Bill Belichick ‘absolutely’ intends to coach Patriots next season

Bill Belichick said in a conference call Monday morning that he “absolutely” intends to be back with the New England Patriots after this season.

Belichick was asked about Gary Myers’ Daily News report quoting a source that said Belichick would be interested in the Giants’ head coaching vacancy. This is in the context of multiple reports in recent months, including a recent bombshell ESPN story, that paint Tom Brady in a bad light and Belichick as the victim of a rift between Brady, Belichick and owner Robert Kraft.

Belichick’s answer to that?

“Right now my interest is trying to do the best I can for our football team to get ready for Saturday night against Tennessee,” said Belichick, whose AFC top-seeded Patriots host the Titans in the divisional round. “That’s where my total focus is.”

Belichick then was asked if his intention was to definitely be back with the Patriots next season.

“Absolutely,” he said, echoing Kraft's comment last week.

Belichick also was rude and dismissive, though, about ESPN’s report by Seth Wickersham when questioned by ESPN about a characterization of Belichick being “furious and demoralized.”

“First of all I don’t know what you’re talking about … I don’t know what that refers to,” Belichick said. “I know you want to report on things that are inaccurate and unattributable, and I’m not interested in responding to those random and I would say, in a lot of cases, baseless comments.”

Unfortunately for Belichick, the reality is the ESPN story contains details — including a claim that that Kraft ordered the coach to trade QB Jimmy Garoppolo — that seemed to come either from the coach or someone close to the coach.

Meanwhile, New England coordinators Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia both have interviewed for the Giants’ vacancies and other jobs and Patricia is considered a favorite to land in Detroit.