The New England Patriots will miss the NFL playoffs for the third time in the last four years after the Cincinnati Bengals won over the Indianapolis Colts, 34-14, on Sunday, December 10.
Before the Bengals vs. Colts Week 14 matchup, the Patriots knew their chances of making the playoffs were slim. Their fate was no longer in their hands, and questions about what was ahead for the Patriots were up in the air.
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New England was eliminated with still four weeks remaining in the regular season. Per NFL Research, this was the earliest a Patriots team was eliminated from contention.
The Patriots are expected to change things, possibly involving rebuilding player composition. However, the big question is - will Bill Belichick still be around?
Gronkowski does not see Belichick leaving
While the name of Belichick has surfaced as a potential coaching candidate for other teams, the former Pats tight end believes that there is no way that his former coach will be leaving New England via TMZ Sports.
"The guy loves football," Rob Gronkowski said. "He breathes football. He eats football. He sleeps football. He yells football - let me tell you that!"
Gronkowski is among the players that Belichick developed. He knows how much the game means to the 3-time AP NFL Coach of the Year, and seeing him retire is farfetched.
However, the 2014 NFL Comeback Player of the Year adds that there remains a chance that Belichick may cut ties with Pats' owner Robert Kraft. But in his opinion, it is something that he can't fathom.
"I can't really see that happening," Gronkowski said.
The Patriots are in for an interesting offseason as the team tries to see what they can do to get back on track. Belichick will be a name to watch as critics suggest a potential coaching change happening.
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