NFL insider says Belichick didn’t see Falcons as a ‘true contender’

The Falcons are making headlines, but it’s not for the Kirk Cousins free agent contract or the upcoming NFL Draft; it’s Bill Belichick.

A new bombshell story from ESPN about Belichick’s head coaching candidacy revealed a ton of new information about Atlanta’s search, specifically their process and how Belichick fell out of favor with Arthur Blank.

At one point, the eight-time Super Bowl champion was seen as the frontrunner for Atlanta’s vacancy, and apparently, Belichick thought he had the job in the bag too.

A combination of Raheem Morris impressing in the interviews, Robert Kraft’s bad review of Belichick, and Arthur Blank’s underlings preserving their own jobs led to the Falcons passing over Belichick. Another interesting nugget was revealed too.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on The Rich Eisen Show on Thursday that Belichick didn’t view the Falcons as a serious contender.

“I don’t get the sense that Belichick, from our sources, looked at Atlanta as a true contender right now on paper,” Fowler said, via Bleacher Report.

When he was interviewing, Belichick’s assessment of the Falcons is accurate. They weren’t even close to being contenders, even if you squinted and closed one eye.

However, several acquisitions later, the Falcons are favorites in the NFC South and are expected to compete in a wide-open conference. Kirk Cousins filled the team’s biggest roster need, and Fontenot followed it up by signing Darnell Mooney to a three-year deal.

Bill Belichick wasn’t wrong, but every candidate who interviewed for the opening had the same thing to say about the Falcons’ quarterback situation — it needed to be addressed.

Ahead of the NFL Draft, the Falcons are hopeful of adding an immediate, impact player with their 8th overall pick. That would make their case as Super Bowl contenders even stronger.