PHOENIX — After posting a second losing season in three years and an offseason that, to this point, hasn't exactly screamed the Patriots' fortunes are suddenly going to change, Bill Belichick was asked Monday why fans should be optimistic about this season.
"I don't know, the last 25 years?" Belichick said in response.
Kind of a stunning comment for a man who doesn't pay players for past production and who answered just about every question about a current player's status coming off last season with a blanket comment to say the past is the past and they're going forward.
Bill Belichick Live Press Conference 3/27: https://t.co/id5tLpcD8U
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) March 27, 2023
For example, this response to a question about Mac Jones' leadership last season.
"We're looking ahead to 2023 here, not going to go back and rehash '22," he said.
But when it comes to Belichick's team management performance — which in recent times is 25-26, including 0-1 in the postseason since Tom Brady left — the only barometer should be his record with Brady over two decades?
That's ... interesting.
The Patriots tried relying on Belichick's track record last season in allowing him to put Matt Patricia and Joe Judge in charge of the offense, and it basically torpedoed the season.
About the only other meaty topic during Belichick's session with the media was in regard to his comment after the season about the Patriots being one of the lowest cash-spending teams in the league.
His comments now:
"I think we've been pretty competitive every year that I've been here with the Patriots. That's our overall plan. And so I expect it to continue that way. I think the team has been managed pretty well over the last 20-however many years, so think we'll continue managing in the way we've been competitive every year. And expect that we'll continue to be competitive.
"My comment was a correction. So I was asked a question about high cash spending, and how high it was, and some of the things that went along with it. And the fact is, that's just inaccurate. I mean, in a Polaroid shot, yes. But anybody that knows anything about the cap understands that it's spread out over a period of time. So you have high cash spending, then you have low cash spending. And you can look at every team in the league, and there's no difference between our team and any other team. If it's high, it's gonna be low. If it's low, then eventually it's gonna be high."
Later, I pressed for more clarification on the spending and who is responsible for that. Belichick said after the season the team was 27th in the league over three years, and SpoTrac has them 28th this year.
"That was about the previous three years at that point in time. I don't even know where we are now," Belichick said. "Okay, so it doesn't really matter. But we'll spend to the cap, we'll have a competitive team. That's really and anybody who knows anything about the cap, which I'm sure you've studied it, knows that over a period of time it evens out. So that's all I got to say about it."
I followed up with would you like the ability to spend more, do you have that ability from ownership to spend more if you want to?
"I've said all I'm gonna say about it. We spend to the cap every year," Belichick said.
So, basically, you shouldn't be pointing at the Krafts about the team's spending. This is obviously what Belichick believes in.
Other comments from Belichick:
On Don Shula's wins record.
"Yeah, I mean look, I have great respect for the game and all that. I'm not really focused on that right now. The 2023 season is what I'm concerned about.
On Juju Smith-Schuster.
"Good player. Good guy. Look forward to having him. Think we're getting a good player, yeah."
On bringing back Bill O'Brien.
Thought it was the best thing for the team.
Why was it the best thing for the team?
There's a number of reasons.
Can you name one?
Have a good relationship with Bill, we go back a ways.
Will Matt Patricia be working for the Patriots this year?
Not sure.
Mike Gesicki
Tough guy to game plan for, hard to cover. I look forward to working with Mike. See how it goes. He's kind of a unique player so hopefully we'll be able to use him productively.
Adrian Klemm
Yeah, I think he'll do a good job for us. ... Smart guy, played in June Jones' offense, a really good understanding of some of the more complex things on the offensive line. I think he's performed well in his coaching positions at various spots.
On whether Mac Jones is in competition with Bailey Zappe for the starting job.
Well, everybody will get a chance to play, we'll play the best player.
So it's still kind of a competition.
Everybody will get a chance to play,
Is that specific to the quarterback?
Everybody will get a chance to play. everybody's that's on our roster. If they earn the opportunity to play then based on what they do in practice and all that then they'll get an opportunity to play. Certainly veteran players have been on the team before, if they're still on the team, they'll all get an opportunity to play.
What specifically would you like Mac to improve on from last year?
We talked to all players individually about things that they can do and things that we can do and so forth. So we'll just keep that between myself and the individual players.
On Jones' 2022 performance
Well as a team we didn't perform very well last year. We all need to do a better job. That's all of us. ... I think we all can improve. All of us. Starts with me and every other player and coach here. So that's for all of us.
On Jack Jones' suspension
That's over.
Marcus Jones a defensive player or will he do more offense?
Yeah, we'll see how that goes. Certainly showed a lot the ability in all three phases and all three phases of the game. So we'll see.
On basically swapping Jakobi Meyers for Juju Smith-Schuster.
Free agency is a process. It wasn't a trade. ... Wasn't a trade. Wasn't planned that way, it worked out that way. I get the question ... wasn't a trade.
How much pressure do you put on yourself?
The start of the year is the same every year. It doesn't really matter what happened last year. The start of the year is the start of the year. So want to do the best job I can this year just like I did last year, the year before that, year before that and 20 years before that, and 10 some years before that. So do the best I can. Sure not everybody will be happy with it, I'll do the best I can.
Do you have any interest in Odell Beckham Jr.
I'm not gonna talk about any players that are not on this team. Period.
Cam Achord still being in his role
Good coach. Led league in special teams in 19 or 20? whatever year it was. So I don't think that's a problem.
Jonathan Jones being back
Yeah, that's a big one. He's ... especially with Devin, you know, he gives us a lot of leadership and presence back there. Been a great player for us for a long time and a lot of different roles, including the kicking game, which is where he started. He epitomizes what we want in a Patriot player. Great to have him.
On if there have been any discussions with Jerod Mayo and/or Bill O'Brien about the future and planning for the future of the Patriots when you're not coaching?
Yeah, I'm planning on coaching this year, trying to do a good job this year. That's my plan.
On where the team sits right now
Long way to go. It's March. We play in September, have a long way to go. A lot of work to do. ... I think we've taken steps to improve the team. We'll see how it goes.
On if the draft is the major vehicle to improve the team at this point
I don't know. You know, there's a lot of ways you can acquire players, I wouldn't rule out any of them or rule in any of them. We do something we think we can help the team then we'll do it given the context of whatever it is, but we're not afraid to do whatever we need to do to will help the team. whatever that is, I don't know.