{"id":99608,"date":"2022-02-17T23:09:05","date_gmt":"2022-02-18T04:09:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=99608"},"modified":"2022-02-17T23:09:05","modified_gmt":"2022-02-18T04:09:05","slug":"patriots-mailbag-is-the-belichick-saban-connection-blocking-bill-obrien-from-returning-to-pats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=99608","title":{"rendered":"Patriots Mailbag: is the Belichick-Saban Connection Blocking Bill O’Brien From Returning to Pats?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The final purge from the Patriots\u2019 coaching staff by former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is now complete, with Mick Lombardi and Carmen Bricillo joining McDaniels with the Raiders.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For players, coaches, and front office personnel alike, the question around Gillette Stadium this week is, what\u2019s Bill Belichick\u2019s next move? The Pats\u2019 head coach always has a plan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

New England has strong internal candidates in former wide receiver Troy Brown and offensive lineman Billy Yates to fill the voids left by Lombardi and Bricillo by promoting from within.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But there\u2019s still a strong sense in league circles that there\u2019s another shoe to drop in Foxboro.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Pats want to develop former Giants head coach Joe Judge on offense, along with up-and-comers Nick Caley (TEs coach) and Brown. Eventually, that trio could produce the next offensive play-caller and subsequently offensive coordinator once they\u2019ve earned their stripes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Still, with a second-year quarterback and offense that\u2019s rebuilding, the overwhelming feeling is that Belichick will eventually pry former offensive coordinator Bill O\u2019Brien out of Alabama.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although O\u2019Brien is enjoying his time in Tuscaloosa, the former Texans head coach had his sights on getting back to the Patriots and potentially succeeding Belichick.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When McDaniels was on track to take the Colts head coaching gig following the 2017 season, many thought that O\u2019Brien tried to get out of Houston to replace McDaniels as the Pats\u2019 OC.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Instead, the Texans gave O\u2019Brien the general manager title. He was fired a year-and-a-half later, landing as Nick Saban\u2019s offensive coordinator with McDaniels still in New England.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If O\u2019Brien\u2019s thinking is still the same as in 2018, what is the hold-up? Why isn\u2019t he the Patriots\u2019 OC yet? A move that would surely have all Pats fans breathing a sigh of relief.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My understanding is that long-time friends and coaching power duo Bill Belichick and Nick Saban have unwritten rules about poaching coaches from each other\u2019s staff.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A few coaches, such as Judge and new Giants head coach Brian Daboll, have gone back-and-forth. However, it\u2019s usually for a promotion and when there\u2019s a clear replacement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Saban recently said he didn\u2019t believe O\u2019Brien was trying to leave Alabama and that he was \u201clooking forward to the challenge\u201d of coordinating the Crimson Tide offense next season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Alabama head coach might not like his in-house options to replace O\u2019Brien as his offensive coordinator, who signed a two-year contract with Alabama in 2021 and wants to keep him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some league personnel believe that Belichick and Saban could come to an agreement, but O\u2019Brien\u2019s future is up to the two best coaches at their respective levels.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although it appears that O\u2019Brien and the Patriots have mutual interest, the stars haven\u2019t aligned yet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Without further ado, let\u2019s empty the mailbag as we head into the 2022 offseason:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

What is your opinion on Belichick\/Patricia having an increased role in the offense as opposed to hiring an actual OC?<\/p>\n

— Buffalo Juanito (@ILJuanito) February 17, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n