Bill Belichick to Washington? The Hoodie in the Land of Cowboy Hats?
Will the Patriots coach be fired? Part ways mutually with the team? Get traded?
The air is thick with rumors about the Patriots’ coach’s foggy future. It’s too soon to believe any of them. There are eight weeks between now and the end of the season and every one of them figures to have fresh scuttlebutt come and go.
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The results between now and the end of the season could dictate which jobs are actually open, including perhaps the Patriots. Robert Kraft might have second thoughts before the season ends. An opposing owner could have reservations about selling Belichick to his fan base if New England finishes 4-13 or worse.
But at Week 11, there’s at least rumored interest. Three NFL heavyweight media members sort of reported some rumors this week.
NBC Sports’ Peter King didn’t actually say anything was happening with Belichick. He simply speculated on if Belichick left New England and wanted to keep coaching, where could he end up. He ranked the options: 1. Dallas, Washington, Los Angeles Chargers and Chicago and actually expressed reasons to doubt all four options.
Every professional reporter has his or her own standards for what they will write or say on the air. But for most, “according to sources” is from someone reliable, who’d get in trouble if they were quoted by name. “I’m hearing” usually means the reporter/analyst has heard something plausible from someone who might know, but it’s not solid enough to really run with.
Dianna Russini and Dan Orlovsky each reported what they’re “hearing” about Belichick’s future in New England.
Russini, who is at the Athletic, after a long run at ESPN, is credible and well-connected. But this report was at the bottom of a notebook column. If she had credible information that Belichick was leaving, it would have either led the notebook or it would have been its own story. Even buried, she hedged and wrote:
“If people I talk to had to bet, their money is on a mutual parting of the ways at the end of the season.”
Orlovsky is a terrific analyst, especially breaking down the passing game and quarterbacks. On the Pat McAfee show, he actually said he’s not a reporter after McAfee asked him about Russini’s story.
“I’ve heard that more and more over the past like week. I’m not a reporter but I have heard that, that’s going to be the case. Who know’s the likelihood of it? But I’ve heard that’s going to happen and I’ve heard the location is already kind of determined as well.”
McAfee tried to get more information out of Orlovsky, who didn’t reveal more after that.
Which was probably smart. Whatever he says now might look foolish in a month. The clay isn’t done being molded. Kiln time is still weeks away.
Follow MassLive sports columnist Matt Vautour on Twitter at @MattVautour424.
