Bill Belichick bans Patriots, limits other NFL scouts from viewing UNC practices

North Carolina football head coach Bill Belichick turned the New England Patriots away from a Tar Heels practice in August, according to league sources.

The Patriots attempted to send a member of the scouting department to visit UNC, but North Carolina told the Patriots they were not permitted to attend.

“It’s so petty,” a scout from a different NFL team told The Athletic.

The Patriots haven’t attempted to visit UNC since they were originally turned away. They also didn’t plan to send a scout Monday night to watch North Carolina’s 48-14 loss to TCU in the season opener.

Other teams have been allowed to scout UNC’s practices, the league sources said. However, the Tar Heels have increased restrictions on scouts since Belichick arrived this year. Scouts from other teams told The Athletic their viewing window was limited to the opening three periods of practice, which includes stretching. Additionally, UNC has directed NFL teams to communicate exclusively with assistant director of player personnel/pro liaison Frantzy Jourdain about draft prospects, the sources said. NFL teams have been told not to contact members of the coaching staff or anyone else on campus about draft prospects.

The teams didn’t know if there would be repercussions if they violated UNC’s protocols, but they believed access could be further restricted. UNC did not respond to several messages for comment.

Neither Belichick nor North Carolina are violating any NCAA rules by refusing to permit a team to watch any portions of practice.

This story will be updated.

— Brendan Marks contributed to this report.

(Photo: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)

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