WEEI’s Andy Hart brought an interesting theory to air on Friday on the WEEI Afternoon Show.
“Have you heard this theory floated that the reason none of these guys were re-signed already is because Bill [Belichick] was lining up all these free agents to bring with him to Atlanta?” Hart asked his co-host Christian Arcand.
When Hart says “these guys,” he’s referring to the bevy of players the Patriots re-signed-or-extended this offseason, primarily on the defensive side of the football. That list includes:
- Christian Barmore (4 years, $84 million)
- Kendrick Bourne (3 years, $19.5 million)
- Kyle Dugger (4 years, $58 million)
- Davon Godchaux (2 years, $21 million)
- Hunter Henry (3 years, $30 million)
- Anfernee Jennings (3 years, $12 million)
- Michael Onwenu (3 years, $57 million)
- Jabrill Peppers (3 years, $24 million)
- Rhamondre Stevenson (4 years, $36 million)
- Josh Uche (1 year, $3 million)
- Jahlani Tavai (3 years, $16 million)
Veteran defensive end Matthew Judon was also very publicly seeking a contract extension before being traded to, ironically, the Falcons during training camp.
Hart posed the theory that it was not a coincidence that the bulk of these players had contracts set to expire this spring, as Belichick had an eye on his next job and wanted the ability to bring in players he liked and developed.
“Like the Kyle Duggers, the Mike Onwenus, guys that you might be able to see as kind of core players, maybe he was lining them up,” said Hart.
“He learned it from Parcells if he was doing it. That was a Parcellian thing - bring your guys with you, right?”
If this was Belichick’s intention, it was all for naught, as the Falcons ended up hiring Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris to fill their vacant head coach job.
Morris is somewhat of a retread for Atlanta, as he served as their interim head coach during the 2020 season. He went 4-7 in relief after Dan Quinn was fired midseason.
Instead of coaching the Falcons, Belichick will be busy juggling a media schedule that includes:
- Weekly appearances on “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN
- Appearances on all 11 editions of this season’s “ManningCasts” during Monday Night Football
- Co-host of “The Breakdown with Peyton and Belichick,” an Omaha Productions and NFL Films venture that will air Fridays on ESPN+
- Analyst on the iconic “Inside the NFL,” airing this season for the first time on The CW
- A new show launching with Underdog Fantasy
- Replacing Tom Brady as co-host of SiriusXM’s “Let’s Go!” podcast, alongside famous Brady-friend Jim Gray (Brady is still slated to join the show as a guest throughout the season)
So for those of you who enjoy a good conspiracy theory headed into the long holiday weekend - have at it!