'The Emperor Has ... A Hoodie': Bill Belichick's 'Tough-Guy Act' Fading for New England Patriots

'The Emperor Has ... A Hoodie': Bill Belichick's 'Tough-Guy Act' Fading for New England Patriots

Bill Belichick's grumpy and non-cooperative and "secretive'' demeanor was characterized as "tough-guy quirky'' when his Tom Brady-led New England Patriots ruled the NFL with six Super Bowl wins over the course of 20 years.

But when his team cannot score? When his team cannot win? "Grumpy'' sounds soft. "Quirky'' sounds soft.

And there is nothing "tough-guy'' about the Patriots head coach - emperor-with-no-clothes-style - marching off the postgame podium following his team's dismal 6-0 home loss Sunday to the Chargers.

Once Super, these days the Patriots' Bill Belichick is just sad / USA Today

The Patriots audience wants, and deserves, answers regarding all the things that are broken in this lost 2-10 season. Belichick is fully in charge of information around here; the media is increasingly less scared of him, but his players still are. (Thus them keeping the "secret'' of who the week's starting quarterback will be, a Belichick-directed waste of players' time and energy.)

And what does the audience get instead?

Belichick was asked a micro question about the offense’s lack of success?

Response: “I don’t know.”

Belichick was asked a macro question about his future here.

Response: "I’m looking forward to this week and getting ready for the Steelers.”

Belichick was reportedly, via Patriots PR, ready to deal with "one last question.''

Response: "Alright. ... '' and then he marched off of the podium.

Bill Belichick was especially irritable in his post game press conference after the Patriots 6-0 loss to the Chargers. #ForeverNE | https://t.co/IG48sqM7vL pic.twitter.com/rW2GIuQBTd

— NESN (@NESN) December 3, 2023

There are difficult questions to be asked and answers ... though in this assortment of queries, there really wasn't anything combative about the media's work here.

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And Belichick still opted to be If this was anybody but Belichick, it would be painted as bush league. Do six Super Bowls supersede "bush league''?

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Belichick lacks self-awareness here if he thinks "secretive'' still works. Patriots fans have watched this all year, and for the better part of four years. The "secret'' about the incompetence of this organization's leadership is out. ... regardless of whether the leader opts to stand at the podium like a true "tough guy.''

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