It is hard to turn on NFL Network without seeing wide receiver Brandin Cooks, and Tom Brady in Training Camp plastered all over it. Cooks’ departure from the New Orlean Saints and into Gillette Stadium is the talk of the town. Many are pegging the move as another sign of Bill Belichick genius and the perfect wide receiver for Brady. However, not every move that Bill Belichick has made has panned out perfectly. In fact, some have been pure busts. Here are some big time flops in Belichick’s NFL career.
Chad Jackson
11 years ago, the New England Patriots drafted wide receiver, Chad Jackson.
His combine numbers showed him as a speedy guy. However, his college skill set did not translate to the NFL. According to Pro Football, he only made 14 catches with the Patriots and was released by the team in 2007 after his first two games.
Dominique Easley
Slated to be a great defensive tackle, Dominique Easley took a major fall from grace with his constant injuries. He only played for two years with New England until he signed with the Los Angeles Rams in 2016. Unfortunately, the injury bug is back for Easley, who ripped his ACL and is out for this season.
The demise of the Cleveland Browns
When Belichick coached the Cleveland Browns from 1991 to 1995, some of his moves created some nightmares for the teams.
Besides releasing Bernie Kosar in 1993, Belichick’s record with the Browns was a dismal 36-44, as stated by the Pro Football website. Belichick learned how important it was to have a decent quarterback, something Cleveland has lacked since Kosar. Belichick was fired and ended up being the Jets’ Assistance Coach until he coached the New England Patriots in 2000.
Scott Chandler
Belichick played dirty when he lured the Buffalo Bills’ tight end Scott Chandler away from his AFC division rival. However, the joke was on him. Only playing one season with the team, Chandler’s unsteady hands and 2015 season knee surgery sealed his fate. The knee injury closed the tight end’s NFL career. For Chandler, the grass was not greener on the other side of the AFC East.
Adalius Thomas
The linebacker had a good season when signing with New England in 2007. Things dropped quickly after that, as conflicts and butting heads with coaches made things miserable for Thomas. According to Mass Live, things came to a heated boil when Thomas was late to practice in 2008, due to a snowstorm. He was done with the team in 2009.
Football fans can evaluate Bill Belichick’s genius when the Patriots take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in a pre-season game this week.
