Bill Belichick And Patriots Veterans Say That Massachusetts' Exorbitant Taxes Are Deterring Free Agents From Signing With The Patriots

Pro Football Network - No longer able to flaunt Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and semi-annual Super Bowl berths, the New England Patriots aren’t as attractive a free agent destination as they once were.

Making matters more difficult: Their home state.

Massachusetts residents — especially those who make seven figures — are well aware of the state’s heavy tax burden. And, during a recent appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Belichick admitted that Massachusetts taxes can negatively impact the Patriots during NFL free agency.

It’s difficult to know how many players truly denied the Patriots over income taxes. The most recent example is Calvin Ridley, but familial concerns also factored into his decision to sign with the Tennessee Titans over the Patriots this offseason.

Here’s what Belichick said when asked about the so-called “millionaire tax,” which is a recently instituted 4% surtax on Massachusetts household income over $1 million:

“That’s Taxachusetts,” the Patriots legend said. “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. 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.”

Belichick’s comments made it back to Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, who offered his take on the subject.

Godchaux welcomed teammate Keion White for the latest episode of his “Chaux Down” video podcast. The two touched on a variety of topics, including Belichick’s “Taxachusetts” remark.

“Nah, you know what pissed me off too? When I got here, they got that extra 4% millionaires tax out here, too,” White told Godchaux. “That’ll get you too.”

Godchaux’s response: “Absolutely. Massachusetts is bad with state taxes, too. It’s terrible. It’s right up there with New York and LA. I just heard Bill Belichick spoke about it … how it was tough to sign free agents in Massachusetts because of the state tax.

“I mean guys these days, if you can sign with a team with no state tax, then go ahead and sign with them because that’s more money you keep in your pocket.”

So Belichick made his new weekly ESPN rounds and went on McAfee's show last week and dropped that "Taxachusetts" gem that would have made Howie Carr proud.

Word on Boston radio is that ESPN brass were not happy that McAfee let Belichick have that much slack, but if you've been paying attention to this new media friendly Bill Belichick, then you know that you cannot stop him. You can only hope to contain him.

And shocker, but he's not wrong. 

Signing free agents in New England is about as fun as a root canal, thanks to the state's hefty income tax. Even practice squad players are getting close to that dreaded million-dollar mark, triggering the infamous "millionaire's tax."

(Fun fact - Massachusetts has a flat income tax rate of 5%, but with the recent addition of the "millionaire's tax," any income over $1 million is subject to an additional 4% surtax, bringing the effective tax rate to 9% for high earners like pro athletes.)   

Belichick, never one to mince words, came right out and called Massachusetts "Taxachusetts" and lamented the difficulty of negotiating with agents who are all too eager to remind you about the extra cash their clients are shelling out. It's enough to make you want to move to Florida and live on a diet of sunshine and tax breaks.

Now, playing devils advocate here, or shooting it straight, one might point out or remind Bill that he was always just as cheap as Robert Kraft, and never let him forget about the good old days when Tom Brady was getting "nickel and dimed" in Foxboro, taking endless team friendly discounts. 

Massachusetts taxes are no joke. Even Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux chimed in, complaining about the state's "terrible" tax situation. It seems like everyone's feeling the pinch, from multi-millionaire athletes to the average Joe.

So, what's a poor football team to do? Well, they can't exactly relocate to a tax haven. And let's be real, the Patriots aren't exactly the hottest ticket in town these days. Maybe if they start winning again, they'll have an easier time attracting free agents.

(Another fun fact - Massachusetts also imposes the "jock tax," which taxes nonresident athletes on the portion of their income earned while playing in the state. This adds another layer of complexity and potential tax burden for athletes playing away games in Massachusetts.)

Overall, Massachusetts typically ranks in the top 5-10 states in terms of the overall tax burden for pro athletes. This can be a significant factor in free agency decisions, as athletes may prefer to sign with teams in states with no income tax or more favorable tax policies. As BB pointed out, for an organization that no longer has the greatest player and greatest coach of all time around to attract top talent in search of winning championships, this tax situation is just another "con" to add to the long list for free agents weighing becoming a Patriot. Good times.