Dan Orlovsky calls Patriots ban at North Carolina practice 'stupid' for Bill Belichick: 'It's going to impact recruiting'

Earlier this week, news broke that first-year North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick banned New England Patriots scouts from attending Tar Heels practices, while also limiting the viewing access of other NFL personnel. The report was later confirmed by NBC Sports insider Mike Florio.

It’s a somewhat surprising move for the 73-year-old NFL lifer who won six Super Bowls in 24 seasons as the Patriots head coach. The decision has drawn quick rebukes from many around the NFL, including multiple former players who now commentate on the league.

ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky became the latest to take Belichick to task for what many suspect is a decision based on pettiness stemming from hurt feelings over his 2023 firing. Orlovsky flatly called the move “stupid” while pointing out the real victims of the Patriots ban — while also limiting practice viewing for other NFL scouts — are the North Carolina players, and future Tar Heels recruiting efforts.

“I want to be respectful here, (but) I think this is stupid. And I think it’s wrong. One, you’re hurting your players. If I’m a kid there, I want to have a chance to go to the NFL. Part of the process is (NFL scouts) come to evaluate me. Part of the process is (scouts) come to see me at practice and whatnot,” Orlovsky said Friday morning on ESPN’s First Take. “If I’m a high school recruit, and you don’t allow NFL scouts to come watch me practice, (I might reconsider my options). … If I had a son, I would want to make sure my son that my son is getting seen by everybody possible. … I do think it’s going to impact recruiting. That’s my point.”

North Carolina (0-1) is still reeling from last week’s season-opening blowout loss to TCU, which spoiled Belichick’s Tar Heels debut with a 48-14 rout at home Monday night. The 48 points scored by TCU were the most any Belichick-coached team has allowed in his nearly three decades as a head coach.

The Patriots’ practice ban isn’t the only curious move UNC has this week. Both media and scouts have a completely black two-deep depth chart ahead of Monday’s opener, which ESPN insider Pete Thamel reported made it difficult for scouts to identify Tar Heels players in the game. Not that the current North Carolina roster has many players of interest to NFL scouts.

“I’ve been told there are really only two UNC players who are likely to be drafted this year,” Thamel said Monday night. “Pat (McAfee) just mentioned Thaddeus Dixon, the corner who came over from Washington. He’s one of them, and the other is named Marcus Allen. Dixon may be considered a Top 100 prospect, but if Bill Belichick wants to build UNC, they have a long way to go from a pure talent perspective.”

— On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this report.