Robert Kraft should watch the Patriots game on Sunday. He should say hello to Taylor Swift and hang out with any other celebrity pals who are in Foxborough for the game.
But nothing he sees on the field in front of him should change any offseason plans regarding Bill Belichick.
A report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Media Saturday says the last four games of the season beginning with Sunday against the Chiefs will influence Kraft’s decision on the coaching future of his struggling team.
That’s a bad plan.
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Even if the Patriots look competitive against the Chiefs. Even if New England somehow upsets the defending Super Bowl champs, the Patriots owner needs to keep his focus. There’s enough evidence already. The rest of the games don’t matter.
It’s time.
No matter how many more games the Patriots win or how many former or current New England players support Belichick publicly or privately, it shouldn’t change the outcome. The Patriots need a full rebuild. It’s time for a new coach with new ideas and a new plan.
There are obvious questions about Belichick’s ability or even his interest in presiding over such a process as either a coach or the general manager. But that’s not the larger point.
The Patriots need to start their next chapter. Belichick presided over two mini-dynasties with three Super Bowls in each during his time in New England. Those two blended into one massive run of success that will be forever unmatched in the region and probably the sport. He made Kraft a lot of money and gave Patriots fans unmatched joy. For that, he should get a statue and maybe a street named after him in Foxborough.
Anyone who tries to give Tom Brady all the credit and diminish how much Belichick contributed to that success isn’t capable of complex thought. But Belichick isn’t thriving anymore and there’s no indication that’s going to change in New England.
Still, Belichick’s biggest detractors and staunchest defenders can all agree on one thing — He’s not likely to preside over another run of sustained success in Foxborough.
So the Patriots should focus on finding someone who they think can take the baton and thrive long-term.
Belichick should embrace a split too. At this stage of his career, going through the growing pains of a young roster and likely a rookie quarterback can’t be appealing. Belichick can be both prickly and petty. He could make the exit ugly if he wanted to. But if he can go to a team that’s closer to contention, he should take advantage of that opportunity and make nice on the way out.
Immediately after Brandon Staley was fired by the Chargers on Friday, offshore casinos started promoting odds that made Belichick the favorite to replace him. Those promotions are usually publicity stunts more than real insight or gambling numbers. But there is some logic to it. The Chargers are much closer to real contention and the things Belichick is good at — game planning, improving a defense, getting any production and focus out of J.C. Jackson — are places where the Chargers have lacked.
If Los Angeles or some other team is interested, both Belichick and the Patriots could benefit. New England gets a fresh start and some draft capital and Belichick gets a dignified exit. But no matter what options Belichick does or doesn’t have, Kraft should have his plans ready to go. It’s been obvious for weeks that the Patriots need to make a change. That headstart should give Kraft a chance to hit the ground running.
None of that should be impacted by whether or not the Patriots play well against a middling Broncos team on Christmas Eve or the underachieving Bills on New Year’s Eve. Reacting to late-season fool’s gold can set a franchise back for years.
When the ball drops to start the Patriots 2024, Robert Kraft should be hunting for his next star coach and Bill Belichick can be on to his next job.
Follow MassLive sports columnist Matt Vautour on Twitter at @MattVautour424.
