NFL Notebook: What's the music awaiting Kraft and Belichick at league meeting, and will they face it? Will OT rules change?

Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick should both, finally, be available to the media at the league meetings, which start Monday morning at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Fla.

Nothing is mandatory, especially for Kraft. But he always takes the time to speak to not only the New England media, but also national folks.

AFC coaches are scheduled to meet the media from 7:45 a.m. until 8:15 on Monday (NFC coaches are scheduled for Tuesday). There are usually some sort of theatrics involving Belichick at these breakfasts, and he might not show altogether.

Belichick skipped the media sessions entirely in 2009, 2011 and 2017. In other years, he's basically showed up not to get fined, and answered "I don't know" about 50 times. One year he shoved everyone's voice recorder out of the way. Recently, instead of sitting at the table reserved for him and with reporters leaving him a spot open, Belichick conducted the entire session standing up. 

So what we'll get out of Belichick, if we see him, is anyone's guess.

If both face the music with the media — the Patriots are 19-21 in their last 40 games, so it's not like they will be taking another Super Bowl victory lap — then there is a lot of ground to cover, and many questions that at least need to be put to them, even if they won't answer.

"I don't know ... grumble, grumble ... we'll see ... I don't know."

Considering the team's finish to last season, the coaching and personnel staff changes, and player departures/arrivals, there are many lingering questions. Here are my top questions for both. Please leave the questions you think Kraft and Belichick should answer in the comments, and I will read them during my travels on Sunday night.

Kraft

• Your team is 19-21 in its last 40 games, a pretty large sample size. Are you concerned about where the team is?
• How did it feel watching your team be non-competitive against the Bills in their final two matchups?
• Your team has faltered down the stretch for three straight years, including going from the No. 1 seed to being the sixth seed by losing 3 of 4 last year. What was your reaction to that?
• Do you think this team, with all the improvement by other AFC teams, can contend to go to a Super Bowl?
• In recent years, this team has watched elite players like Tom Brady, Joe Thuney, JC Jackson and Stephon Gilmore go out the door for no or little compensation. Do you think that's an appropriate use of resources?
• Do you think the coaching staff with, apparently, Nick Caley, Matt Patricia and Joe Judge in key spots on offense is good enough to get Mac Jones and this team to the next level?
• Did Belichick discuss these changes with you?
• Belichick is surrounded by people he's comfortable on staff and in the front office, do you think that's the right approach for your team?
• Why do people feel the need to leave the Patriots? Wouldn't this team be better off if Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler were still here, readying to succeed Belichick?
• Did you give Belichick a budget that basically took the team out of the first phase of free agency, or was that his decision?
• The rest of the league appears comfortable pushing cap into future years. Are the Patriots comfortable with that?
• Belichick will be 70 next month, do you have an idea when he might stop? Have you started to make preparations for that?
• What did you think of Brian Flores using a Belichick text as the lead evidence in his lawsuit against the league?

Belichick

(Many of the same questions, but worded differently)

• Your team is 19-21 in its last 40 games, a pretty large sample size. Do you feel the arrow is pointing up for this team? Why?
• The day after the Bills loss, which you called your least competitive game, you said you had to determine if that was who you were, or just a bad night. What was your determination on that?
• Jerod Mayo has pointed out that your defense ended up 2nd in points and 4th in yards. Given how you finished the season, 
• Your team has faltered down the stretch for three straight years, including going from the No. 1 seed to being the sixth seed by losing 3 of 4 last year. Are you concerned by that trend?
• Do you think this team, with all the improvement by other AFC teams (specifically at QB), can contend for division and conference titles?
• In recent years, this team has watched elite players like Tom Brady, Joe Thuney, JC Jackson and Stephon Gilmore go out the door for no or little compensation. Are you happy with how you handled those situations?
• Have you determined coaching assignments for this season? Could you please detail any changes?
• What about Matt Patricia and Joe Judge made you believe they can help on offense?
• Can Nick Caley give you what Josh McDaniels gave you?
• Did you inquire about Bill O'Brien? Why or why not?
• Will you be needed more on offense this year?
• If so, who is the defensive coordinator? Why haven't you named one?
• You have drafted some players on the edge like Chase Winovich, Josh Uche and Ronnie Perkins high in the draft yet none has earned a prominent role. Are you concerned with the development of your young edge players?
• Why do people feel the need to leave the Patriots? Wouldn't this team be better off if Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler were still here?
• Matt Groh is your first chief personnel aide that has not officially had past pro personnel experience, why was he the right guy for the job and not Eliot Wolf?
• Did Kraft give you a budget that basically took the team out of the first phase of free agency, or was that your decision?
• Your team spent just $150 million cash in 2020, which basically offset the $234 million last year ... why are you 27th in cash spending so far this year? Can you compete in that range?
• Are you confident Nelson Agholor and Jonnu Smith will be more productive in their second season? Why?
• The rest of the league appears comfortable pushing cap into future years. Are you comfortable with that?
• You will be 70 in a few weeks, happy early birthday. Do you have an idea when he might stop? Have you started to make preparations for that?
• How is your relationship with Brian Flores after using your text as the lead evidence in his lawsuit against the league?

