Bill Belichick Reveals How Balimore Ravens 'Sold' Malik Cunningham on Signing

Bill Belichick Reveals How Baltimore Ravens 'Sold' Malik Cunningham on Signing

When it comes to the distinct possibility that Bill Belichick might be leaving New England, the legendary coach is almost comical close-mouthed.

"Yeah, I'm just getting ready for Kansas City,'' the Patriots boss said repeated on Wednesday when asked about the possibility of this being his final season with his team.

But on the subject of the quarterback change that brings Malik Cunningham from the Patriots to Baltimore? Belichick is something of a blabbermouth.

"Yeah,” Belichick said when asked about Cunningham having been "poached'' off his roster, “I think, at the end of the day, they sold him on the opportunity, the offense; he had Lamar (Jackson as a draw). 

"Certainly, their offense suits Malik better than probably any other offense in the league does, so it makes sense.”

The Ravens used the system to sign Cunningham off the Patriots' practice squad by offering him a 53-man roster spot. Belichick could have retained the athletic rookie backup by elevating Cunningham to the Pats' 53-man roster but opted to let him go.

Cunningham was teammates with Jackson in 2017 at Louisville, and it is true that in terms of a "system fit,'' this can work for the Ravens and for Cunningham, who joined the Patriots after racking up 9,664 passing yards and 3,184 rushing yards at Louisville.

Ravens' Lamar Jackson Stunned by QB Debut

Still - and even though Cunningham remains way back of Lamar on the depth chart - it is fair to criticize New England for never giving him a chance to do much of anything, especially as Belichick has floundered to a 3-10 record while rotating failures at QB, starting with Mac Jones.

And then there is this: If Cunningham's unique skillset was never a "fit'' in New England, why did Belichick ever sign him as a UDFA rookie in the first place?