Bill Belichick crowns himself as Patriots leader who grew the franchise from “$500 million to $8 billion”

Make no mistake, the Patriots' dynasty wouldn't exist without Bill Belichick—but he wasn't the only reason fans packed Gillette Stadium in the freezing cold.

Bill Belichick crowns himself as Patriots leader who grew the franchise from “$500 million to $8 billion”

Bill Belichick (Image via IMAGO)

If there was any doubt about Bill Belichick’s relationship with Robert Kraft having soured, the latest email written by Bill Belichick and his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, eradicates all doubt. For 24 seasons, Belichick coached the New England Patriots, leading them to six Super Bowl wins and ten Championship games.

Now that Bill Belichick finds himself away from the NFL in the NCAA as the Head Coach of North Carolina, he is no longer reluctant to make bold statements. Deemed the greatest HC of all time, Belichick released a book recently titled The Art of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football. The book addresses his mindset and the practices that allowed him to succeed in the NFL.

In an email sent by Belichick to multiple recipients, including his girlfriend Jordon Hudson, he addresses Ben Volin of the Boston Globe’s review of his book. The journalist pointed out that Belichick refuses to address topics that the fans were most interested in such as the Deflategate scandal, his thoughts on Aaron Hernandez, and the real reason for benching Malcolm Butler in the Super Bowl.

The email is straightforward and Belichick addresses the impact of reviews pouring in on its sales. However, one interesting excerpt from the email showcases him taking credit for growing the New England Patriots franchise from a $500 million franchise to an $8 billion franchise.

Make no mistake, Kraft and his Patriots would not have achieved the ‘Dynasty’ level of success without Belichick, but he was not the sole reason for whom fans braved the coldest of days and showed up to Gillette Stadium for.

The Patriots have had multiple stars over the years, but the team’s successful run began after Tom Brady took over the starting quarterback’s role. Belichick and Brady worked perfectly together, and it is that collective success that made the Patriots as great as they were. Belichick explains in the email, the manner in which he wants readers to perceive the book in.

I will say again, that I want this book to be presented as a look at my professional life and how I did my job on the way up to, and as the leader of an organization that grew from a $500 million franchise to an $8 billion organization that played in 10 and won 6 Super Bowls wins over 25 years. This book is about how I did my job, and lessons from my 50 years in and around the NFL-not a bathroom book that highlights my mistakes.

Bill Belichick’s statement

The latter part of his statement is likely a response to the media reaction to him admitting that he ‘fumbled’ on a few occasions.

Bill Belichick is frustrated with the media focusing on his mistakes rather than other lessons in the book

The bigger they are, the harder they fall, and in the case of Belichick, the smallest of mistakes have the potential to gain traction in media circles due to his stature. The HC expresses his disappointment with the fact that the focus is going solely towards his mistakes rather than his work ethic and attitude.

This is what I expected from the media…I am fine with putting mistakes in the book, but I am certainly not surprised that of 260+ pages, that is what they would highlight.

Bill Belichick’s statement
Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick (Image via IMAGO)

Belichick knows how the media thinks and the type of stories they opt to cover. Which is why he purposefully mentions the words “I f***ed up’ in the book. It is not surprising to see that phrase went on to become viral and gain the most attention in comparison to other lines in the book. How often does the world hear a Hall of Fame HC admitting his mistakes in the public?

Belichick is right and wrong to claim credit for elevating the Patriots to an $8 billion franchise. He established a winning culture, which led to an increase in the team’s popularity. Their winning record kept fans coming through the doors, purchasing more merchandise, and actively partaking in team activities. However, there were other key pieces that contributed significantly, such as Tom Brady and owner Robert Kraft.

The quarterback was the star of the show and as for Mr. Kraft, his business strategies are what helped the team generate more revenue. Bill Belichick deserves some credit, but at the end of the day, he seldom made decisions from a business perspective. There is nothing wrong with that because it resonates with his iconic ‘Patriot Way’ which required everyone to understand their roles and execute it well, which he did.

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