The other terrible advice Bill Belichick has given to Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff
Super Bowl Sunday is fast-approaching, with only the Pro Bowl this weekend standing in the way of sports' biggest spectacle. As we all know, the Atlanta Falcons will take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI Feb. 5, and while we're well-versed how these two teams got here, it was only recently revealed that Pats coach Bill Belichick advised Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff, who worked for the Patriots from 2002-2008, to not trade up for Julio Jones in the 2011 NFL Draft.
Yes, Bill Belichick was wrong about something football-related, and we're not talking during his Jets or Browns days.
Happy weekend and welcome to the Yardbarker roundtable. Given the revelations about Belichick's ultimately bad advice to Dimitroff in 2011, it got us wondering:
What other terrible advice has Belichick given to Dimitroff?
Mike Tunison: Trade all his best defenders for draft picks. Sure, it's worked out well for the Pats the last year, but anytime other try to copy Belichick's methods it never works out.
Sam Greszes: Have you seen the Kickstarter for this new game console? The Ouya? That thing's gonna be the future of video games. You better reserve one now, because that's the only thing we're going to be playing video games on in two years!
David Matthews: Belichick's reasoning was that the cost to move up in the draft (it ended up being five picks) would be too high. Accordingly, playoff and Super Bowl win bonuses cost a lot, too. Belichick would advise Dimitroff to avoid paying out those bonuses through any means necessary. Play Julio Jones at quarterback and middle linebacker — he did cost five draft picks, after all, might as well get your money's worth. Fire Dan Quinn while you're at it. And always, always remember to run slant routes inside the 5.
Demetrius Bell: Belichick to Dimitroff following the 2015 season: "Now, Thomas, I know you have your eyes set on hiring Dan Quinn to replace Mike Smith as the head coach. Yeah, he helped lead one of the best defensive teams of his era to a Super Bowl win and (if I'm being totally honest here) would've gotten two if they gave Marshawn the ball, but he's totally not the best man for the job. You know who is, though? That Rex Ryan guy. He'll lead you to the promised land, for sure."
(Also, this is your reminder that Rex Ryan was very nearly hired by the Falcons. Yikes.)
Shiloh Carder: Let's see. All the great truck stop restaurants in Houston for a pre-Super Bowl meal? To really have his team bond, take a Greyhound to Houston instead of flying there. Telling him that the best way to get to Tom Brady is by trash talking him or having a two-year feud. Interesting fact: The player that Belichick wanted Dimitroff to select (Jonathan Baldwin) was selected with Atlanta's original pick.
Jamie Neal: I'm sure he would suggest not hiring Dan Quinn and his entire staff who has turned that franchise around and gotten them back to the Super Bowl for the first time in almost two decades.
Grabbing Quinn and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has proved to be a couple of great hires to help that team. The offense is absurd, and the defense is playing at a high enough level that they have been able to hold just about everybody they've played in check.
Daniel Tran: I hear the Backstreet Boys’ barber is taking new clients. You should look into a trim.
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