As DeAndre Hopkins Visits the Patriots, Reports Say There's 'No Animosity' Between Him and Bill O'Brien and There's 'Optimism' a Deal Could Be Worked Out

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Today and tomorrow, the most coveted free agent available on the NFL market will be at Gillette talking with the Patriots about signing with them. So no doubt as you're reading this, the team has picked DeAndre Hopkins up in a Geo Prism, booked him into the America's Best Value Inn: Foxboro, and have dinner reservations at the Chickie Flynn's just up the road from the Bass Pro Shop. 

Like I said when the two sides arranged this meeting, it's something that seemed impossible as recently as six weeks ago.

By all accounts, there are oceans of bad blood still remaining from the time Hopkins spent playing for Bill O'Brien in Houston, and the way things ended there. And the stories of how toxic their relationship was and the "power struggle" between them are nothing new:

All of which would seem pretty reasonable, assuming it's true. You don't have to love the people you work with. And while an employee-supervisor relationship breeds conflict just by its inherent nature, part of being professional is to look past all those things and find ways to achieve common goals. But expecting someone to just roll with being compared to a convicted murderer is a big ask. Again, assuming that's actually what O'Brien said, plus the reports that Hopkins isn't big on the whole "practicing" thing are true, and you can easily see why the two might decide that another collab might not be to their mutual benefit. 

And yet, here we are. Hopkins is taking two days out of his relaxed, unemployed life to talk to this team he reportedly wanted no part of and this assistant head coach he allegedly didn't want to play for. Go figure. 

More to the point though, we're now getting credible reports that there's no issues between the two at all. And it literally could not come at a more opportune time:

Which echoes another report from February, this interview with former Texans wide receivers coach John Perry:

MassLive - The longtime football coach and friend of Bill O’Brien … coached DeAndre Hopkins for three seasons from 2017-to-2019. Those were three years that saw the receiver named to three first-team All-Pro squads. Perry, who remains in contact with Hopkins, admitted that the relationship between the receiver and O’Brien wasn’t perfect.

However, he believes that Hopkins would play for O’Brien and the Patriots in the event the receiver was traded to New England.

“I think adult relationships are always complicated no matter what you do. But the thing is when you look at DeAndre Hopkins and his relationship with Coach O’Brien, both of them brought out the best in each other,” Perry told MassLive. “I still have a strong relationship with coach (O’Brien) and with DeAndre. He and I speak all the time.

“I know they would easily be able to work together again because they’re both professionals and both want the same thing, which is just to play at a high level and give their team the best opportunity to win.”

And this new report:

The Athletic - [W]ill the Patriots reel in DeAndre Hopkins? The free agent is planning to visit Gillette Stadium on Thursday, and there’s optimism the two sides can find a way to reach an agreement, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. …And it sounds like there’s some motivation to find that common ground.

Stranger things have happened. Involving this very franchise and this exact position. This whole scenario reminds me of Bill Parcells and Terry Glenn, who's short time together in New England was like a fight between a cobra and a mongoose. Parcells wanted so little to do with Glenn getting drafted in the 1st round in 1996, he demanded to be let out of his contract and jumped ship as soon as they lost the Super Bowl to Green Bay. In the interim, and despite Glenn having the best rookie season by a wideout in Patriots history, he publicly ridiculed Glenn every chance he got. And he got a ton of chances. Once when he was asked for an injury update on Glenn, Tuna said "She's doing better." (Try using that as a motivational tool in 2023.) And for his part, Glenn certainly gave the impression that the feeling was mutual. 

But when Parcells took the Dallas job in 2003, one of the first players to sign with him was Glenn. After a few seasons playing for Pete Carroll's Dysfunctional Family Circus, a year in Green Bay, and with his production, he went back to the guy who made his life miserable, but his football career phenomenal. Sometimes our toughest teachers end up being the ones we appreciate most. (I was terrified of Mrs. Driscoll during freshman English. But by God, that woman taught me to know my gerundial phrase from my onomatopoeia.) As a result, Glenn produced back to back 1,000 yard seasons under Parcells.

Hopefully that's what's at work here. Hopkins made it to five Pro Bowls and made All Pro three times under O'Brien. Assuming he appreciates this system is a great fit for him, and he'd once again be playing under a coach who knows how best to utilize his considerable skills, then the rest is all about structuring a contract that's best for all involved. And since the Patriots have the cap space now and going forward, there's reason to believe it can happen. If it doesn't, it will just be business; not personal. That in and of itself seemed impossible a short time ago. So I'm crossing all crossable parts that this will come together.