Danielle O’Malley, Managing Editor
@domalley_
With a 2-7 record and sitting at last place in the AFC East, the New England Patriots face the worst season they’ve had in the last two decades. With a struggling no-longer-rookie quarterback, deteriorating offensive line, and numerous, costly injuries, the Patriots find themselves in a tough position, one where they have to consider their most controversial decision yet.
It has been a known fact that Bill Belichick is on the hot seat, and has been on the hot seat, since training camp began this summer. Belichick, longtime head coach and general manager of the Patriots, had a lot to prove going into the season. After the less than stellar 2022 season having not made the playoffs, he needed to form a team that could hold their own and be successful in the AFC East.
Now at eight weeks into the season and only having two wins, the Patriots have to face potentially removing Belichick as general manager of the team. He has been making questionable statements regarding the trade deadline, cryptic in his responses when talking about one of the team’s top safety’s, Kyle Dugger.
What New England needs to do looking at the deadline is keep players like Dugger, ones to build your team around. Obviously the Patriots are in a period of rebuilding in the post-Brady era, and with what Belichick has been doing as the trade deadline hangs above his head is not seeming to follow that ideal.
Generally, the loyal New England fanbase isn’t happy, to say the least, with Belichick, and want him out of the position to make final decisions on matters as important as this. As arguably the most respected and greatest head coach of all time, the fans want Belichick to remain in that position, however, they believe he no longer deserves to be the GM.
Despite the general public’s popular opinion, would this really be the best decision for the Patriots moving forward? They have run under Belichick’s system for such a long time, and it clearly was successful as they’ve amassed six Super Bowl rings and made numerous visits to the playoffs. And it’s clear Mac Jones isn’t as bad a quarterback as he seems, especially when looking back on his rookie season in 2021 when he led the team to the Wild Card round, ultimately falling to the Buffalo Bills.
The Patriots have the potential to be great. Individually, they’re a well-rounded team with numerous stars in the making. The problem is, they just haven’t clicked and they’re missing at least two more big-time receivers for Jones. But the question remains: Will Belichick be able to solve this problem by the trade deadline?
Last Sunday, the Patriots took on the Washington Commanders where they lost in almost embarrassing fashion. Plagued by penalties, especially in the last minutes of the game, the team could not take the lead, let alone tie the game, by the time the clock hit triple zeros.
This Sunday the Patriots take on the Indianapolis Colts, a winnable game compared to some of their other opponents this season. Despite this, with the current state of the team and Bill Belichick’s current situation, nothing will be coming easy to the Patriots any time soon.
