Patch Patriots Roundup: Harrison, Wilfork Make The Hall, More Belichick Speculation

FOXBOROUGH, MA — As the New England Patriots continue their plummet toward the bottom of the league standings and the top of the NFL draft board, there was finally a piece of good news in Foxborough this week.

Yes, the Patriots are genuinely terrible. The organization seems to have broken its once promising first-round quarterback. It's Hall of Fame coach appears to be on the way out and, worse yet, the Patriots lost to a backup quarterback whose most notable qualities are 1. He still lives at home with his parents and 2. He looks like an ancillary character from "The Sopranos".

And yet, here I am on Friday morning, telling you about the good news.

Two members of the Patriots dynasty had their legacies further cemented in the lore of the National Football League this week when Rodney Harrison and Vince Wilfork received word that they will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Harrison, 50, was a safety for the San Diego Chargers from 1994-2002 before heading to New England to play for the Patriots from 2003-2008. Wilfork, 42, was a defensive tackle for the Patriots from 2004-2014 before moving to the Houston Texans in 2015 and retiring following the 2016 season.

Both Harrison and Wilfork are third-time semifinalists; Harrison was previously named in 2021 and 2023, and Wilfork in 2022 and 2023.

One question remains answered: will Wilfork sport the overalls at his induction ceremony?

Belichick Speculation Machine Churns On

According to the NFL insider Albert Breer, people within the league believe there are two head coaching candidates assured of getting jobs in the upcoming cycle: Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and ... Bill Belichick?

Yes, Breer said if Belichick were to be fired by the Patriots, he's certain to get a new gig for next season. What's left uncertain is whether Belichick will actually be on the outside looking in when the dust settles on this highly disappointing season in New England.

The Patriots will have a ton of important questions to answer in the offseason, and many of them center around who they want to lead the franchise with what currently would be a top three pick and two — hypothetically — can't miss quarterback prospects at the top of draft boards.

As it stands currently, Tankathon has the Chicago Bears with the top pick courtesy of the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals at two, one spot ahead of the Pats. However, it doesn't appear that the team would move on from quarterback Kyler Murray, and it's a possibility that they would stay in the two spot to take Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

That situation would allow the Patriots to take one of Caleb Williams or Drake Maye, thus giving the team a quarterback on a rookie contract.

Will Robert Kraft want to allow Belichick to guide that young player through the early days of his career after what happened with Jones? Will Kraft want Belichick to be tasked with choosing an offensive player in this high stakes draft, given his recent record of those selections in the first round?

Questions abound for the team, and for Belichick, should this poor season continue, leading the team to what many understand to be the likely end point.

Patriots-Chiefs Moved Out Of Monday Night Football

Typically, when the Patriots and Chiefs are on the schedule you can assume that game will be played in primetime.

That was supposed to be the case this year, too, when the NFL scheduled the game for Monday Night Football. However, that game will no longer be played on a Monday.

The Week 15 game has been flexed out of the Monday night spot and replaced by the Philadelphia Eagles at Seattle Seahawks game. Pats vs. Chiefs will now be played on Sunday at 1 p.m.

How To Watch, Listen

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

Network: CBS

Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub