The Super Bowl is in the books, folks! The 2023 NFL season has come to an end, and we’re on to the next phase of the NFL calendar, the offseason. I’ve mentioned it before, the thrill of covering the NFL, is that it’s a never-ending assignment. The workload lightens, but it never stops. The NFL calendar never rests; it seamlessly transitions between phases. Before we discuss the new Patriots documentary premiering on Friday on Apple TV+, a content note: Around the NFL will move from a Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedule to a Tuesday/Thursday ♐schedule until training camp opens this summer so that I can work on more Bears stuff in one of the biggest offseasons in memory.
New Patriots Documentary to Detail Brady-Belichick Break-Up (and Much More)
On Friday, Apple TV+ will release “The Dynasty,” a documentary series about the Patriots’ years from 2000 to 2020. The series will have two episodes every week for five weeks. It will explore Tom Brady’s rise after Drew Bledsoe’s injury, the Patriots’ journey through three Super Bowls in four years, and the resulting controversies.
From the rise of a second dynasty to its eventual downfall amid internal conflicts, “The Dynasty” offers a captivating narrative for Patriots enthusiasts seeking to relive the team’s early triumphs. It’s also interesting for people who don’t like the Patriots. The series gives insight into scandals like Spygate and Deflategate, making it worth watching for both fans and critics.
Here’s a teaser from Apple TV:
Love🔴 the Patriots or hate them, this is going to be an entertaining watch for footbꦯall fans.
Rams CEO Speaks Up for Spags
One takeaway that I had from Super Bowl week in Las Vegas was that there wasn’t a single Kansas City Chiefs player that didn’t adore and respect the work of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. This morning, Spagnuolo was rewarded for his hard work with a new contract extension from the Chiefs.
But before that news broke, there was an interesting exchange on X, that started with former Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill asking why Spagnuolo didn’t get any head coaching interviews during the hiring cycle. Rams CEO Kevin Demoff responded by saying that it is time for Spags to get another head coaching opportunity:
“It is well past time to see Spags get another head coaching opportunity … The team and organization he inherited in STL was a mess; nobody could have had success. Yet he changed the culture/staff and players believed. An amazing human deserving of a real shot we couldn’t give him.”
Demoff is referring to the ꦏthree seasons in St. Louis in which Spagnuolo was the head coach of the Rams. H♐e was hired in 2009 and fired after three seasons and a 10-38 record in St. Louis.
In fairness, as Demoff points out, Spags didn’t have much to work with in St. Louis. In 2009, the Rams had a 1-15 season. Kyle Boller was the starting quarterback, and the offensive weapons included Kenneth Darby, Donnie Avery, Danny Amendola, Billy Bajema, Steven Jackson, and Ruvell Martin. I promise I didn’t make most of those names up, the roster was that miserable. (Luis: I can confirm these are real players with real Pro Football Reference pages).
Perhaps some are better suited to be coordinators rather than head coaches, but I don’t think that’s the case with Spagnuolo. It’s no coincidence that he’s beloved and respected around the league by players, coaches, and executives alike.
BONUS: from the Chiefs this morning. Everything is coming up for KC’s DC.
