Just like New England Patriots scouts, Mike Florio wouldn’t be welcomed at the University of North Carolina.
The Pro Football Talk founder went after Bill Belichick on his show this week, calling out the legendary coach for playing victim in his ongoing feud with his former team. Belichick banned Patriots scouts from UNC practices, claiming, “It’s obvious I’m not welcome at their facility, so they’re not welcome at ours.”
But Florio, just like the rest of us, isn’t buying it.
“Something happened after he left to get to his ridiculous point where he claims he’s not welcome in New England, which is just factually inaccurate,” Florio said. “Like, if you want to be a victim, that’s fine. But you need to at least be a victim in something where you’ve been victimized. It’s just made up. It’s just false. He’s painting himself as a victim under false circumstances.”
Mike Vrabel backed up Florio’s point, telling WEEI that Belichick is welcome at the Patriots facility “to the best of my knowledge.” Vrabel pointed out that Belichick attended Tom Brady’s Hall of Fame ceremony in June 2024 and received an extended ovation from the sellout crowd.
“It just really is weird, and I don’t know how this gets resolved,” Florio continued. “But so far, I think Belichick is the one who looks bad here. He’s got no reason to go back to New England. Patriots scouts have a reason to go to Chapel Hill. They’re trying to do their job. His favorite phrase is ‘Do your job.’ They’re trying to do their job… It’s just an ugly mess, and it’s sad that it’s come to this. And I also can’t look away because you’ve got the greatest coach of all time, arguably, who is acting like a five-year-old.”
Belichick confirmed the Patriots ban after his first college win, a 20-3 victory over Charlotte that came five days after UNC got blown out 48-14 by TCU in his debut.
ESPN reported that Belichick’s complaints about not being welcome are really about respect, not access. A source close to Belichick said his issues with New England are more about being treated with respect than physical presence at the facility.
But the evidence doesn’t support Belichick’s victim narrative. His son, Brian, worked on the Patriots’ coaching staff last season under Jerod Mayo. Kraft told WBZ-TV recently that he plans to build a statue for Belichick alongside Tom Brady’s when the coach’s career comes to an end. That doesn’t sound like someone unwelcome.
The ban hurts UNC players more than anyone. Belichick’s policy blocks NFL scouts from most practices, limiting exposure for players who could be draft prospects. Other teams can only watch the first three periods of practice and have no access to coaches.
Patriots scouts are simply trying to evaluate college talent, just as scouts from the 31 other teams are doing. Belichick chose to single them out based on some perceived disrespect that his former players, like Vrabel and Devin McCourty, are having trouble seeing.
Florio calling Belichick a five-year-old is hard to argue with. The greatest coach in NFL history is picking fights with his former team over imaginary slights.
That’s an interesting way to start your college coaching career.