Some leftover thoughts and notes during the return trip from the NFL Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, Fla. ...
• It's along the lines of comical that people believe that Robert Kraft has flexed some sort of say over football operations in recent years, be it the budget, the personnel department, who the Patriots pick in the draft, etc. Some of that has been born out of the pandemic and how access to certain people has been curtailed the last two years. In the absence of real information, anything gets tossed into the void. Obviously, the Patriots invite that more than most teams because Bill Belichick declines to explain his rationale on most teams — and they're fine with the blowback on that, it's part of doing business how they do it. But with the NFL world getting back to normal with the combine and league meetings being open once again, the context and information spigot has been turned back on.
After several conversations in Palm Beach, I'm confident that since the departure of Brady, any perceived flexing by Kraft is just false. Not much has changed around One Patriot Place in regards to how football operations goes about its business. Belichick can and does anything he wants. Does Kraft ask questions along the lines of, "Are you sure about signing these guys?" Sure, absolutely. But Belichick still has his fiefdom. Most everything that goes down on that side of the building, from how the personnel and coaching staffs will be populated and operated, whether or not the Patriots are going to spend money, who the team is going to draft with the 15th overall pick — basically any decision made by Belichick — is as much a mystery to the owners as it us to us and people outside a select few inside the building (Belichick, Matt Patricia, Matt Groh).
Any suggestion that Kraft strongly suggested Belichick, for example, draft Mac Jones or spend all that money last offseason is just completely off base. Belichick, as he approaches 70, still has unquestioned power in football decisions, and that does not seem to be changing anytime soon.
• That's not to say Kraft doesn't try to influence Belichick — he does. He just doesn't do it face to face like many expect or want him to do as the team has slipped to a .500 team the past 40 games. Kraft is back to sending his messages to Belichick through the media. Last year it was his comment about how drafting well is a necessity to be a contender in the salary-cap era. Kraft didn't demand Belichick change anything in how the draft was handled, but you can bet he noticed that his criticism resulted in a much better draft in 2021. Kraft talking this week about not winning a playoff game, and the need to continue drafting well ... that was Kraft seeing the results of his words last year, and doubling down to, in his mind, keep a little bit of pressure on Belichick to stay on top of his game. Kraft is done sitting quietly back as he sees his team slip a little bit. Kraft is basically telling Belichick: "You may have earned free reign, but I'm still here, I'm watching and I'm not thrilled. So stay on the ball."
• The rest of the NFL world has been completely flummoxed at how Matt Patricia has been basically attached to Belichick, and there are some around the team that are, not worried, but hesitant at that close alignment and how that could affect the team. There is zero doubt Patricia is very smart and a good coach, but he does sometimes fall a bit in love with his own skills — many have pointed the finger at him for the Super Bowl LII failing — and the fear is he's an echo chamber and not a voice of reason to Belichick's intentions. Does Belichick have Patricia so close to him to get another opinion, or because Patricia's just going to back all Belichick's plays? That's an essential question to those around the team and they don't have the answer yet.
• If you're the Detroit Lions and you were paying Patricia millions last season and if that's the case again this year, and you've seen the huge role that Patricia had with the Patriots last year and, especially, this year given Belichick's words about Patricia on Monday, how are you not upset and asking for your money back? Patricia has not been a consultant the past year-plus. It is quite evident that he is a senior-level decision-maker.
• Matt Groh's ascension from area scout a few years ago to director of player personnel has been eyebrow-raising and completely out of character for this organization. But it is now clear to me that great things are expected of Groh. Yes, he does not have a big personality or voice, but his intellect and how he applies that to his job is absolutely revered by those around him in the organization. The feeling is that Groh is going to be outstanding in his new role, and while he's quiet, he does know how to get his point across to Belichick.
• Nick Caserio was very loyal and organized, but let's just say not many were sad to see him leave the organization. The feeling is that the downturn in drafts was partially his fault (along with Belichick falling in love with his type of players) because he absolutely would not counter Belichick.
• Camren Williams, the new director of college scouting, is a future star general manager. It's not a matter of if but when. He's brilliant and has great people skills. I have no idea what he's doing in the Patriots organization (a joke, relax), but the kid is going places.
• To clear some things up, the Patriots are not against pushing cap to future years. Belichick has declined to do that, and I'm sure he has his reasons.
• Also, it hasn't gone unnoticed that Belichick has made more mistakes managing personnel assets (Joe Thuney, Stephon Gilmore, JC Jackson, etc) in the past few years than he did probably in his first 20 years combined, but there's hope it was just a temporary blip.
• If you're still under the delusion that Tom Brady's unretirement and Bruce Arians' retirement two weeks later were unrelated, then I have some prime swampland to sell you. Brady loathed playing for Arians and his respect for Belichick professionally grew as a result. Brady still has major issues with Belichick that will likely never go away, but not on the football field.