Mike Florio calls out ‘curmudgeon’ North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick for ‘damage control’ after Gio Lopez criticism

It was a horrible first season for North Carolina under Bill Belichick. The team went just 4-8, but it did not end there. His quarterback, Gio Lopez, was originally expected to return, but then left for Wake Forest after just one season. After transferring, Lopez spoke about what it was like playing for Belichick.

Now, Belichick has appeared on Pardon My Take and with Sean Hannity, but Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk thinks it was damage control.

“Lopez’s comments came to light two weeks ago. It’s reasonable to think those remarks hit hard in Chapel Hill, prompting Belichick or someone close to him to urge the curmudgeon to make himself seem more likable (or less unlikable) by submitting to interviews with Pardon My Take and Sean Hannity,” Florio wrote. “Both shows gave Belichick very favorable treatment. Hannity (who claims he’s a huge football fan but who asked multiple questions that revealed a fundamental lack of awareness as to certain obvious facts any huge football fan would know) repeatedly fawned over Belichick.”

At no point during the two long interviews was Belichick asked about Lopez’s comments. These were not comments from the third-string long snapper, but the starting quarterback who noted he was falling out of love with football becuase of his coach. Yet, the questions never came. Belichick sat getting softball questions, while having his Super Bowl trophies and rings on display.

“The entire goal seemed to be reminding current college football players (and, perhaps more importantly, their parents) that the current coach of the Tar Heels has more than a few pelts on the wall,” Florio added.

Belichick is not going to change. The question is, will enough players be willing to deal with it for North Carolina to improve?

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