Bill Belichick made no demands for additional authority during his two interviews with Atlanta in the coach search that led to the hiring of Raheem Morris, according to Falcons owner Arthur Blank.
Speaking for the first time on Friday about the search, Blank said Belichick did not request control of player personnel, as was widely speculated. Blank also said Belichick was not offered the job.
Belichick, who won a record six Super Bowl championships with the New England Patriots, was considered the favorite among 14 candidates interviewed by Blank and his search team before Morris, the former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator, was hired on Jan. 25.
Belichick, 71, a Hall of Fame-bound coach, was not just any candidate. He boasts a career record of 333-178, including the playoffs, and could close in on the late Don Shula’s record of 347 victories if he takes another job.
Blank described Belichick’s record as “incredible” and said “he’s the greatest coach who ever coached the game” or “on a very short list.” He said the interviews with Belichick were “excellent.”
“One was very informative, as it might be, because you’re talking to kind of a living legend, somebody who’s got, you know, great historical knowledge, great knowledge of the game, a great perspective from all the years of success he had,” Blank said.
Belichick had player personnel control in New England. Such authority given to a coach presumably would have upset Atlanta’s front office structure.
Blank said Friday that was never an option.
“I do want to make it 1,000% clear, I want to go to 2,000% or 100,000, whatever percent you want to use,” Blank said. “Bill Belichick never asked in our discussions for control of personnel or the building or anything of that nature.”
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Blank said Belichick also “sent me a private text” in which he said “he’s happy working with” general manager Terry Fontenot. Blank said…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/bill-belichick-never-asked-for-player-personnel-control-in-falcons-interviews-says-owner-arthur-blank
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Publish date : 2024-02-09 22:42:13
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