Bill Belichick Explains Malik Cunningham Departure from New England Patriots

Bill Belichick offered a surprisingly detailed explanation for Malik Cunningham's departure from the New England Patriots.

This harrowing season has forced New England Patriots fans to witness the unthinkable ... such as head coach Bill Belichick offering detailed thoughts on a player that does not reside on the active Foxborough ledger. 

Through his lengthy ... and possibly ending ... tenure as the Patriots' head coach, Belichick has often asked his conversations to center upon only active New Englanders. But Belichick broke character during prep for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs (1 p.m. ET, Fox), offering a relatively in-depth response when asked about the departure of quarterback and newly-minted Baltimore Raven Malik Cunningham. 

"I think at the end of the day, they sold him on the opportunity, the offense," Belichick said in Wednesday morning's press conference. "He and (Ravens quarterback) Lamar (Jackson), certainly, (Baltimore's) offense suits Malik better than probably any other offense in the league does, so it makes sense.”

It's certainly not the longest response that'll emerge from an NFL head coach's press conference but it might as well have a monologue from Belichick, who has gained a reputation for his stoic statements that waste no time getting to point while still keeping his cards close to the chest.

Cunningham was a backup for last Thursday's win in Pittsburgh / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Cunningham, an undrafted rookie out of Louisville, became a bit of a cult hero in Foxborough after impressing audiences with his dual-threat potential during the preseason. New England management also apparently saw that potential, bestowing Cunningham a guaranteed six-figure deal, the highest payday ever bestowed to an undrafted free agent in Patriots history. 

Some felt that Cunningham could've gotten some regular season snaps, maybe even a start, over the final hours of the Patriots' woebegone season, one that appears to be entrusted to Bailey Zappe as a meaningless four-game closing slate awaits. Cunningham spent most of this season on the New England practice squad but was a backup to Zappe in each of the last two weeks. 

But Cunningham wound up taking only six snaps in New England, all of them coming in an October loss to Las Vegas. Signing with Baltimore affords Cunningham a reunion with fellow Louisville alum and dual-threat Jackson, who has guided the Ravens (10-3) to the top spot on the current AFC playoff bracket. Cunningham succeeded Jackson as the Cardinals' primary quarterback and wound up eclipsing most of his marks over a five-year tenure (2018-22).

Cunningham Stunner: Patriots Strike UDFA Gold Again?

Cunningham currently appears on the Ravens' active roster as they prepare for a crucial conference clash with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday night (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC). 

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