Belichick Has Josh Gordon Back and He's Obviously Feeling It

This was Bill Belichick earlier today.

This was him about 36 hours ago:

Bear in mind that he was being that salty with Steve Burton, who he’s always cooperative with because he’s a Patriots legacy who’s dad was technically their first draft pick ever and they have a community service award in his name.

So why the change of mood? What difference does a day and a half make? Not much. Other than Josh Gordon’s return is becoming a reality. He’s got his number (which was briefly worn by N’Keal Harry) back.

He’s got his locker assignment:

And has reported to homeroom, has his class schedule and books and is ready to start the school year.

So with that, Belichick is in rare humor. Working on his tight five for the Kimmel show and enjoying the crap out of himself. Right down to wedging in a MyFace reference and ending it with his signature snots-clearing nose snort, the one the people came to hear.

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There are times when a great conqueror knows he’s got the battle won before the first volley has been fired. Those moments are rare. And the wise leader knows how important it is that he project confidence to his men. For example, at the Battle of Gaugamela in 331 B.C., King Darius the Great of the Persian Empire had Alexander’s Macedonians vastly outnumbered. He had chariots with spinning blades on the wheels and troops on elephants and the battlefield of his choosing. In fact, he even had time to flatten the battlefield to increase his advantage. But Alexander was so confident everything was playing out exactly as he wanted, he told his army to get to bed while the Persians stayed up all night waiting for an attack. Alexander’s top general Parmenio wanted to launch a night attack. And his suggestion not only got shot down, it was all they could do to get Alexander to wake up the morning of the battle, he was sleeping so well. And with good reason. The Persians couldn’t handle his Xs & Os. His troops won all the one-on-one matchups. The chariots and elephants were useless. Darius fled like the coward he was before being assassinated by his own, humiliated lieutenants. And Alexander was the ruler of the greatest empire of all time. (Pre-Belichick.)

That’s what this look is. The smile of a great leader who knows how much better the best fighting force in the league just got. A man who just granted the wish of Dontrelle Inman to be released because he knows he can’t crack a wide receiver depth chart that now looks like this:

Josh Gordon
Julian Edelman
N’Keal Harry
Phillip Dorsett
Maurice Harris
Jakobi Meyers
Demaryius Thomas
Braxton Berrios

And possibly:

Damoun Patterson
Gunner Olszewski
Cameron Meredith
Ryan Davis

A lot of people were screaming for the Pats to do more at the position this year than merely re-sign Edelman, spend a 1st round pick on Harry, add Harris, Meyers and Thomas and bring back Dorsett and Berrios. But they have to concede that is a pretty impressive depth chart. GM Belichick knew what he was doing.

To continue my analogy, when Darius had sued Alexander for peace by offering him one of his daugthers and some territory, Parmenio said “Were I Alexander, I would take the offer.” To which his king replied “I would too. If I were Parmenio.” Which was not just a sick burn, but also a very good point. You can’t pretend to think like the truly great leaders do. The rest of the AFC should just run from the battlefield now, while they still can.