Insider shares interesting update on Patriots' Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft

New England Patriots reporter Chris Mason of MassLive isn't entirely convinced team owner Robert Kraft will move on from legendary head coach Bill Belichick after the 4-12 Patriots end the season with a home game against the 6-10 New York Jets on Sunday. 

"I do think the way they’re closing things out could absolutely give Robert Kraft cold feet," Mason said about the Patriots during the latest edition of the "Eye on Foxborough" podcast, as shared by Lauren Campbell of MassLive. "My whole thing with him is seeing is believing. Robert has talked tough repeatedly, and nothing really changes. There have been multiple, 'We need to win a playoff game' offseasons in a row. Clearly, at 4-12, you are far from a playoff game. But ultimately, I think it comes back to: They’re playing really hard. You can’t ask anything more of the team that’s out there right now." 

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated made a similar point shortly after the Patriots showed plenty of competitive fight in Sunday's 27-21 loss at the Buffalo Bills (10-6). What was a 2-10 New England team went 2-2 across the past four weeks, but that won't erase the fact that the Patriots are about to miss the playoffs for the third time in four years.

It was previously suggested Kraft could retain Belichick as head coach but hire "someone else to take over control of the Patriots' personnel." It's unknown if Belichick, who reportedly is under contract through next season, would accept such a scenario, but Mark Daniels of MassLive thinks Belichick's overall construction of the club's current roster could cause Kraft to part ways with the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach entirely. 

"I think at the end of the day, Robert Kraft will move on with a new head coach and I think they need someone here with a better eye for talent on the offensive end of the ball," Daniels explained during the "Eye on Foxborough" episode. "But they are well-coached. And I thought we saw that (Sunday). But I don’t disagree saying it’s not completely set in stone because anything can happen." 

Breer wrote for his piece published Sunday that Kraft likely realizes "some level of serious change is needed" considering New England's lackluster record since quarterback Tom Brady left the organization following the 2019 season. It does, however, seem that some knowledgeable individuals believe Kraft could view Belichick as part of a possible solution rather than as a problem.