We all know something big happened between Tuesday morning – when the Indianapolis Colts announced Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels would be their new head coach – and Tuesday night when McDaniels announced he’d remain in New England.
Former Patriots’ OC Josh McDaniels officially accepted the head-coaching position of the Indianapolis Colts.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 6, 2018
Stunner: Patriots’ OC Josh McDaniels has decided NOT to accept Colts’ HC job and will remain with New England, sources told ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 7, 2018
It’s clear that something changed in McDaniels’ mind, but exactly what shifted it was less clear. Many analysts world speculated what might have spooked McDaniels – maybe it was Andrew Luck’s ongoing health concerns. Maybe Belichick wasn’t ready to part with him. Maybe McDaniels wasn’t ready to part with New England. Perhaps it was a combination of all three.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that both Pats owner Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick somehow “sweetened the deal,” but – as is routine in all matters relating to New England – it created more questions than answers.
In the past 48 hours, Patriots owner Robert Kraft began talking with Josh McDaniels and ultimately wound up sweetening his contract, helping to entice him to remain in New England, per sources. Bill Belichick has his OC back.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 7, 2018
Especially after the two men were spotted having a late dinner together.
@stoolpresidente here ya go @dufinbakir pic.twitter.com/QMEoIclinr
— Kelly Getchell (@kgetch) February 7, 2018
But today, it seems some of those burning questions may have been answered, thanks to a recent report by Mike Reiss. Speaking to Sports Center, Reiss explained that Belichick had a meaningful conversation with McDaniels this week.
“Bill Belichick said to him, ‘I want you to be by my side. I am going to open my world to you. Show you how I view roster building, how I look at financials and the salary cap.’ To McDaniels, who is 41 years old, the chance to be with Belichick, arguably the greatest coach of all-time, 65 years old, to have that opportunity was viewed as to be extremely valuable to him,” he said.
The latest on Josh McDaniels the #Patriots & #Colts. @MikeReiss joins on @SportsCenter pic.twitter.com/jPKAJbpnHZ
— Maximiliano Bretos (@mbretosESPN) February 7, 2018
There’s still no word on exactly how much the Patriots may have offered McDaniels to convince him to stay but if I had to guess, I’d say it took a pretty penny.
What’s way more shocking is that Bill Belichick seems to have revealed some sort of emotion during this transaction. You don’t say “I am going to open my world to you,” to your average Joe. Especially if you’re Bill Belichick. In fact, you’re probably lucky if Bill Belichick so much as grunts as you.
These new revelations show that Belichick likely has big plans for McDaniels and only further fuels speculation that he may in fact be considering retirement after next year. And McDaniels might just have a whole new world in front of him.
Don’t let anyone tell you romance in football is dead.
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