Although Bill Belichick is considered one of the greatest coaches in NFL history, there is one criticism he received more often as his coaching career wound down.
As the New England Patriots de facto general manager, he was blamed for some poor personnel moves, which resulted in the team missing the playoffs in both of the last two seasons.
While on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Belichick claimed it’s hard for the Patriots to sign free agents because the state of Massachusetts, which he called “Taxachusetts,” has a relatively high state tax rate, per Carlos Talks Pats.
Bill Belichick calls Massachusetts “Taxachusetts” and says state taxes make it harder for the #Patriots to sign free agents.pic.twitter.com/DBrh27aU0o
— Carlos Talks Pats (@LosTalksPats) August 26, 2024
While the state has a more progressive tax schedule than more conservative states, it also has a “millionaire’s tax” that adds a 4 percent surtax on taxable income over $1,000,000, per mass.gov.
However, when one considers how much money even the worst players in the NFL make in modern times, Belichick’s statement sounds like an excuse.
After legendary quarterback Tom Brady left following the 2019 season, the Patriots have been struggling to find their next franchise quarterback, and when a team lacks such a player, it will have some trouble attracting high-level free agents.
However, their fortunes could start to change thanks to the arrival of Drake Maye.
Maye, the No. 3 pick in April’s draft, seems to have the potential to become a star and help them become relevant again.
For now, though, he has to start out by beating out veteran Jacoby Brissett for the QB1 spot ahead of Week 1 of the regular season.