Bill Belichick’s hooded, closed-off self may be coming to the courtroom.
The gruff Patriots coach has been added to the list of potential defense witnesses who could testify in the upcoming double-homicide trial of Aaron Hernandez. Other notable football names on the list include New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and former Florida teammate and now Steelers lineman Maurkice Pouncey.
The trial is scheduled to start a week from today. Belichick will not necessarily testify; it’s contingent upon whether the defense feels its necessary to call on him.
Hernandez already was convicted for the murder of Odin Lloyd, for which he is serving a life sentence. Hernandez is being accused of killing Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in a drive-by shooting in 2012. Patriots owner Robert Kraft testified for the prosecution in the Lloyd trial.
Belichick coached Hernandez for three years and gave him one of the biggest contracts in Patriots history before releasing him when he was connected to the Lloyd murder in 2013.
Under oath, Belichick would be forced to be a little more open when answering questions –“I’m on to the 2017 draft” probably won’t fly.