"Amid numerous reports that Belichick and North Carolina were engaged in negotiations to lower the coach's buyout after a dismal start to his tenure in Chapel Hill, Belichick and the school released a joint statement Wednesday night countering those claims. "I'm fully committed to UNC Football and the program we're building here," Belichick said in the statement. Athletics director Bubba Cunningham added that Belichick had "the full support" of the UNC administration."
"But the past week has been perhaps the most chaotic, from a letter sent by general manager Michael Lombardi to donors calling Carolina's season part of a "rebuild," to players pushing back against that notion after the Clemson loss, to the scrapping of a planned documentary on the season to reports that Belichick had forbidden UNC's social team from drawing attention to the strong play of former Tar Heels QB Drake Maye because he didn't want to promote his former employer, the New England Patriots."
Bill Belichick's tenure at North Carolina has begun with significant struggles and controversy. The Tar Heels are 2-3, losing all three Power Four games by a combined 120-33, including a loss to Clemson that left UNC down 28-3 after one quarter. Reports circulated about negotiations to lower Belichick's buyout, prompting a joint statement in which he affirmed commitment and the athletic director pledged full support. The hire generated controversies including an unauthorized Board of Trustees offer and tabloid speculation about his girlfriend. A chaotic week included a Lombardi donor letter calling the season a "rebuild," player pushback, a scrapped documentary, and reported social-media restrictions regarding Drake Maye.
Read at ESPN.com
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