On Monday, the Giants fired coach Brian Daboll. Tuesday, North Carolina coach Bill Belichick I haven’t definitively slammed the door on the possibility of continuing employment.
Friday evening, Belichick released a statement sending a much clearer message.
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“I have great respect and sincere care for the New York Giants organization and the Mara and Tisch families,” Belichick said in a statement released by the program. “The New York Giants have played an important role in my life and coaching journey. It has been my privilege to work for the Mara family and be a member of Coach Parcells’ staff for over a decade. However, despite the rumors circulating, I have not applied for and will not pursue any head coaching position in the NFL..
“Since arriving in Chapel Hill, my commitment to the UNC football program has not wavered. We have tremendous support from the university, our alumni and the entire Carolina community. My focus remains solely on continuing to improve this team, develop our players and build a program that makes Tar Heel fans proud. . . . We are headed to Wake Forest.”
Belichick said he was at Wake Forest three days ago. But he didn’t say he wouldn’t take the Giants job, or any other NFL job. And the buyout duration of his contract says it all. He can leave whenever he wants for the NFL, in exchange for the simple payment of a million dollars – which is pressed peanut shavings for any NFL owner.
So what happened in the last three days? It would be incredibly stupid and naive to think that he didn’t explore by circuitous routes if that could happen. And if he learns it wasn’t planned, it becomes easy for him to take the high road and say he doesn’t want a job that doesn’t want him.
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There were no “rumors circulating” that Belichick would take the Giants job, just speculation. Perhaps he felt like he had to make the statement because the talk about Belichick leaving was being used against him by programs pursuing the same recruits, whether they were from high school or the transfer portal.
Either way, Belichick is out. Never mind the very real possibility he would never have been in.
