The Bostonist: "Last week, Bostonist attended The Tradition, the annual honoring of Boston's best athletes by The Sports Museum. … Troy Brown stole the show as he told a story that left the crowd laughing and coach Bill Belichick speechless." Photo by Bradford Moore. (Used with permission.)
full story

THE TRADITION: The Sports Museum of Boston
honors Troy Brown

NEW PHOTO: Bill Belichick and Troy Brown, by Bradford Moore, polarbare photography.
Flickr

VIDEO: "Bill Russell and Bill Belichick were there, along with honorees like Curt Schilling, Troy Brown, Celtic Hall of Famer Sam Jones, Olympic silver medalist Nancy Kerrigan, Bruins winder Ken Hodge and college hockey coaches Jerry York and Jack Parker."
NECN

VIDEO: "Troy Brown earned the Lifetime Achievement Award from The Sports Museum of Boston, and he was presented by Bill Belichick. Get the scoop and hear from Brown at the star-studded event."
Patriots Today

AUDIO: Dale & Holley recap the event on WEEI. Dale says BB raved about Jerry York and Jack Parker.
WEEI

PHOTOS: Bill Belichick with Celtics legend John Havlicek and 3-time World Series champion Curt Schilling.
Boston Herald

Thursday, June 25, 2009
Belichick Still Working On His Legacy
"Bill Belichick isn't the type to pause and consider his legacy. That's a diversion for guys who aren't coaching anymore, a subject for others to debate. Belichick Belichick was modest when told he had been selected as ESPN.com's coach of the decade. He would rather talk about his players, who compose our team of the decade, than his place in history. But don't mistake his avoidance for apathy. The dour New England Patriots coach is a student of the game's roots and pioneers. He has been an influential figure. That must register with him on some level. Still, he doesn't ponder it openly and probably won't until he's done coaching."
ESPN.com

Patriots Sweep All-Decade Team, Coach, MVP
"ESPN.com selected [Bill] Belichick as its all-decade coach for guiding the New England Patriots to three Super Bowls and four AFC championships and at least tying for the AFC East's best record each year since 2001. That same resumé is why ESPN.com also chose Tom Brady as its MVP and the Patriots as its team of the decade. The honors were bestowed with consultation from NFL general managers, coaches, scouts and players. When a team wins three Super Bowls in four years and plays in its conference championship game five times in a decade with one season to go, the choices crystallize. 'You have to recognize championships because, ultimately, that's what we're playing for,' Belichick said when informed of ESPN.com's selections."
ESPN.com

Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am
Team Andrade: Pro Billy Andrade, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, son Brian Belichick, and actor Rob Morrow (Northern Exposure, Numb3rs) teed off at 8:10 a.m. Andrade shot two under with a 68, and the group finished THIRD with a 55!
full results

Bill Belichick on the Travelers Pro-Am
"When asked why he keeps coming back to the Travelers, Belichick couldn't say enough good things about the event. 'I keep coming back because it's a great event,' said Belichick, who made his eighth appearance. 'It's such a strong event, I plan on keep coming back. It's nice to see the strong support by the fans.' Asked if the rain affected his golf game in the Pro-Am, he said, 'Nothing affects my game. I can't recall what my score was but as a group we were 15-under. It was fun.'"
Middletown Press

Celebs Tee Up at Travelers Championship
"Celebrities came out to tee up, greet fans and support their charity of choice during the Pro-Am golf tournament portion of the Travelers Championship. … There was also Patriot Pride with New England Head Coach Bill Belichick. 'It's a lot of fun to see some of the other athletes and certainly the great golfers here,' he said." Includes photo.
WTNH.com

Friday, June 19, 2009
Bernie Kosar on Bill Belichick
"Bill Belichick getting a second chance – in the same decade, no less – to be the head coach of the Cleveland Browns? … [I]f former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar had had his way, then it indeed would have happened and Belichick – not Chris Palmer – would have been hired as the first head coach of the expansion Browns a decade ago. Kosar said that Friday morning while serving as a guest on 'The Really Big Show' on Cleveland sports talk radio station WKNR (850-AM) with host Tony Rizzo. … But why would Kosar push Belichick? Because, Kosar said, he and Belichick had patched things up between them by 1998 and Kosar was convinced Belichick had learned valuable lessons from his experience in Cleveland, had corrected those issues and was ready to be the head coach Art Modell thought he would be in Cleveland when he hired him 18 years ago. As it turns out, of course, Kosar was right, for Belichick, in his second head coaching chance, has turned the Patriots to the best franchise in the league year in and year out, guiding them to three Super Bowl wins in the process."
Scout.com

