HOUSTON – Earlier this week we spitballed about when Bill Belichick might call it a career. Our conclusion, based on observation, was that it would be no time soon.
But a stir was caused Thursday when Mark Maske of the Washington Post spoke to Patriots owner Robert Kraft about the Belichick End of Days.
“We have a pact that we don’t talk about that,” Kraft told Maske of the Washington Post. “He knows and I know. But he won’t be done this year.”
The general interpretation of “he knows and I know” was that Kraft knows when Belichick is retiring.
But talking to Kraft after Patriots access Thursday evening, Kraft called that into question.
I asked Kraft if, as Maske reported, there was an “end date” established.
“Ask them what it is because I don’t know what it is,” countered Kraft. “If I knew a date, I would tell you that I knew. I wouldn’t tell you when it is, but I would tell you there is a date.”
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Maske is a terrific reporter so I’m not suggesting the quote is wrong. The possibility exists, however, that Kraft was perhaps saying that both he and Belichick know the “don’t ask, don’t tell” pact is in effect.
Hard to know precisely except to say that, as it’s been throughout Belichick’s tenure here when it comes to his contract, nobody will know when Bill Belichick is retiring until Bill Belichick wants them to know. If that time comes.