Why Bill Belichick Thinks ‘Taxachusetts’ Deters Free Agents From Joining Patriots

By Lauren Campbell
masslive.com
(TNS)

The New England Patriots are in the midst of a rebuild that has made it hard to draw free agents to come play for the six-time Super Bowl champions. A team that once had Bill Belichick and Tom Brady now finds itself with a new coach, new quarterback room, new receivers and offensive line that has struggled mightily last year and this preseason.

But Belichick believes there’s another reason that has free agents not wanting to come to the Patriots.

“That’s Taxachusetts,” Belichick said during his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday. “Virtually every player, even the practice squad, even the minimum players are pretty close to $1 million. Once you hit the $1 million threshold, you pay more state tax in Massachusetts.

“Just another thing you’ve got to contend with in negotiations up there,” he continued. “It’s not like Tennessee or Florida or Nevada. Some of these teams have no state income tax. You get hit pretty hard on that with the agents.”

In 2022, it was approved by Massachusetts voters that personal income taxpayers “must pay an additional 4% surtax on taxable income over $1,000,000,” according to Mass.gov. In 2024, the surtax threshold will be $1,053,750.

Belichick noted that agents are “quick to bring it up” when discussing a potential free agent, and added that Massachusetts’ state income tax has put the Patriots at a disadvantage before.

Recently, New England had a trade in place to acquire Brandon Aiyuk from the San Francisco 49ers. He reportedly had zero interest in coming to the Patriots despite them being willing to pay the wide receiver $30 million per year. It’s unclear if the income tax had anything to do with Aiyuk’s decision, or if he wasn’t confident in the 2024 team.

Whether it’s taxes or the rebuild, the Patriots might need to try some different tactics to try to get free agents to buy in and sign with them.

______