Former New England Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson has called for North Carolina to dismiss Bill Belichick following the coach’s controversial actions involving his girlfriend Jordon Hudson that have sparked online debates. Hudson has faced criticism on social media after being spotted at a Tar Heels football practice in recent weeks. She later abruptly ended an interview with a CBS News reporter who inquired about her relationship with Belichick.
Post-interview, Hudson engaged in an odd spree of social media posts, including the leak of a private email highlighting Belichick‘s worries about negative press regarding his memoir, ‘The Art of Winning: Lessons from a Life in Football.’ Amidst the ensuing media frenzy, Johnson opined that the Tar Heels, who named Belichick as their next head football coach last December, should consider severing ties with the 73 year old coach.
“I hold college coaches to a higher standard than I do NFL coaches when it comes to morally, they are supposed to be leaders of men, set a good example,” he expressed during his guest spot on ‘WEEI Afternoons.’
“I’m surprised UNC never called Atlanta on why they passed on hiring Bill Belichick. My feeling is that the Atlanta Falcons are kinda looking at UNC and going, ‘You should have called us.’
“I say all that to say this: I think the … Tar Heels should consider firing Bill Belichick. They should consider letting him go at this point. It’s a lot of money and they’re deep into, obviously, their preparation for next year. But I look at Bill Belichick and I wonder if he’s fit to coach an NFL team, let alone fit to coach a college team.
“I put more onus on the character and personality and just overall character, if you will, of a college coach than I do a pro coach. I’m worried that Bill Belichick just isn’t fit to coach college kids and UNC should consider cutting ties with Bill Belichick.”
Johnson – who played five seasons under Belichick from 2000-04 and won three Super Bowls with the Patriots – went a step further, arguing that Hudson is “embarrassing” the legendary NFL coach with her public actions.
“What you’ve seen so far, the behaviors with Jordon. That dynamic, her being on the football field, her just kind of embarrassing Bill,” he added. “People say, ‘Well, she’s taken control of Bill.’ You think Bill doesn’t have any say in how these things go? Of course he does. He’s OK with what she’s doing.
“You don’t think he knows that that email was being posted on her Instagram? Of course he knows. He’s signing off on that. To me, those are bad decisions that makes him and the university look really bad and question whether or not he is of sound mind and should be running a football team at the University of North Carolina.
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“I think it’s something you have to really, really consider. Just question the decision-making from the head coach at this point for those reasons.”
