“Arthur Blank Is Torn”: Bill Belichick’s Anti-climax Starts a Domino Effect in NFL’s Ever Revolving Coaching Carousel

Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft’s Patriots are the prime example of a communication fallout, as both sides still await a meeting to decide the head coach’s future. But they are not the only ones, and even the NFL’s kindest of owners face trouble deciding how to move ahead with their sides. Take Falcons‘ Arthur Blank for example.

Blank is a fan of head coach Arthur Smith. But the Home Depot co-founder is unsure about how to clear his own home of offensive problems, especially at the quarterback position. Belichick might be heading out sooner or later. But Smith and Blank have bigger challenges ahead of them, and an exit from either side isn’t an option.

Arthur Smith is Falcons’ own Bill Belichick but for good reasons

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that after owning the side since 2002, Falcons’ owner Arthur Blank is “surveying the coaching landscape, mulling what options are out there should they decide to make a change“. Blank is known as one of the good guys in the divergent ownership landscape of the league, and it may be a mistake to imagine he wants the head coach out anytime soon.

In fact, Blank is known to be a fan of Arthur Smith’s play style, one of the most potent offense-callers in the NFL. However, their persistent issue with the QB position seems to be getting out of hand with every passing season, and they are potentially missing the playoffs again. QB Desmond Ridder is seen by many as underqualified to handle the overly-talented offense line, and that’s the only distress Blank possesses with Smith’s attack.

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Recent rumors suggested that the team could run after the Vikings‘ Kirk Cousins in the offseason, and that’s a positive update for both the Arthurs. More importantly, rumors like this must come true for the Falcons to avoid a Bill Belichick situation for Arthur Smith. Because things have escalated to a whole different level on the other side of the East Coast, in New England. Owner Robert Kraft has not even met Bill Belichick to clear the clutter.

And unlike the Falcons who hope for the beginning of a new era, the former’s meeting is all about an anti-climaxing end at the Patriots as Bill Belichick’s sun touches the horizon.

Sunday to mark the end of the Patriots’ Bill Belichick era?

Belichick joined the Patriots under bizarre circumstances. The HC left the Jets‘ head coaching job the day after he was appointed, carrying a napkin that read “I resign as HC of the NYJ.” This was exactly 24 years and 4 days ago from the would-be Patriots-Jets game on Sunday, January 8. Belichick’s bold move made him an instant villain at New York… But it eventually turned out to be the right call and a decision that changed the NFL history.

In the same year’s draft, Belichick found the jewel of his crown: a skinny, tall kid named Tom Brady. And the Patriots would go on a 2-decade-long rampage to dominate the league, where their worst record was 9-7, in 2002, when the franchise won their maiden Super Bowl. Since then, the untouchable Patriots never crossed the 6-loss mark, even going a perfect 16-0 in 2007, only coming to a stop in the Super Bowl.

Brady is gone, and the last standing pillar of the Golden Era Patriots is about to fall. Belichick’s head coaching sunset seems to be happening at the same horizon it started: at the New York Jets. But has the city that never sleeps forgiven him for the decision he made over 24 years ago? The head coach will come to know that on Sunday as the final curtain possibly falls on a legendary NFL career.

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