Patriots Reportedly Stopped This Assistant From Speaking With Raiders
Head coach Bill Belichick knows what he is doing. The New England Patriots lost Josh McDaniels to the Las Vegas Raiders. The former offensive coordinator left the Patriots to coach the Raiders. He wanted a top role and got one. The Raiders interviewed McDaniels and this was the only interview he had. The man was sure about the job. He even called some former Patriots assistants to join him in Las Vegas. Now we know that McDaniels also wanted to interview another assistant. As you may be guessing, the Patriots stopped this assistant from speaking with the Raiders.
McDaniels didn’t receive too many requests for an interview and analysts thought he’d stay in New England for a while. Some even insisted that he will replace Belichick at some point in the future. Well, McDaniels had different plans.
Patriots assistant won’t be speaking with the Raiders, sparkles rumors
The former Patriots OC got Mick Lombardi, Carmen Bricillo, and Bo Hardegree to join him in Las Vegas. McDaniels wanted Patriots tight ends coach Nick Caley, too. It was a big “no” for Belichick.
“Nick Caley’s role seems to be a little in flux,” Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated wrote in a column published Monday. “I’d expect he’ll have more responsibility in ’22. The Patriots blocked Caley from talking to the Raiders, and his role in New England this fall could dictate whether he stays put or goes to Las Vegas in ’23.”
Was Belichick trying to protect his future offensive coordinator? Dante Scarnecchia was more than convinced that Caley will replace McDaniels in New England. How does Caley feel about this? “Sure, absolutely – that’s a goal of mine,” he said when asked whether he’d love to be an offensive coordinator.
There hasn’t been much progress, because Caley continued talking to tight ends. Belichick watched quarterback/wide receiver drills. Joe Judge and Matt Patricia worked with Mac Jones.
Patriots assistants didn’t reveal much about their role in 2022. Belichick doesn’t rely to titles. He is more into winning games. We have a few good reasons to believe that Belichick may call offensive plays next season.