Bill Belichick to Commanders Rumors Increase; Best Washington Move?

Those Bill Belichick to Commanders Rumors Are On The Increase; Would Hiring the Patriots Legend Really Be the Best Washington Move?

The 2023 Washington Commanders season can still be in part about a playoff run, though at 4-6, their faces are pressed against the glass, looking in from the outside.

But under the new ownership of Josh Harris, it's also certainly about a franchise-wide self-evaluation, which includes the job security of coach Ron Rivera ... and naturally feeds to rumors about who might replace him.

Enter another wave of gossip regarding Bill Belichick, who along with his legendary status, it should be noted, has pretty much done the same thing in the last four years that Washington has done: One playoff berth.

beli wash

The rumors about Rivera being a lame duck are matched by the rumors that Belichick could also be about done with the New England Patriots head coach, Bill Belichick. ESPN's Dan Orlovsky is suggesting that the destination for Belichick has already been finalized. And Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated chips in by saying, “I don’t know that a destination has been determined. I will say this, though: the Washington stuff as been out there for a while. It’s something that’s been talked about in NFL circles for more than the time than it’s been out there in the public."

Belichick to Commanders? Patriots Insider Speculates on Move

Breer called Harris' possible hiring of Belichick "a credibility play." And that would make sense if not for the entanglements involved. For instance: Belichick is under contract for next year, so owner Robert Kraft would logically rather trade the coach than fire him ...

But the coach would obviously not want his new team stripped of draft picks in a trade, so ... Belichick would prefer to get fired?

It's been noted that Josh Harris attended Harvard Business School with Jonathan Kraft, Robert's son. So the friendship could help negotiations. And if it all came together, it would leave just one more obstacle ...

Given the fact that Bill Belichick presently oversees arguably the NFL's worst team and has a losing record in the post-Tom Brady era ... are the Commanders really sure they want him?


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Mike Fisher
MIKE FISHER

Mike Fisher - as a newspaper beat writer and columnist and on radio and TV, where he is an Emmy winner - has covered the NFL since 1983, is the author of two best-selling books on the NFL.