Do your job? No job left to do, at least in New England.

No days off? Plenty, if he wants them, but he probably doesn’t.

On to Cincinnati? No, more likely Atlanta, Los Angeles, or Washington. Patriot Way? It’s with him on the highway.

The last big piece of the New England Patriots dynasty left Gillette Stadium compound on Thursday, in a predictable – and necessary – parting of the ways that believe us, was not mutual.

Bill Belichick is no longer the coach of the Patriots. The last time he wasn’t, Bill Clinton was President. The internet and cell phones were still relatively new. The Red Sox were still suferring from the Curse of the Bambino.

Think about that. Hard to imagine, isn’t it?

The New England Patriots reached incredible heights during these last 24 years. It should have ended with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady walking out of Gillette arm in arm under a spotlight to a standing ovation, fireworks going on all around them. Brady with another couple of Super Bowl wins in New England, Belichick with Don Shula’s wins record (he’s currently 14 away).

But it didn’t happen.

I don’t think either one of those two would have accomplished what they accomplished if they weren’t together,” Kraft said. “I think they’re both the best at their professions, and we were lucky to have them together for two decades.”

The clock began ticking the day in August of 2019 it was revealed Brady’s new three-year contract was only a one-year deal with two voidable years, and the team agreed not to place the franchise tag on him – a clear sign he was done in Foxborough at end of that season.

It’s been downhill ever since. Belchick wanted Brady gone, Brady wanted out, and it cost the coach, not the QB. He had no replacement plan, and it cost not only him but the franchise. The Mac Jones 10-7 rookie year was an aberration, free agency a temporary fix, and the blowout loss to Buffalo in the playoffs was technically the beginning of the end.

It’s sad. We were there the day it all began, Jan. 27, 2000, soon after Bill Parcells announced “The border war is over” and Belichick was on his way to New England for a No 1 pick.

Belichick’s voice was cracking a little – granted, he has been ill – when he talked about the good times in thanking the fans.

“I have so many memories of the fans – the send-offs, the parades, the Sundays, whatever the situations are,” he said. “The letters of support, seeing the fans away from here, at a gas station, at a grocery store, or wherever you bump into them – our Patriot fans here, not just in New England, but they extend nationally and even internationally as I’ve traveled. It’s amazing how far the arm reaches.”

The fact is this: The Patriots are basically now just another NFL team. They no longer are coached by a legend; he’ll be somewhere else next season, Kraft more or less indicated that during his statement. They have no quarterback, and will most now hire Jerod Mayo, who has never been a head coach before.

Look, Belichick is as big a reason for the Patriots dynasty as Brady. He drafted Brady. He made so many other good moves. But seven years ago, there was a bad indication. The Patriots didn’t like the draft crop, and made only four picks. Four. Incredibly they still have one of them, Deitrich Wise, Jr., who is certainly above average.

The talent level coming in just started going downhill. And finally, it all caught up to the franchise, and to Belichick, although Kraft hinted he wasn’t complete ly sure until recently.

“You change your mind,” he said. “Things change so fast. I mean, look at some teams in the league who started out so hot, then they lose five or six games. The thing with Bill that was unique and special is his work ethic is so strong. That’s what I looked at. He always gave us the best he had. There wasn’t a shortage of effort. Now, whether he has the right people around him or selected the right players, that we all can make judgment on. But he was always giving it his all, and that’s what was most important to me.”

Until now. Belichick was giving his all, but wasn’t selecting the right players or have the right people around him.

For Kraft, in Bill he could no longer trust.

Thus a new Patriots Day beckons, whether we like it or not.

Tom King may be reached at X @Telegraph_TomK, or via email at tking@nashuatelegraph.com

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