Bill Belichick has been the head coach of the New England Patriots since 2000. He is one of the most successful coaches in NFL history, with five Super Bowls and three titles to his name. This season, however, things are not going as well for him. His team is struggling and it’s time to make a tough decision that could help or hurt his legacy.
The brady belichick is a person who has been in the news recently. Bill Belichick is under pressure to make a tough decision that could help or hurt his Patriots legacy.
Even though it’s just Week 4, Bill Belichick’s Patriots are in danger of missing the playoffs for the second year in a row. With a 1-2 record and a difficult schedule ahead of them, the New England Patriots must drastically improve before it’s too late.
Of again, with the amount of talent he acquired through free agency, Belichick surely didn’t expect to be in this situation. Despite spending a substantial amount of money to improve both sides of the ball, his club still does not seem to be playoff-caliber. The offense, in particular, continues to frustrate Patriots supporters, particularly with the signings of Jonnu Smith, Hunter Henry, Nelson Agholor, and Kendrick Bourne.
However, if Belichick had made other decisions in the 2019 NFL Draft, he may not have needed to spend so much money on B-level free agents this summer. Ironically, with the Patriots already under a lot of pressure to turn things around, their famous coach is now in a race against time to make a critical choice that may help or damage his reputation.
Will N’Keal Harry still be a Foxborough resident by the middle of October? Or will the Patriots finally call it quits on an experiment that hasn’t paid off?
The 2019 first-round selection injured his shoulder during a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles after making significant improvement in training camp. Despite the fact that Harry survived the final cutdowns, he was soon put on injured reserve. Needless to say, his most recent health setback has cast more doubt on his long-term prospects in New England.
Despite beginning the season on injured reserve, the Patriots’ 23-year-old receiver still has a chance to make an impact. That, though, is contingent on Belichick giving him the chance to play on Sundays.
Fortunately for Harry, he made a step in the right direction by practicing for the first time this season on Wednesday. New England now has a 21-day window to add him to their 53-man roster. Given his draft history and the lackluster condition of the passing offense, it seems logical to give Harry another chance to show Belichick was correct in dismissing his scouts during the 2019 draft.
On the other hand, the physically talented wideout’s lack of productivity and proclivity for missing time may leave him on the periphery.
Bill Belichick must decide whether or not to keep N’Keal Harry on the Patriots’ roster beyond 2021. | Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
With Harry back in practice, his employer is under more pressure to make a difficult roster choice. And, depending on how the issue plays out, Belichick’s legacy with the Patriots may improve or deteriorate.
On the one hand, he may finally enjoy the benefits of his franchise-altering bet if he adds the third-year receiver to the active roster. Over the summer, Harry showed he had the height and power to outmuscle defensive backs. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the former Arizona State standout take advantage of what looks to be an open road to playing time and become a reliable playmaker for Mac Jones.
After all, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, New England’s rookie quarterback targeted Harry 14 times out of 18 during training camp. So there’s a decent possibility the two first-round picks can build on their relationship while also making Belichick seem good. And if Harry can establish himself as a dependable playmaker, it would go a long way toward restoring his boss’s reputation as a general manager, which has been tarnished in recent years.
What would it say about Belichick’s assessment abilities if the Patriots don’t activate the oft-criticized receiver or use him as trade bait to acquire a draft choice or player at a position of need? Giving up on Harry would solidify his reputation as the franchise’s worst choice. Plus, given DK Metcalf, Deebo Samuel, and A.J. Brown have all grown into top-tier pass-catchers, it would highlight how poorly Belichick bungled the 2019 selection.
It’s also possible that Harry will be activated and produce yet another poor stat line. Given how his first two years in Foxborough went, it wouldn’t be surprising if he falls short of expectations. That result would further tarnish Belichick’s reputation as a general manager, as it would be obvious that he squandered a premium selection on a guy who seemed to be a bad system fit from the start.
Both N’Keal Harry and Bill Belichick are under pressure right now to prove their detractors incorrect.
If they don’t, it’ll be fascinating to watch how long Robert Kraft will continue to pay them.
Pro Football Reference provided all statistics.
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