“There aren’t a lot of good breakups,” NFL insider Albert Breer’s words on The Rich Eisen Show today perfectly capture the messy aftermath of Bill Belichick’s departure from New England. Nine months later, what seemed like a graceful exit has spiraled into a public clash between the legendary coach and his successor.

The Patriots’ sole win this season came in Cincinnati, “shocking the world” and “blowing up everybody’s Survivor pool just four quarters into the season,” as Rich Eisen noted. Since then, they’ve stumbled to a 1-6 record. Also, their first-year head coach Jerod Mayo making headlines for labeling his team “soft…across the board.”

Bill Belichick, now an analyst, jumped to defend his former players. “I don’t think they’re soft,” he declared on the Pat McAfee Show, reminding everyone these were the same players from his roster. On the Let’s Go! podcast with Jim Gray and Tom Brady, he didn’t mince words: “When you criticize your team publicly like that, it doesn’t always come out well.”

The story takes an intriguing turn through Breer’s insider perspective. “The sort of proverbial transition of power wasn’t as clean as the Patriots wanted to make it look,” he revealed on ‘The Rich Eisen Show‘. “Bill to some degree probably had a problem with the way that the Mayo thing was handled.” Most telling? Mayo “still hadn’t talked to Bill since Bill was gone,” which Breer called “kind of crazy.”

Mayo’s Wednesday press conference response spoke volumes. “My main focus is the guys inside of this building,” he stated firmly. With the 2-5 Jets on the horizon, Mayo sees an opportunity to unite his team: “Just continue to use this as an opportunity to get closer as a unit. It’s not the first time that any of those men in there have had to deal with adversity.”

The truth behind Belichick’s exit

Robert Kraft’s bombshell on The Breakfast Club last week ripped off the band-aid of January’s “mutual” separation. “I kept him for 24 years,” Kraft admitted. “I didn’t enjoy having to fire him.” The carefully orchestrated farewell press conference, where Belichick was celebrated as “the greatest coach of all time,” now seems like ancient history.

The numbers tell the story – a 29-38 record in the post-Brady era, plummeting from Belichick’s career 64.5% win rate. “I had given him so much power,” Kraft reflected. “He had full control over everything and shame on me, I should have had some checks and balances better. But then the results weren’t there.”

Breer’s insights paint a picture of lingering tension. “I don’t think Bill wanted to take part in the dog and pony show in January,” he shared. “But Bill agreed to do it…now nine months later you go and just say it [fired], well maybe that’s sparking some emotion for Bill.”

As Mayo prepares his team for a crucial Jets matchup, the Patriots find themselves at a crossroads. A win could put “a proverbial fork in the 2-5 Jets,” especially with their short-week game against the Texans looming. The question isn’t just about one game. It’s about whether Mayo can forge his path while carrying the weight of New England’s storied past.