Legendary head coach Bill Belichick was not hired this offseason after he parted ways with the New England Patriots, and people around him reportedly believe it was due to his reputation being tarnished at the end of his tenure in New England.
In a detailed report by ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr., Seth Wickersham and Jeremy Fowler, a former Patriots assistant coach called the Patriot Way "damaged," as others throughout the offseason questioned the effectiveness of Belichick's coaching philosophy.
"A lot of people are pissed," a Belichick confidant said. "His name was smeared."
It was also noted that the disconnect between Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft played a factor in how things played out this offseason, as "the owner had lost trust in Belichick, which was a key reason for their deteriorating working relationship and the end of the Patriot Way.