By Alan Segel

FOXBOROUGH—Patriots owner Robert Kraft and now former head coach Bill Belichick came through the door just before noon on Thursday to announce to the assembled media and Patriots nation watching what was already known. Bill Belichick, after 24 years, would no longer be the leader of the 6-time Super Bowl Champions. The departure was announced as “mutually agreed to part ways”

Bill Belichick spoke first and then Robert Kraft came to the microphone and showered “The Hoodie” was lavish praise and plaudits. There were smiles, handshakes and a hug (no kiss Kraft said, because Belichick has a cold). They then left without taking questions and it was over. Robert Kraft did come back and answer questions two hours later.

It was the third time Robert Kraft has been through having to change head coaches in 1997 and then again in 2000. It was also the 15th time the franchise has parted ways with their coach. The parting of Belichick was smooth and completely differed from some departures this franchise has seen.

The craziest scenario I have been through in my 47 years covering this team was back in 1978. Chuck Fairbanks had done a superb job taking over a moribund Patriots team and turning it into a Super Bowl contender. However, he was not happy with then Patriots owner Bill Sullivan and negotiated – behind his back – a new contract to take over the University of Colorado.

On Monday December 18,1978 the Patriots were 11-4 and in Miami for the final game of the season. At 3:30 that afternoon Fairbanks told the team he would not be coaching next year. About 45 minutes later he told Patriots officials. Bill Sullivan then suspended Fairbanks for the game and the Pats were coached by Hank Bullough and Ron Erhardt. The Pats lost, but were headed to the playoffs as AFC East Champions.

Sullivan did not want Fairbanks coaching saying, “He can’t serve two masters” (Colorado and New England). There were threats of lawsuits that followed and eventually Chuck Fairbanks said he would not recruit and Sullivan allowed him to coach the New Years Eve playoff game in Foxborough against Houston, a game which the Patriots lost 31-14. As Fairbanks left the field surrounded by security, fans were throwing things and singing “Good bye Chuckie.”

After buying the Patriots in 1994, Kraft inherited a future Hall of Fame Coach in Bill Parcells. The partnership began superbly as the Patriots won their last 7 regular season games to finish at 10-6 with a playoff berth. They were just 6-10 the next year and this was actually the catalyst for what transpired.

Kraft would say in future years that he was a naïve owner who had just purchased the team in 1994 and did not realize some things. Bobby Grier – who was with the Patriots since 1981 doing many things – was the Director of Player Personnel and in charge of the draft. Bill Parcells that year wanted a defensive player but Kraft and Grier wanted a receiver and the Pats chose Terry Glenn.

The frustration for Parcells grew and despite an 11-5 record and Super Bowl appearance, he wanted out. He was in contact with Jets and was not fully focused on the Patriots. After their loss to Green Bay, Parcells did not fly home with the team. He wanted out but was under contract. Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue negotiated a settlement with the Patriots receiving 4 draft picks. In his final Patriots press conference Parcells uttered the words that are now famous, “If they want you to cook the dinner at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries.”

Kraft and Parcells in the years that have gone by wished they both weren’t so head strong and that things had ended better. Parcells would also say he regretted leaving because “he had a good young team and knew what they could do.”

The departure led to Pete Carroll’s hiring and further growth for Kraft in how teams operate. Carroll had three years starting in 1997 and each season was worse than the last. Kraft knew things had to change and fired Carroll after the final game of the 1999 season. Kraft would later say about Carroll, “a lot of things were going on that made it difficult for him to stay, and it began with following a legend.”

That leads us to present day. Robert Kraft hired Bill Belichick to follow Carroll and what transpired will never happen again. There was indeed a 24 year “marriage” with 9 Super Bowl appearances and 6 championships. The Patriots drafted Tom Brady with pick number 199 in 2000 and ended up with the best quarterback ever to play.

Bill Belichick had total say in football operations- something Kraft reiterated on Thursday while answering questions –  and after Brady left, things turned drastically over the last four years, especially with this year’s 4-13 record, the worst in Belichick’s career. Kraft knew it was time and using what he learned previously, the separation was hard, yet amicable.

What lies ahead is what is on the mind of most Patriots fans. A coaching and General Manager search is on the near horizon. The Patriots have the third pick in the draft and 64.7 million dollars in cap space (the 4th most in the league). They have some good young players but anytime a future Hall Of Fame coach leaves, there is a void and it will be fascinating to see how the void is filled.