NFL world reacts to reignited Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft beef
All was quiet on the Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft front for a little while.
It only took a Kraft appearance on a podcast hosted by New England Patriots greats Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman to pour gasoline on a fire that looked to be on the verge of going out.
When appearing on Dudes on Dudes, the Patriots' owner noted that he took a "big risk" in hiring Belichick considering it cost the team a first-round draft pick for a coach who "won a little over 40 percent of his games in 1999." That obviously didn't sit right with the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach, who issued a response via ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr.
"As I told Robert multiple times through the years, I took a big risk by taking the New England Patriots head coaching job," Belichick said. "I already had an opportunity to be the Head Coach of the New York Jets, but the ownership situation was unstable."
Belichick continued, "I had been warned by multiple previous Patriots' coaches, as well as other members of other NFL organizations and the media, that the New England job was going to come with many internal obstacles. I made it clear that we would have to change the way the team was managed to regain the previously attained success."
Kraft moved on from Belichick in January 2024 after the Patriots suffered back-to-back losing seasons, including a 4-13 finish in 2023.
The ending to a 24-year working relationship filled with as much success as Kraft and Belichick experienced wasn't ideal. However, both sides initially seemed to be moving in their own direction. Belichick is now serving as the head coach for the North Carolina Tar Heels, and Kraft has new hope for the future in New England after hiring Mike Vrabel as the new head coach.
Here's what the NFL world is saying about the recent exchange between the two:
With an unnecessary statement, Bill Belichick poured gas on the embers of his feud with Robert Kraft, unable to let even a casual compliment from Kraft go by without letting everyone know what a risk it was joining the Patriots.On BB's latest PR whiff: https://t.co/XAUe5LhxEk
.@FelgerAndMazz dive into the newest addition in the saga of....Bill Belichick vs. Robert Kraft: The story that never ends@IAmJamesStewart @TonyMassarotti @mikefelger @JoeyMurr @MaggioreKevin @FelgerAndMazz @kfabrizio985 pic.twitter.com/UsQDOLrvdR
Both Robert Kraft & Bill Belichick needed Tom Brady to elevate both of them historically. Ironic that once Brady finally left, the reputations of Kraft & Belichick have yet to recover https://t.co/HsAx9W1LTj
Can we all agree that it took both Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick (+ a guy named Tom Brady) to build the New England Patriots dynasty?Would really love if these guys would just appreciate what they all accomplished together. 6 Super Bowls and countless memories. #NEPats pic.twitter.com/WXUD0LDacD
Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft are not-so-subtly throwing jabs at each other in the media. @AthanHristodulu and @GeorgeBalekji sort out the drama and give their insight on what is the cause of the tension.Catch the full episode on NESN's YouTube Channel:… pic.twitter.com/U3vQpCNjEM
Does Robert Kraft want full credit for Bill Belichick's success?? We again ask, will there be Belichick statue? #nfl #Patriots @WEEI pic.twitter.com/CYjagW4Wzq
I don't understand why this is a thing.Kraft absolutely took a "big risk" trading a first-round pick for Belichick, who flamed out with the Browns.It's a fact, not an opinion.I didn't need to hear from Belichick on this.https://t.co/zfoAEIAOCu
Kraft: It was a risk to give up a first-round pick for a coach who hadn't accomplished much as a head coach, but I believed in him so I did it and it was great.Belichick: pic.twitter.com/Y7uRlpvduu
It's at least a little surprising to see Bill Belichick go on the record to publicly push back on Patriots owner Robert Kraft's comments—since what he said on @Edelman11's podcast he's said a million times before.You be the judge ...https://t.co/0OM3MDszPF
Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cam Bynum joins 'The Insiders' to chat about joining Colts, becoming a dad
Safety Cam Bynum joins 'The Insiders' to chat about joining the Indianapolis Colts, becoming a dad.
USA Today
17 minutes ago
- USA Today
T.J. Watt contract winners and losers: Teammate hurt, peer helped by $123M extension?
