Bill Belichick on “ManningCast” (Photo via @awflannouncing Twitter)
NFL fans noticed something interesting about Bill Belichick during his appearance on Peyton and Eli Manning’s “ManningCast” show last night.
Bill Belichick joined the Manning brothers to provide life analysis on the Atlanta Falcons-Philadelphia Eagles “Monday Night Football” game at Lincoln Financial Field. But the eight-time Super Bowl-winning coach caught fans’ attention with some odd comments during last night’s game.
During the game, Belichick took several big-time shots at the Falcons. For starters, he ripped on the defense over their inability to tackle Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts:
Bill Belichick absolutely burying the Falcons’ defense. #ManningCast pic.twitter.com/hlHS4rtYbl
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 17, 2024
Bill Belichick took a jab at Falcons owner Arthur Blank (recalling the New England Patriots’ epic comeback in Super Bow 51) and the front office over their offseason tampering violations:
Bill Belichick just said he remembers seeing Arthur Blank celebrating on the sideline of the 28-3 Super Bowl when Falcons were rolling.
Peyton: “You saw him??”
BB: “He’s a pretty good dresser, now”
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) September 17, 2024
Grudge-holding Belichick is the best.
Throwing shade at the Falcons front office that rejected him. pic.twitter.com/MRfVWeTpiv
— Matt Burke (@matt_burke_44) September 17, 2024
Oh, and how about Ray-Ray McCloud III’s personal foul penalty at the two-minute warning? Belichick called it “a selfish play” and said, “Hope McCloud feels good about that ’cause I don’t think anybody else on Atlanta does.”
Bill Belichick 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 hold back on his feelings about the Falcons penalties pic.twitter.com/IfE4jwI9YD
— Omaha Productions (@OmahaProd) September 17, 2024
Bill Belichick’s propaganda is working on me. I kinda like the guy. He’s been excellent through 2 weeks on the Manning Cast. He’s also convinced me that he’s the one that should be coaching this Falcons team.
— Andre (@_Asemota_) September 17, 2024
Listening to Bill Belichick talk about the Falcons makes me wonder even more why they didn’t hire him. This dude still has such a great football mind #Falcons
— Jordan (@MidwestATLFALC) September 17, 2024
It’s easy to speculate that Bill Belichick was being critical of the Falcons for one simple reason: He’s still sour over their decision to hire Raheem Morris over him to fill their head coaching vacancy.
After parting ways with the Patriots, Belichick became the top name available in the head coach hiring cycle. Surprisingly, the Falcons were the only team to interview Belichick despite his status as the greatest head coach in NFL history.
2024 marks the first NFL season without Bill Belichick in the league since 1975, when he began coaching with the Baltimore Colts as an assistant.
Falcons Got The Last Laugh On Bill Belichick Last Night
Belichick’s criticism of the Falcons was warranted for most of the game. The Kirk Cousins-led offense wasn’t getting into any rhythm whatsoever, and the defense had few answers for the Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley-led rushing game.
But Cousins delivered a clutch drive in the final minute that culminated in a game-winning touchdown pass to Drake London. The Falcons’ defense held the fort on the ensuing Eagles drive and put the game away with a Jessie Bates III interception off Hurts.