NICKEL PACKAGE

1. One of the primary topics at the league meetings will be a possible change to the overtime rules, at least for the postseason. Three teams have brought two different rule change proposals.

“I think there’s a lot of momentum to have a change,” competition committee chairman Rich McKay said Friday in a conference call. “I think the discussion is going to be around… these two proposals. The reason that we didn’t as a committee put one forward is because we felt like with these two proposals, there’s going to be the potential for an amendment on the floor if somebody wants to change either one of these. And these encompass, really, the major discussion, which is: Should both teams be guaranteed a possession?”

A proposal by the Colts and Eagles would guarantee each team at least one offensive possession in overtime. The Titans proposed making a team get a two-point conversion following a touchdown to win the game on the opening possession of overtime.

Any rule change must be ratified by at least 24 of the 32 teams. At the meetings, there could be discussion about making any change for the postseason only. Often, someone emerges with a merged proposal that appeals to most teams.

“I think that will get discussed by some teams because I’ve heard it discussed, as opposed to both the regular season and the postseason,” McKay said. “I think my history on this rule tells me that, you know, 24 votes is not easy to get. But I do think the statistics absolutely warrant an examination of whether our overtime rules need to be further modified…. In my opinion, it is time to talk about it. And I think the statistics say that. But 24 votes? That’s usually a pretty big hill to climb the first time. But let’s see what happens.”

While the committee has not taken a stance on any proposal, McKay indicated it could be time for a change.

"We loved the traditional format of sudden death," he said. "We thought that was the best format for overtime there was. It was quick, it was decisive and it had an incredible amount of excitement to it. The problem was, the kickers got too proficient and all of a sudden the coin toss was creating a problem.

"I think the reason we’ve avoided the set time idea is the idea that you’re certainly adding more plays. I wouldn’t say it’s significant, but you’re going to add more plays, guaranteed and that’s one of the reasons we’ve stayed away from it. Plus the area of excitement, we always have liked the traditional sudden death feel that this game can end on the next play and what that means to overtime. I don’t know that’s right, but that’s the way I think as a committee, I’m kind of articulating what I’ve heard over the years, those would be the discussion points about the idea of a set time."

2. We have no idea if the Patriots are focused on protecting their 2023 compensatory picks for losing JC Jackson (after third round) and Ted Karras (after sixth round, as predicted by OverTheCap.com), but it sure seems that way given their slow approach to free agency. They did the same thing in 2020 when they lost Tom Brady, Kyle Van Noy and Jamie Collins and recouped three picks for losing those players (best for Brady was 96th). One thing to keep in mind when it comes to the Patriots possibly signing unrestricted free agents (which count in the formula) is that the deadline for those signings to count is 4 p.m. on May 2nd (first Monday after the draft). Then it's a free for all.

3. With that in mind, here are the top unsigned unrestricted free agents that would interest the Patriots and count against the formula:

Corners
Stephon Gilmore
Joe Haden
Kyle Fuller
Chris Harris
Patrick Peterson
Xavier Rhodes
Jimmy Smith

Edge
Jason Pierre-Paul
Jerry Hughes
Jadeveon Clowney
Mario Addison
Melvin Ingram

Interior DL
Akiem Hicks
Ndamukong Suh
Linval Joseph

Running back
Melvin Gordon
David Johnson
Jalen Richard

Receiver
Odell Beckham
AJ Green
Will Fuller
Sammy Watkins
John Ross
Desean Jackson
Adam Humphries
Kenny Stills

4. Here are the top street free agents, who do NOT count against the formula:

Cornerback
Trae Waynes, CIN
Janoris Jenkins, TEN
Tavon Young, BAL
AJ Bouye, CAR

Edge
Trey Flowers, DET
Benson Mayowa, SEA

Interior DL
Eddie Goldman, CHI
Star Lotulelei, BUF

Receiver
Jarvis Landry, CLE
Cole Beasley, BUF
DaeSean Hamilton, DEN

Running back
Carlos Hyde, JAX
Le'Veon Bell, TB

5. Since, apparently, it's difficult to just formulate a press release to handle this, the Patriots revealed a video this week that finally told us who is manning what role in the personnel department following the departure of Dave Ziegler, and the promotion of Matt Groh (can't wait for the internal coaching video after Belichick declines to name his assistant coaches in Palm Beach ... this isn't a state secret):

Matt Groh, director of player personnel
Eliot Wolf, director of scouting
Brian Smith, personnel coordinator
Steve Cargile, pro scouting director
Camren Williams, college scouting director
Marshall Oium, pro scout

The big changes are a title for Wolf, who was a scouting consultant previously, and the promotion of Williams from national scout to pro scout.

There was no previous director of scouting role with the Patriots. It seems to be a catch-all position that avoids putting Wolf under Groh, who he has way more experience than, or over anyone with more seniority. Basically, it feels like Wolf is still a consultant with no specific domain, outside of possibly directing the pro and college scouts (who are usually handled by Williams on the college side, and Cargile on the pro side).

Williams, much like Groh, has made an unusually rapid ascension. Williams, the son of former Patriot Brent Williams, had only one year as the national cross-checker scout before another promotion. He's just one year removed from being an area scout. This is very much outside the norm of most NFL teams and another area where you could say the Patriots are going green.