wanted as a lot behind-the-scenes footage as potential.”

McCourty was referencing how Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft confirmed Belichick the door final January and could or could not have been “a giant half” of why groups such because the Atlanta Falcons handed on hiring the 72-year-old in the course of the offseason. As a lot as Belichick tortured Jets followers throughout his New England tenure, a lot of those self same supporters would have welcomed him as a savior amid Gang Inexperienced’s ongoing 14-year streak with out a playoff look.