During a Tuesday meeting with Robert Kraft, Jonathan Kraft and Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots made an aggressive pitch to Josh McDaniels.

Sources say Belichick had particular influence in the meeting. While Belichick didn't try to talk McDaniels out of going to the Colts, he knew his offensive coordinator was having second thoughts.

McDaniels received a significant raise from the Patriots and will also be mentored by Belichick in a more meaningful and holistic way.

After hours of meetings on Tuesday, McDaniels was swayed by the Patriots' pitch. He called Ballard, who was in a draft meeting at Colts headquarters, at 7:15 p.m. ET on Tuesday, and told him he had changed his mind and was “going in a different direction.”

“He called and said he had bad news for me,” Ballard said. “I said, ‘I just need a yes or no answer. Are you in or out?’ We went around for a minute and he said he’s out and I said. ‘OK, we’re going to move forward. I wish you the best of luck.’”

Ballard was “pissed and angry because he was completely blindsided by the whole thing because the process was at the finish line,” according to a source. 

McDaniels has turned down opportunities in recent years with the Rams, Browns, Falcons and 49ers.

One source said: “He’s always just insisted that everything be right, or he wasn’t going to leave.”