Bill Belichick's UNC program privately blames the Patriots for negative press - NBC Sports
Bill Belichick, the North Carolina coach, has a reputation for framing his circumstances in one of two ways: as a hero or a victim. In the wake of recent reports highlighting the disintegration of his college football program, the victim card is being played.
A Saturday report by Dianna Russini of TheAthletic.com revealed suspicions within UNC's program that negative headlines have origins in New England. This comment underscores the program's belief that the criticism is intended to harm it.
The story that sparked the controversy came from Pat Welter of WRAL-TV, suggesting a potential infiltration by the Patriots. If true, this would be a remarkable feat, as the Patriots would have planted seeds of division, disorganization, and dysfunction within the UNC program, an impressive accomplishment for owner Robert Kraft.
The articles were not written by Patriots' reporters. The story about exit-strategy discussions was penned by a North Carolina sports outlet, and one of the stories illustrating the program's problems was written by three of Russini's colleagues, none of whom cover the NFL.
Despite the lack of evidence, Belichick and embattled G.M. Mike Lombardi are privately blaming the Patriots for the negative press. Lombardi, in particular, has a history of pushing back against stories that make the program look less than ideal. The truth is that Belichick and Lombardi are doing a good job of hurting the program themselves, without external help.
However, this blame game is not helping the situation. Instead of accepting responsibility, the program continues to point fingers, which is unlikely to improve the program's standing.
