Boomer Esiason is predicting the Patriots will finish last in the AFC East, but that doesn’t mean he thinks Bill Belichick’s job is in jeopardy.
Just the opposite, in fact. Appearing on The Greg Hill Show for the first of his weekly appearances this season (which will be every Monday going forward), Esiason took exception with “some people” suggesting that Belichick could be fired if New England misses the playoffs again. Listen to the full interview below.
“Those ‘some people’ are idiots,” Esiason said. “You see Gillette Stadium. Did you see their new renovations? Do you see all the success that the Patriots have had? Everybody knows who they are because of the success that Bill Belichick has brought to that team. So, anybody that ever even talks about firing Bill Belichick would be idiotic. And the fact is, the question really should be, how much longer does he want to do this? Because I think he has a contract in perpetuity for as long as he wants to coach.”
Esiason sees a highly competitive AFC East, with all four teams finishing over .500 and at least being in the playoff hunt. He has the Jets and Aaron Rodgers as his division winners.
Asked if getting over .500 after going 8-9 last year would be a “successful” season for the Patriots, Esiason did raise the bar a little higher and said they would have to make the playoffs to qualify as “successful.”
“In my mind, it has to be a playoff team,” Esiason said. “And the reason I say that is because they went out and fixed the offensive coordinatorship. I'm sure you guys have been talking incessantly about that up there. But Bill O'Brien, when he was there last they were really good, but they also had Tom Brady as quarterback. That certainly helps. But I know they're going to have a top-flight defense. They're going to keep themselves in games. And really what it comes down to is Mac Jones and whether or not he's ready to take the next step.”
So, there you have it according to Boomer. The Patriots have to make the playoffs in order to qualify as “successful,” but even if they don’t, Belichick’s job should remain safe.