Reporter addresses Patriots' Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft conundrum

Add Boston Sports Journal founder and editorial director Greg A. Bedard to the growing list of knowledgeable individuals who believe New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick won't happily accept an offseason trade to a different club proposed by team owner Robert Kraft. 

"Everyone I have spoken with is adamant that Belichick is not going to allow Kraft to find the 'elegant solution' everyone keeps talking about — unless there was some tweak to Belichick's contract Kraft got at the time of the last extension that allows for that," Bedard wrote for a piece published Thursday night. "There's absolutely nothing in it for Belichick if he agrees to a trade."

NFL/Patriots insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated suggested in late November that Belichick could "force Kraft to fire him" after Week 18 of what's become a disastrous season for the organization. That was before it was reported earlier this week that Kraft essentially decided after New England's loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Germany on Nov. 12 that the franchise would move on from the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach in January. 

On Thursday, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk noted that "Belichick gains nothing" by accepting a trade to a team that would have to send compensation to the Patriots in return for his services because the 71-year-old reportedly is under contract through the 2024 season. Bedard seems to agree with Florio's take about the legendary figure who has been linked in rumors with the Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Chargers, Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers.

"Belichick might agree to nice press release language about parting of the ways, but make no mistake: the odds are strong that this will end up being a firing at the end of the day," Bedard added about the situation. "I know this for a fact: more than one organization has already been sniffing around Belichick."

For what it's worth, Bedard did say he has "no direct evidence that it's 100 percent over for Belichick in New England at the end of the season." While the Patriots are a woeful 3-10 heading into this Sunday's home game against the 8-5 Kansas City Chiefs, Bedard thinks it's possible that Kraft gets "cold feet when the decision comes to parting ways with a legend and completing the divorce from the glory days" if the Pats finish the campaign with three or four additional wins.