Two weeks ago, a reader emailed me on Christmas morning.

Before I could pour any coffee or cereal, I opened the message.

Oh, good. Hate mail.

This reader took exception to my “dislike of Bill Belichick” after the Patriots’ dramatic upset win in Denver. According to him, this disdain rendered me unable to give Belichick proper credit for a team playing hard after it had suffered from a few tough breaks. Those breaks, he claimed, prevented the Pats from winning “four of five more games.”

Let’s just say, on four hours of sleep, it felt like being awoken to the sight of Santa stuffing coal in my stocking.

So, I took a day to respond, and put almost as much thought into that reply as I do my columns, because words matter. And the words in my columns or film analyses are probably how he knew me. And I knew the words in this reply would reveal much more to him about who I am, and how I feel about Belichick than any article.

I hit send. A few hours later, the reader wrote back thanking me for the thought I had put into my response.

Nice guy. Lucky me.

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick walks off the stage after speaking to the media at Gillette Stadium on October 26, 2022 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

Well, considering Belichick’s legendary tenure may come to a snowy end Sunday, I thought it wise to share publicly what I shared with him. Granted, in a time when the American public’s view of the media has probably never been lower, this feels a bit like shouting into the wind. But, here goes, a modified version of what I told this dear reader.

For starters, I have zero personal disdain for Belichick. None. His football teams are, in fact, responsible for some of my fondest memories as a young adult. Since I joined the Patriots beat in 2018, first as a reporter for MassLive, then at the Herald and now as a hybrid reporter/column role, any criticism I’ve levied has strictly been related to his performance, and that of his team.

Now, I appreciate the critics and trolls who scoff at that, somehow believing my life is so comfortable that Belichick being curt or gruff in press conferences would wound me emotionally or maybe foster a petty grudge. The truth is, I have much bigger problems in my life than his sneering or non-answers. Neither of those are new, and do not bother me beyond flickering, momentary disappointment.

More importantly, I recognize and appreciate the greatness before me in those press conferences, even if the feeling is laughably non-mutual. The thing is, during a 4-12 season, there will be much criticism of the head coach; especially when many of the Patriots’ problems were predictable (below-average talent at wide receiver, a bad offensive line, the team’s lack of spending, etc.).

Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe talks with head coach Bill Belichick during the fourth quarter of a game against the Detroit Lions at Gillette Stadium on Oct. 9, 2022. (Staff Photo/Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

Criticism will also surface when Belichick whiffs, as he has for years, on high draft picks. Or, when in my opinion and that of the analytics community, his in-game management has been too conservative. Or when the team’s outsized investments on special teams have completely bombed.

Reminder: Belichick is both the head coach and general manager. That responsibility resulted in double the credit when the Patriots lorded over the league and won six Super Bowls. His success in those roles forged his legend, just as the pain of his failures are hitting doubly hard at the end.

Zooming out, has bad luck prevented the Pats from winning more games, as the reader suggested? No question. Frankly, that would have been nice, considering how many hours I wasted projecting and arguing this summer that this team would push for a playoff spot.

But every NFL team is bound to lose close games every year, which doesn’t mean four or five losses should have been wins. Just one or two. That’s just life in the league.

On Belichick, the final point I made to this reader is this: a 29-37 record over a four-year span is never enough for an NFL coach or GM to keep his job. Let alone when that person holds both jobs and hasn’t won a playoff game in five years. Every day, I strive to derive all of my opinions from research, facts and the reality of this business.

That is the reality for people with those jobs.

Bailey Zappe believes he’s come ‘a long way’ since being cut by Patriots

If Belichick returns next year, great. If not, I will do my job just the same. It has never and never will be personal for me. What will be personal, however, is the moment I take this week to reflect on this era.

Because Belichick is the greatest football coach of all time. There is a small economy built around a small New England town because of his excellence and the excellence he, Tom Brady and Robert Kraft nourished and stoked over two and a half decades.

Belichick has permanently changed the sports identity of an entire region. This is football territory now. You know it’s true because even at 4-12, with a boring, star-less roster, the Patriots still dominate the conversation across TV and radio.

And yes, it is possible to hold all of these thoughts and feelings in the same brain that housed all of the reporting I conducted with my excellent colleague, Doug Kyed, to reveal all of the continued dysfunction in Foxboro. I can appreciate what Belichick has done, and simultaneously shake my head at the disaster of the past two seasons. That’s called being human.

The inside story of the Patriots’ fall to rock bottom in the Bill Belichick era

For this human, Belichick has been a central figure in my work life. If you are reading this, he’s probably a big part of your Sundays. All of that could end soon, maybe even Monday.

Now, think of someone who recently left your life – in whatever fashion and from whatever role – after fostering mostly joy for you. What would you say to them at the end?

What would you say to Belichick? (Of course, you won’t get the chance to say anything; the man would probably prefer crawling slowly over hot coals to engaging in a fan event.)

Related Articles

Nor’easter set to blast Massachusetts with up to 12 inches of snow, Patriots could have a snow game

Patriots-Jets injury report: TE Hunter Henry among 11 limited Thursday

Jabrill Peppers expects to play in Patriots’ season finale vs. Jets

Bailey Zappe believes he’s come ‘a long way’ since being cut by Patriots

Patriots legend Matthew Slater still undecided on football future

Probably thank you, right? For the championships. For the memories. For everything, minus these past two years.

So, say that. Feel that. Don’t wait for goodbye, whenever that comes.

Revel in the memories, the victories. All the misery of the present will be forgotten past soon. As the Krafts did with Tom Brady, Belichick will be celebrated whenever returns for his Patriots Hall of Fame induction, the unveiling of a statue or however ownership chooses to honor him.

He deserves that. He deserves it all. That’s how I feel.

If you still think I’m full of crap, fine. Email me.

Just wait to do it after a holiday.