Even before Bill Belichick was led out the door after an atrocious 4-13 run this season with the New England Patriots, an ongoing narrative began to come to life down at Gillette Stadium.
Is Belichick, two decades deep into an NFL head coaching career, capable of relating to the younger generation of up-and-coming players?
Belichick’s brand has always been tied to an old-fashioned coach-to-player bond. When arriving in New England, it was expected that all players would buy into the team-first atmosphere and never question Belichick’s way. Yet, with the Patriots brand taking a hit in the wake of Tom Brady’s departure, passing down that practice to youngsters became much more difficult.