In my imagination, I picture beat reporters and local Boston media celebrating the departure of Bill Belichick like the Ewoks at the end of “Return of the Jedi.” For the first time in this millennium, the New England Patriots are being coached by someone other than the hooded curmudgeon.
While new head coach (and Belichick disciple) Jerod Mayo has already been breath of fresh air in both the locker room and press conferences, there’s no denying the legacy Belichick leaves and the questions around his former club.
The NFL odds are expecting New England to stumble into the post-Belichick era, sticking it with an NFL-low win total of 4.5 (Over -150) and the lookahead lines peg the Pats as point-spread pups in all 17 regular season games.