Belichick A Free Agent?

A story in today's Boston Herald raises an interesting question: Is this Bill Belichick's final year in New England?

John Tomase's math indicates that this is the final year that Bill Belichick is under contract with the New England Patriots and no announcement has been made in regards to an extension. As Tomase notes, this is unusual under Bob Kraft, who learned his lesson with the whole Bill Parcells fiasco 10 years ago. Still, how could the Patriots not extend the coach that delivered three Lombardi trophies, and if they had, how could they not make an announcement?

Tomase does note that it's possible an extension has already been agreed to, but in the absence of an announcement, there is room to speculate.

To those who are skeptical that Belichick would ever leave New England, a place where he is universally beloved and has been kind of successful, I'll point to the bottom of the article where Tomase describes the segment on Belichick's family and its connection to the Detroit Lions organization that aired on this week's episode of Inside the NFL.

The camera shy Belichick almost never grants such interviews, particularly during the season, but Belichick thought it was a unique opportunity to chronicle his family's ties to the Lions organization, which his father played for and where Belichick got his first coaching gigs in the NFL. Now, this is likely just an opportunity to capture some time with his kids on camera, but this could also be a way for Belichick to show the Patriots front office, a notoriously thrifty group, that he does have ties to other organizations.

Stay tuned.