Bill Belichick Knows The New England Patriots Need Better Returns From Extended Punter Jake Bailey

The New England Patriots made Jake Bailey one of the NFL’s highest-paid punters as the calendar turned to August. The results since then haven’t aligned with the $13.5 million extension through 2025.

Head coach Bill Belichick acknowledged that reality during his press conference on Friday.

“Yeah, I mean, it’s been good and then it hasn’t been consistent,” Belichick told reporters of Bailey’s struggles through nine games. “It’s not like it’s all bad. It’s not like it’s all good. It’s just inconsistent.”

Bailey’s last punt prior to New England’s bye week sailed out of bounds after picking up seven yards against the Indianapolis Colts. The 25-year-old ranks last around the league with an average of 42.1 yards per punt and a net average of 35.3 yards per punt. And of his 37 opportunities, a handful have become touchbacks while a dozen have landed inside the opposing 20.

“So, I think there’s a number of areas that we can improve in, try to improve in,” Belichick added. “But each person has got to do — I mean, obviously it starts with the specialists. But there’s other things that we need to improve in on the punt team and kickoff coverage, as well, although I think he’s kicked off fairly well this year.”

The Patriots selected Bailey, who has taken on holding duties in addition to kickoff duties, in the fifth round of the 2019 draft at No. 163 overall. The Stanford product earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors the following regular season. He did so while averaging 48.7 yards per punt to go with a net average of 45.6 per punt that topped the NFL.

In the process, what was scheduled to be a $965,000 base salary in the final year of his rookie contract became $3.986 million as part of the collective bargaining agreement’s proven-performance escalator. The subsequent extension reduced his current cap number to fifth at the position, per OverTheCap.com, while bringing a signing bonus north of $3 million and north of $6 million in total guarantees.

Bailey’s longest punt this fall has traveled 62 yards after the 2020 and 2021 campaigns both gave way to longs of 71. But it’s been more than a matter of distance. According to Pro Football Focus, his average hangtime of 4.14 seconds stands 31st in the league. That, too, has played a part in punt returners averaging 9.8 yards per runback against New England’s special teams coverage.

“It’s just like any technical thing — a golf swing or punter or whatever — there’s mechanics,” added Belichick. “The consistency and execution of it, again, there’s plenty of talent there. There have been some rainbows out there, like there always have been. Work harder and make it more consistent.”

Bailey has been a limited participant in recent practices due to a back injury that now has him listed as doubtful. Since the start of November, the right-footed punter has been joined on the fields by left-footed veteran Michael Palardy, who resides on the practice squad.

The New York Jets visit Gillette Stadium for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff on Sunday.