There didn’t seem to be many questions in regard to Bill Belichick’s future as Patriots coach, but he went ahead and answered them anyway at his Monday press conference.
“I’ll be here,” Belichick said, via WEEI.com. “You’ll have to deal with me again next year. I know that’s disappointing for a lot of you. Until I’m told otherwise, I plan on being here.”
There might be a few reporters who’d like to see a different face on the podium, but it’s hard to imagine too many Patriots fans feel that way about the man who is the longest-tenured head coach in the league. The Patriots won 13 games over the course of the year and played in another AFC Championship Game, a good season even if it fell short of the ultimate goal. Even as he pointed out that just about every team would be pleased with that kind of year, Belichick didn’t try to softpedal the falling short side of things on Monday.
“That’s the NFL. The last game, you play a game this time of year, you’re either [in] euphoria or it’s a crash landing. And for us yesterday, it was a crash landing. A year ago at this time, it was the other feeling,” Belichick said. “It’s one or the other. There’s no in between and there’s certainly no soft landing. The season is suddenly [over]. The season that is very much alive and with great hopes and expectations and energy suddenly crashes and it’s over. That’s the way it is and way it’s going to be for every team but one this year. That’s the NFL. It’s not going to change. That’s the way it is. Unfortunately, that’s where we were last night. That’s where we are today. It’s stopped. It’s over. We’re onto next year.”
It was a rough end for the Patriots, but there’s not much reason to suspect a change to business as usual in New England. Belichick, Tom Brady and plenty of other familiar faces will be back for another go come September.