When it comes to Bill Belichick's tenure with the New England Patriots, his decision-making often left fans in a state of disbelief. Known for his ability to move on from players at seemingly the right moment, Belichick also made some choices that had lasting impacts, particularly when it came to letting go of key players who thrived elsewhere.
Take Joe Thuney, for example. The offensive lineman departed the Patriots for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021, signing a hefty five-year, $80 million contract.
This was a deal the Patriots could have matched, and perhaps should have, given Thuney's subsequent success. Since leaving New England, Thuney has added two more Super Bowl rings to his collection and is now with the Chicago Bears, reuniting with his college teammate Garrett Bradbury.
Bradbury, now the Bears' center, didn't hold back when speaking to the media about Thuney's departure from New England. "It blows my mind that two teams have let that guy walk out of the building," he remarked, referencing both the Patriots and the Chiefs.
For Patriots fans, Bradbury's sentiments resonate deeply. High-caliber offensive linemen like Thuney are rare in the NFL, and allowing such talent to leave can have long-term repercussions. The Patriots have struggled to fill the void left by Thuney, though they hope the addition of Alijah Vera-Tucker will stabilize their line.
Belichick's decision to part ways with Thuney remains puzzling, compounded by subsequent draft choices that failed to pan out. Trading down to select Cole Strange in the first round, only to move on from him before his rookie contract ended, is another decision that fans question.
While Belichick's legacy is undeniably marked by success, decisions like these linger in the minds of fans. The Patriots have yet to fully recover from Thuney's departure, making it a chapter in Belichick's storied career that’s hard to overlook.