Bill Belichick makes desperate move as Patriots search for Tom Brady successor

14 October 2023 , 22:20

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Malik Cunningham impressed at times in preseason and has now re-signed with the struggling New England Patriots (Image: Getty Images)

The New England Patriots have signed quarterback-wide receiver Malik Cunningham from their practice squad on a three-year deal as the AFC East franchise hopes to turn their bleak 2023 NFL season around.

Cunningham, selected in the third round of the 2023 USFL Draft by the Birmingham Stallions, went undrafted in the NFL Draft earlier this year. He signed with the Patriots as a free agent and hit headlines in the preseason.

The 25-year-old spent time at both quarterback and wide receiver this summer, completing 3 of 6 passes for 19 yards, rushing for five times for 39 yards and a touchdown. He also hauled in a pass on eight targets for a loss of a yard before he was waived at the end of training camp, signing with the Pats practice squad.

Ultimately, the Patriots need all the help they can get on offense and the versatility of Cunningham could add a new dimension to Bill Belichick’s team after both Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe have struggled in 2023. The New England offense is averaging just 287 yards and 11 points per game through five weeks, with Jones benched in favour of Zappe in successive weeks.

Over the past two weeks, the Patriots have been brutalized. First, Belichick was handed the biggest defeat of his career in the 38-3 blowout against the Dallas Cowboys, before suffering the worst home shutout in franchise history on Sunday - a 34-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

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This is the first time since owner Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994 that they’ve lost two games by 30 points in the same season - and the two results came seven days apart. For two decades, the Patriots set the standard in the NFL, performing at an unprecedented level to stand as one of the greatest dynasties in North American sporting history with Tom Brady at the helm.

But the 2023 Patriots are a shadow of their former selves. Belichick is reportedly continuing his career in order to surpass Don Shula as the winningest head coach in NFL history. He is sitting on 330 career victories, 17 shy of Shula, and was on track to claim the record in 2024 although that seems unlikely given the state of the team. Perhaps Cunningham will be the guy to change things.

Malik Cunningham's versatility means he could become a key weapon for the New England Patriots on offense as Mac Jones struggles (Getty Images)

Cunningham played across five seasons at Louisville, completing 692 of 1,105 passes for 9,664 yards and 70 touchdowns against 29 interceptions. He also rushed for 3,182 yards and 50 additional scores.

Next up, New England faces another Kraft favourite in former Pats offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ Las Vegas Raiders. Patriots icon Brady is set to become a minority owner of the AFC West franchise, and given the close relationship between the legendary quarterback and the Pats owner, Kraft’s patience will be firmly tested should Belichick and Co. fall in Sin City.

The 1-4 Patriots face the 2-3 Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15.

Andrew Gamble