As someone who knows North Carolina coach Bill Belichick recently characterized it, Belichick has a habit of couching his circumstances in one of two ways: hero or victim.<\/p>\n
In the aftermath of a recent feeding frenzy of reports pointing to the disintegration of Belichick\u2019s first foray into college football, the victim card is being played.<\/p>\n
This comment tucked inside a Saturday report from Dianna Russini of TheAthletic.com says it all: “[S]uspicions within UNC\u2019s program that some of the negative headlines have origins in New England<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Those stubborn things known as facts suggest otherwise.<\/p>\n The story that started it all<\/a> came from Pat Welter of WRAL-TV. If the Patriots somehow infiltrated a local affiliate in Raleigh and planted the seeds for Welter\u2019s exhaustive account of division in the locker room, disorganization in the coaching staff, and overall dysfunction in the building, that would rank among the most impressive accomplishments from owner Robert Kraft\u2019s 30-plus-year tenure with the team.<\/p>\n None of the articles came from the universe of reporters the Patriots could easily nudge. The story about the commencement of exit-strategy discussions<\/a> was written by an outlet that covers North Carolina sports.<\/p>\n If the Patriots had fingerprints on any of the items that surfaced this week, that would be worth a story of its own. Especially since one of the stories illustrating the various problems with the UNC program was written by three of Russini\u2019s colleagues<\/a> \u2014 none of whom cover the NFL.<\/p>\n But blaming others seems to be the strategy for a program that currently is solely to blame for its current predicament. Indeed, Russini\u2019s story explains, \u201cPeople inside the football operation believe the criticism is intended to hurt the program.\u201d<\/p>\n