Reporter insists Patriots have made Bill Belichick decision

Well-known New England Patriots insider Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston reported in December that team owner Robert Kraft decided to part ways with head coach Bill Belichick shortly after New England lost to the Indianapolis Colts in Germany on Nov. 12.

Curran is standing by his story even though Kraft and team president Jonathan Kraft haven't yet officially announced anything regarding Belichick's future. 

"As I reported in December, a decision was made further back in the year that the Patriots would be parting with Bill Belichick at the end of the season," Curran explained during the latest edition of the "Patriots Talk Podcast," per Sean T. McGuire of NESN. "The end of the season is upon us. They have not parted ways. But the decision remains."

Interestingly, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported for a piece published early Wednesday morning that he spoke with a few people within the Patriots "who wonder whether the longer this drags out actually increases the chances Belichick returns for one more year." While Belichick is under contract through next season, Curran insisted the situation will soon end with a divorce of some sort. 

"Bill Belichick will not be back as the head coach for the New England Patriots in 2024," Curran directly said. "That being the case, why the wait? I think it has a lot to do with the untangling of a 24-year union with an individual. And that untangling is going to take some time, especially if you want to keep the relationship intact going forward."

Fowler added on Wednesday he currently is "not sensing much momentum for a Belichick trade to a new team," meaning the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach and the Krafts probably will have to come to a mutual parting of ways unless Belichick wants to take a year off from coaching. 

"Bill Belichick, the decision we reported on last month that the Patriots will part ways with him," Curran added, "remains the one that will ultimately happen."

Assuming Curran is right, the how and when for that move reportedly could remain unknown to outsiders until some point in February.