One of the more prominent and previously outstanding matters of league-wide NFL business ahead of training camps, which open en masse next week, was checked off the list Thursday afternoon when Pittsburgh Steelers superstar pass rusher T.J. Watt signed a long-awaited contract extension, per reports, with the only professional team he's ever known. And while this deal was largely expected to materialize at some point this summer and may not necessarily create a seismic impact throughout the football world, it could have some broader implications than you might think. So we thought about it and now present you with the winners and losers from Watt's big bag of loot: WINNERS T.J. Watt But of course. His three-year, $123 million extension makes him the all-time top-paid non-quarterback, in terms of average annual value, for the second time in his career. It also means Watt, 30, will almost certainly finish out his football days with the Steelers, who drafted the eventual four-time All-Pro and 2021 Defensive Player of the Year 30th overall in 2017. Pittsburgh's all-time leader with 108 career sacks, Watt is currently sixth among active players but could vault all the way up to second with one of his typically dominant seasons in 2025. He's certainly got 123 million reasons worth of incentives to do so. Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan The conclusion of negotiations with Watt would seem to mark the end of a wildly successful offseason, one when the Steelers' longtime head coach and recently extended general manager, respectively, practiced patience while fans and some league observers practiced panic. But now Watt has returned to the fold, which he always seemed destined to do, and will soon meet new teammates like QB Aaron Rodgers, who also took his sweet time signing on, WR DK Metcalf, DB Jalen Ramsey and TE Jonnu Smith along with the incoming rookie class. Expectations are justifiably growing for a team that hasn't won a playoff game since the 2016 season. Jalen Ramsey The perennial Pro Bowler was acquired (along with Smith) at the end of June in a summertime blockbuster that reshapes the back end of Pittsburgh's defense with S Minkah Fitzpatrick headed back to Miami. It's currently unclear as to how Ramsey might divide his time between covering receivers out wide, manning the slot or even putting in some work at safety with Fitzpatrick out of the picture. What is certain is that Ramsey's best years were spent with the Los Angeles Rams, with whom he won a Super Bowl ring four years ago and was consistently at the top of his game playing behind demonic Aaron Donald, who caused so much havoc for opposing quarterbacks. Watt might not quite be Donald, but his presence is almost certain to benefit Ramsey, whether it means less time required in coverage, more opportunities to go ball hawking or even the ability to freelance more once he's comfortable in his new system and surroundings. Micah Parsons With Watt's contract done, it's almost certainly just a matter of time before the Dallas Cowboys' top defensive player becomes the next top-paid non-quarterback of all time − whether it's for $41.1 million a year, $42 million or whatever. Parsons' money is coming, and his boss, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, is probably only too happy to generate that headline in due course now that he knows what the target is. (Also, Detroit Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson stands to benefit − at some point − from Watt's newly realized riches, though he might be waiting longer given his rookie deal doesn't expire until after the 2026 season.) LOSERS T.J. Watt Bro, why are you signing this paper now? It's supposed to be in the high 80s, humid and wet when you report to training camp in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, six days from now – where you'll be moving into dorm rooms at Saint Vincent College. And if that's not a darkness retreat ... (Also, if the answer is evading compulsory fines for missing camp, I'd like to introduce you to Michael Strahan.) But Watt must really be missing his buddies after skipping the Steelers' offseason training program given he could have let this drag out another couple weeks while holding in or even simply stayed at the crib or beach or wherever. Also, no chance brothers J.J. and Derek are ever picking up another dinner check. Cincinnati Bengals They have yet to placate their own holdout pass rusher, All-Pro DE Trey Hendrickson waiting for his financial situation to be resolved. Hendrickson, 30, who has 35 sacks over the past two seasons – 4½ more than Watt over the same period – hasn't necessarily been looking to reset the market. But given he's due to make $16 million in the final year of his deal, it's apparent to him and anyone else outside of Cincinnati that he's (over)due for a raise and isn't merely 39% the player Watt is (when you crunch the salary figures anyway). And given how everything is seemingly falling into place in Pittsburgh – and already was basically set in Baltimore – the Bengals would be doing little more than undercutting their playoff hopes yet again by letting business matters impede their football operation. Pay the man. Myles Garrett Feels like it was just five minutes ago that he became the first non-quarterback to break the $40 million per year contractual barrier. Then he was overtaken by Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase and now Watt, who both play for (better) division rivals of Garrett's Cleveland Browns. And, after explicitly stating he was the league's best defensive player last season after the Browns beat the Steelers in Cleveland – a remark clearly directed at Watt – doesn't it have to irk Garrett just a little bit that he's now the second-best paid defender ... and for a team that's probably going to stink? New York Jets The Steelers' Week 1 opponents will now be catching the full T.J. Watt Experience as they unveil an offense led by new QB1 (and former Steeler) Justin Fields. And just when the NYJ might have started hoping they'd be catching a guy trying to knock off some rust and possibly playing on an opening day pitch count given how negotiations can sometimes drag late into the process with Pittsburgh players … Aaron Rodgers? The Steelers are Watt's team, and he's been the face of this franchise for a minute … though maybe you could argue it's Tomlin. Regardless, Rodgers will definitely be the story as long as he's amongst the yinzers, and the spotlight is about to be completely re-trained back onto the four-time league MVP. No more time spent fretting about Watt's bank account or whereabouts or questions posed to Rodgers about what No. 90 means to the team and how important it is to reward him. Nope, nope, nope. This is now all about No. 8 and what he can do to end Pittsburgh's playoff failures and stabilize a position – temporarily anyway – that has effectively undermined this team since even before Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2022. Have fun with that, Mr. Rodgers! All NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
Fox News
18 minutes ago
- Fox News
Steelers, T.J. Watt reach agreement on contract extension ahead of NFL training camp kickoff: reports
The NFL contract drama is finally over in Pittsburgh. Star pass rusher T.J. Watt reached a deal on a three-year contract extension, according to multiple reports. The NFL Network reported the deal is worth $123 million. The average annual salary makes Watt the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. Earlier this year, Myles Garrett agreed to the terms of a lucrative contract extension with the Cleveland Browns. At the time, the $40 million in annual salary made him the top-paid non-quarterback. Last month, Watt skipped mandatory minicamp, and it appeared to be not-so-subtle message to the only team he's ever played for about his desire to iron out a new contract before the 2025 season. The decision to skip minicamp was a noticeable shift from Watt's approach in 2021, when he did a "hold in" during both minicamp and training camp before agreeing to a contract on the eve of the regular season. Watt, the 2021 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, was about to enter the final season of the four-year extension he signed in September 2021. That $112 million deal made Watt the highest-paid defender in the league at the time. Some Steelers players are scheduled to report to training camp July 23. Watt tied the single-season sacks record in 2021. Last season, he recorded double-digit sacks for the sixth time in his NFL career. The 30-year-old is also a seven-time Pro Bowler. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
