The New England Patriots dynasty is on life support, and one of Bill Belichick’s former lieutenants just pulled the plug. Michael Lombardi, once Belichick’s right-hand man, has dropped a bombshell that’s rattling the very foundations of Gillette Stadium.

In today’s episode of GM Shuffle, Lombardi didn’t just predict doom for the Patriots – he forecasted a full-blown disaster. “I think the Patriots getting the first pick in the draft,” he declared. “I do. I think they’re going to be horrible.”

But why such a gloomy outlook? Lombardi painted a picture bleaker than a Boston winter. He pointed to an offensive line he called “a disaster,” a kicker situation that’s about as stable as a house of cards, and a new coaching staff that inspires about as much confidence as a weatherman in New England. It’s enough to make even the most die-hard Pats fan consider switching allegiances to, say, the Jets. (Okay, maybe not that drastic.)

Lombardi didn’t stop there. He aimed at the Patriots’ recent signings. “Did they do that so they could say they suck?” Lombardi mused. “We look we gave them this money so that we can continue to say tell you all that Belichick was a bad coach.” It’s the kind of conspiracy theory that would make even the most paranoid fan say, “Whoa, take it easy there, pal.”

This grim forecast comes on the heels of the Patriots’ worst season in decades. In 2023, they managed just 3 wins against 10 losses under Bailey Zappe after benching Mac Jones. The season ended with a whimper – a 17-3 loss to the Jets that felt like the final nail in the coffin of the Patriots’ dynasty.

Lombardi’s tank prediction isn’t just about on-field performance. He hints at deeper organizational issues: “This is a team that’s now run corporately. I mean they’ve got Robin Glazer running it, they’ve got Jonathan Craft in there running it.” It’s a stark contrast to the Belichick era, where football decisions were made by, well, football people.

This prediction comes as the Patriots try to turn the page on the Belichick era, handing the reins to Jerod Mayo. Mayo, a former player who’s gone from tackling running backs to tackling rebuilding challenges, has been thrust into the spotlight. As Mayo himself put it in the Patriots official site, “Being a Patriots player was always to me bigger than football.” Well, Jerod, buckle up, because if Lombardi’s right, you’re in for one hell of a ride.

Mayo and Kraft face unexpected challenges

While Lombardi’s tank prediction is making waves, his comments about the Patriots’ leadership are like throwing gasoline on an already raging dumpster fire.

“I don’t think there’s going to be any confidence in the new coaching staff,” Lombardi stated, delivering a blow to Mayo’s nascent regime. It’s a far cry from the glowing praise Mayo received when he was introduced as head coach.

Mayo’s challenges extend beyond Lombardi’s lack of confidence. He’s inheriting a team that finished 2023 ranked 7th in total defense but struggled mightily on offense. As Mayo himself acknowledged, “I would say I’m a huge believer in just developing people, whether it’s on the football field, whether it’s off the football field.” He’ll need to develop a lot, and fast, if he wants to avoid the fate Lombardi predicts.

The situation is further complicated by the Patriots’ draft choices. They selected quarterback Drake Maye with the 3rd overall pick, but as Rob Gronkowski pointed out on “First Things First“, Maye only played six snaps in his first preseason game. Gronk criticized this decision, saying, “You got to see what he has, you got to be able to show he’s good, so he’s ready to go when his time is called in the season.”

Meanwhile, the Patriots’ offensive line woes that Lombardi highlighted seem to be persisting. As he put it, “That offensive Line’s a disaster. It’s still a mess. They haven’t fixed it.” This could spell trouble for whoever ends up under center, be it Maye, Zappe, or someone else.

The former aide’s criticism didn’t stop with Mayo. He aimed for the very top of the organization, describing a team that’s “now run corporately.” Lombardi singled out Robin Glazer and Jonathan Kraft, suggesting their involvement has changed the team’s atmosphere more drastically than Brady’s departure. “It’s a different atmosphere when you go that way,” he noted, with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer.

This shift in leadership style could have consequences more far-reaching than a Tom Brady Hail Mary. As Lombardi put it, “The Krafts want to take all the credit for the winning. Now they’re on their own, we’ll see what happens.” It’s a challenge issued directly to Robert Kraft and his son, essentially saying, ‘You thought managing a paper company was tough? Try winning without Bill’

The irony here is thicker than clam chowder. Just months ago, at Tom Brady‘s Patriots Hall of Fame ceremony, Kraft was singing a different tune. He gushed, “I want to say this is the greatest coach in the history of the game that did what no one else has done.”

In the end, Lombardi’s predictions and criticisms paint a picture of a franchise at a crossroads, with one path leading to the first overall draft pick and the other… well, maybe also to the first overall draft pick, but with more style. Whether his dire forecast comes true remains to be seen. But one thing’s for certain: all eyes will be on Foxborough this season, watching to see if the Patriots can prove their former insider wrong, or if they’ll be tanking faster than the Titanic.