NFL notes: Belichick bent on staying with Patriots, dismisses Giant rumour
FOXBOROUGH, MASS.— The New England Patriots have often thrived when inundated with scrutiny from outside of their locker room.
They’ll have to do it again this week as they prepare for their divisional round matchup with the Tennessee Titans.
Head coach Bill Belichick said Monday that it is “absolutely” his intention to return as coach of the Patriots next season, despite reports of turmoil in the franchise involving himself, quarterback Tom Brady and team owner Robert Kraft.
Belichick said he didn’t have anything to add to a joint statement the three men released last week in response to an ESPN report, citing undisclosed sources, that detailed an array of tension.
“I haven’t read the article. I’ve already commented at length about that situation,” Belichick said. “Nothing has happened since then, so I don’t have anything to add to it.”
The ESPN story highlighted purported disputes concerning Brady’s personal body coach, Alex Guerrero, in player-medical affairs. Also mentioned was a supposed difference between Kraft and Belichick over the decision to trade former backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, as well as Brady apparently taking issue with a lack of praise from Belichick.
When asked about another report about his supposed interest in coaching the New York Giants where he was a defensive co-ordinator, the Patriots coach said he is concerned only on New England’s game with the Titans on Saturday night.
“That’s where my total focus is,” he said.
A PIECE OF PANTHERS? As a longtime fan of the Carolina Panthers, Stephen Curry is interested in having an ownership stake in the team.
He reminds everyone his day job is as a star of the Golden State Warriors, so he wouldn’t be the kind of hands-on owner flying cross-country each week to attend major meetings. But the two-time MVP has people helping him explore options to buy into the franchise, which Jerry Rich- ardson announced he would sell while he is under investigation for sexual and racial misconduct in the workplace.
“It’s a pretty interesting opportunity,” Curry said Monday. “I’ve had conversations with plenty of people about the right way to go about it and kind of the different approaches I could personally take.”
CHIEF IN CHICAGO: The Chicago Bears hired Kansas City Chiefs offensive co-ordinator Matt Nagy as their head coach Monday, hoping he can help a foundering NFL franchise emerge from one of the worst runs in its history.
The Bears announced the move a week after firing coach John Fox, who went 14-34 in three seasons for a .292 winning percentage that is the second-lowest in team history. The Bears haven’t finished above .500 since they let Lovie Smith go following a 10-6 finish in 2012.
The 39-year-old Nagy spent the past 10 seasons working under Andy Reid in Philadelphia and Kansas City.
PACKERS’ PROMOTION: Brian Gutekunst was promoted to general manager of the Green Bay Packers on Monday after working the last two seasons as the team’s player personnel director.
Gutekunst, who has been with the organization for nearly two decades, succeeds Ted Thompson, who is staying with the organization as a senior adviser.
The Packers, who missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008, said Gutekunst will have complete control over all roster decisions, including the draft and free agency.