An offseason payday adds a massive wrinkle to Bill Belichick’s future with the New England Patriots, perhaps ensuring that he’s not going anywhere no matter how bad things get in Foxborough this season.
Belichick signed a “lucrative” contract extension earlier this year, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday morning.
While it’s unclear how much money is in the contract and how long it is, it is likely pricey enough that firing the 71-year-old would mean a lot of wasted money for Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
But despite six Super Bowl titles and a 263-113 record in Foxborough, the heat is on Belichick as the Patriots (1-5) endure what’s shaping up as their worst season since Belichick’s first with New England in 2000, when they went 5-11.
The Patriots look set to miss the playoffs for a second straight season for the first time since 1999 and 2000.
After getting outscored 72-3 in losses to the Cowboys and Saints, the Patriots fell 21-17 to the Raiders in Las Vegas last week.
It doesn’t get easier for the Pats as they host the Bills on Sunday before traveling to face the Dolphins next week.
Mac Jones is looking much less like the answer at quarterback for the Patriots after making the Pro Bowl as a rookie.
Through six games this season, Jones has 1,208 yards, five touchdowns and seven interceptions.
The reshuffling of the depth chart behind Jones continued Sunday, as Malik Cunningham is inactive after being the backup last week against the Raiders.
Bailey Zappe, who was the emergency third quarterback last week, reclaimed his spot as the No. 2, while Will Grier will serve as the emergency third quarterback against the Bills.
The Patriots are 26-30 since Tom Brady left the franchise in 2020.
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