Some of Bill Belichick's most famous former players aren't so quick to believe the rumors swirling around the Patriots' head coach.
Earlier this week, ESPN's Dan Graziano reported, "Whether it's team owner Robert Kraft's decision to move on, Belichick's decision to step away or a mutual decision between the two parties, there is a growing belief around the NFL that someone besides Belichick will be coaching the team in 2024."
In the wake of that article, New England Patriots legends Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman addressed Graziano's report during an appearance Thursday on the "Up & Adams" YouTube show with Kay Adams.
"I don't think it's 100% done."@robgronkowski and @edelman11 are NOT buying the Bill Belichick rumors @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/ecMy14DnH9
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) December 14, 2023
"I don't think it's 100% done," Edelman said. "I don't think either of them on either side are thinking about that right now — or at least on Bill's side. Bill is probably just going to play the season out and worry about trying to win football games. But it won't hit me until it's actually hit. So I don't even know where to go with that."
When asked his opinion right after, Gronkowski doubled down on his former teammate's take.
"I agree with Julian," Gronkowski said. "I think those reports are kind of, they're not too far stretched out there, but they're kind of false still because I think there's still some season left to play. Coach Belichick could definitely prove himself. If you asked him in the media this week, I saw it. The media people were asking the question, 'Hey, are these reports true. What do you think about it?' And he just kept saying, 'I'm on to Kansas City, I'm on to Kansas City,' which I think is a great answer. I think that's the best way to handle it."
So while these two New England legends didn't dismiss the rumors straight away, they both believe that Belichick has bigger fish to fry at the moment.
If these Belichick rumors do prove true come season's end, it's going to be a tough pill to swallow for all Patriots fans. Not only has Belichick won a record six Super Bowls as coach of the Patriots, but his patented terseness and dry sense of humor have endeared him to the Patriots faithful off the field as well.
Then again, perhaps now is the perfect time for Belichick and New England to part ways. Belichick's teams went 25-25 in the first three years after Tom Brady's departure, and its 3-10 record this season is tied for second worst in the NFL. If not now — or at least once the season ends — then when?
