In a surprising turn of events, the Atlanta Falcons have appointed Raheem Morris as their new head coach, rather than pursuing the renowned Bill Belichick.
According to Fox Sports’ Skip Bayless, this decision to bypass Belichick can be attributed to Falcons owner Arthur Blank’s unwillingness to meet Belichick’s extensive demands.
On the recent episode of Undisputed, Bayless contended that Blank’s decision to reject Belichick likely stemmed from Belichick’s anticipated demands for absolute authority within the organization, coupled with minimal oversight from Blank’s trusted personnel, such as general manager Terry Fontenot and CEO Rich McKay.
Bayless suggested that, despite being older than Jerry Jones, Blank might be hesitant to hand over “the keys to the kingdom” to Belichick.
“I believe Arthur Blank said no to Bill because he wanted the keys to the kingdom.”
Furthermore, Bayless raised the notion that Blank may have questioned whether Belichick had earned the privilege of having such control, especially in light of his recent underwhelming performance. Belichick’s recent track record, in Bayless’s view, may have influenced Blank’s skepticism about granting him such power.
Bayless concluded his analysis by pondering why other NFL franchises had not pursued Belichick, given his reputation as one of the league’s premier coaches. It is becoming increasingly evident that Bill Belichick’s standing in the NFL has shifted over time.
In previous years, it is conceivable that other teams would have been willing to offer significant draft picks and complete control over their rosters to entice Belichick to join their ranks. However, a four-year span of less than impressive results may have contributed to Belichick’s diminishing reputation in the eyes of NFL team owners.
Ultimately, Arthur Blank’s decision to pass on Bill Belichick for the Falcons coaching position underscores the evolving perception of Belichick’s coaching prowess within the NFL.
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