Bedard: Belichick risks a Gilmore/Butler-like issue if he picks Schiano over Flores for DC

If you thought the Patriots had dysf... — sorry I forgot the code phrase is now "creative tension" — this past season, things could get a lot more interesting in short order. And I'm not talking about Gronk's contract power play (always with the drama) or Tom Brady's growing irritation with Bill Belichick.

If the Patriots follow through with the reported move to replace Matt Patricia with Greg Schiano as defensive coordinator over linebackers coach Brian Flores, Belichick is risking a lot more tension within the team, among coaches and players.

First off, I have a hard time seeing this move happening. But FootballScoop.com is a highly reputable outpost when it comes to coaching moves, especially on the college level.

Right now, I find it much more plausible Flores is elevated to defensive coordinator and Schiano is hired as assistant head coach/linebackers to learn the ropes and eventually become coordinator when Flores lands a head coaching job.  (Which could come as soon as 2019.) In fact, a source close to Schiano said nothing is done, but that could just be a national signing day (Wednesday) ruse to keep Ohio State's recruiting class intact.

But in the event the report is correct, and Schiano will be the next defensive coordinator over Flores, Belichick is inviting more internal strife.

And this doesn't have anything to do with the ridiculous social media campaign that torpedoed Schiano's agreement to become the next coach at the University of Tennessee, an institution that showed spineless leadership in the wake of what happened. (Schiano career rehab is probably a big reason why Belichick is bringing Schiano into the cleansing waters of Gillette.)

And this doesn't have anything to do with Schiano's ability to do the job, even though if you looked up "bend but don't break" in the dictionary, there would be a picture of him next to it. Belichick can guide Schiano in the right direction. And as a Rutgers alumnus who also covered Schiano with the Buccaneers, I can tell you he's an excellent and meticulous coach who would be an asset to the Patriots. Plus, Schiano would bring more first-hand knowledge of defending the spread/read-option game that is burrowing further into the NFL (and could have been an asset on Sunday night).

This also doesn't have anything to do with the ... I can just hear it now from the TV and radio carnival-barkers ... that Belichick chose Schiano over Flores because ... I can't even type the words because it's just such nonsense (hello, Romeo Crennel). But you know that's going to be a topic of discussion because it's Belichick and the Patriots and mixing that in would be a Molotov cocktail of clickbait/ratings.

No, installing Schiano over Flores would be a problem because of the type of message it would be sending to the other coaches and players. It wouldn't be helpful. In fact, they just went through a season where it might have cost the team the Super Bowl.

Malcolm Butler did everything the team asked him to do. He was a great player, worked his butt off and accepted any assignment given to him. But when it came time for the team to reward him one year early for the player he had become, the Patriots played hardball and wouldn't pay him market value. They wanted a steep discount for the early extension, and Butler rightfully declined.

As soon as that happened, the Patriots forked over an average of $13 million per season over five years to Stephon Gilmore, who didn't have nearly the credentials and certainly didn't bleed and sweat for the Patriots like Butler did.

What kind of message do you think that sent to Butler? People scoffed at my reporting and observations during the season, but I think we all know the answer now after the 2017 season and what happened on Sunday night.

And what kind of message do you think the Butler situation sent to the roster, especially fellow undrafted players like Butler who had given everything to the Patriots, but found the franchise purse strings to be tighter than a drum when it came contract time? We know this is a hard place to play but we're not paying you for helping us, we're going to give your money to this guy who's never won anything and you're going to deal with it. Let's just say Julian Edelman, the poster child for Patriots undrafted free agents who have found the Patriots less than forthcoming with the cash, throwing haymakers at Gilmore in the opening week of training camp was not just because of tight coverage.

The same dynamic could take place if the Patriots pass over Flores (which, again, I have a hard time seeing happen).

Flores may be intense and a bit of a hard-ass to his players, but he is universally beloved on the coaching staff and among the defensive players. For 10 years, he has worked his way up the Patriots' coaching ladder, from the scouting side to special teams, to defensive assistant, to safeties coach and finally the linebackers. He's smart, tough, a tireless worker and completely unselfish.

Just like it was Butler's time to get rewarded for his hard work with a new contract, it's Flores' time to be rewarded with the title of defensive coordinator.

Let's just hope Schiano doesn't play the role of Gilmore and come in as the high-priced outsider who usurps someone, at least in the eyes of players and coaches, who has more than paid their dues for this franchise.

We all saw how that ended up for the Patriots on Sunday night. Naming Schiano defensive coordinator over Flores (if that indeed happens) could be an even bigger miscalculation.