Monday, June 15, 2009
The Truth Behind the NFL's Injury Reports
"Despite media reports hinting at the contrary, the New England Patriots also were in NFL compliance with their billing of running back Laurence Maroney's 2008 shoulder injury. … The Patriots have worked hard to change their reputation for alleged injury-report shenanigans. For example, no other team is as forthcoming in revealing which injured players didn't make a road trip on the day before kickoff. Maroney's revelation cast New England in a light it didn't deserve. Now, will Patriots coach Bill Belichick voluntarily start reading a list of wounded warriors at his normally tight-lipped news conferences? No chance. But don't blame him or the teams that handle injuries on a 'need-to-know' basis. Blame the system demands and realities of the NFL." Do yourself a favor and read the entire article.
FOX Sports

Friday, June 12, 2009
Patriots All Access
Now you can watch or even download Patriots All Access in its entirety on Patriots.com. Scott Zolak sat down with Bill Belichick this week to discuss the status of the team during mini-camp. Here's what they had to say after that:

Zolak: "There are a lot of demands for your time, a lot of requests that come in. Coming up at the Garden there's this legends event taking place. You're going to present Troy Brown. How did this come about?"

Belichick: "It's really exciting to be involved in The Tradition. Troy asked me to present him, and it's certainly an honor. Troy was a great football player, on and off the field a great person. I don't think any player I've ever coached epitomizes the word 'team' or 'playmaker' in critical situations the way that Troy did, so it will be an honor for me to be there. There are also some other pretty special people that will be at that event as well, so I'm honored to be a part of it."

Zolak: "You really enjoy these types of guys that you've gone to battle with. Their playing careers are over. We saw what you said about Rodney Harrison. These are pretty much layups – when these things cross your desk you're like, 'No problem. I'm there."

Belichick: "Well, those guys have done so much for me. They've meant so much to my career and our football team that it's a small price to pay to give back to them when they've given you years and games and big plays and championships. We have a special bond when you go through those things together."

Zolak: "You guys are all having a lot of much-deserved time off. Between now and the start of camp in July when everything's ready to go, what's the one thing you hope to accomplish or just get done – away from football?"

Belichick: "How about lose 15 pounds? [Laughter] And maybe catch some bluefish."
full video

Lack Of Coordination? Not For Patriots' Offense
Bill Belichick spoke with the Sporting News
"[New quarterbacks coach Bill] O'Brien doesn't yet have the title of offensive coordinator, but he's learning the role. Josh McDaniels, the man O'Brien replaces, went through a similar transition in 2005, after Charlie Weis left Foxboro, before becoming the coordinator in '06. … Belichick went through a similar transition in the mid-1980s, taking on many coordinator responsibilities with the New York Giants in 1984, before his title changed from linebackers coach in 1985. 'You're the linebackers coach, you see it through the linebackers' eyes,' Belichick told Sporting News. … 'As a coordinator, you have to think about all of it.'"
Sporting News

Thursday, June 11, 2009
Q&A with NFL Films' Steve Sabol
"As the president of NFL Films, Steve Sabol is the league's ultimate historian, having documented its most memorable sights and sounds since co-founding the production company with his father, Ed, in 1962. One of only nine people to attend all 43 Super Bowls, Sabol shared his experiences as a guest speaker of the Charlotte Touchdown Club on Wednesday … Q: So who is the best NFL coach of the past decade? A: Bill Belichick. He is to this century what Paul Brown was to the previous century. With the way he has built teams, his strategic mind, the success he's had – he would be my easy choice."
Sporting News

Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Bill Belichick responds to Rex Ryan's 'ring kiss' line
"Bill Belichick reacted with a shrug of the shoulders and a few compliments for Rex Ryan as a response to Ryan's crack last week during a radio interview that he 'never came here to kiss Bill Belichick's rings.' … 'I have a lot of respect for Rex and what he did in Baltimore, the defense his teams played. We've always had great battles with the Jets, so I'm sure that will continue. It's a good rivalry. They beat us up here last year [in overtime]. They kind of got the last punch in on that one.' Evidently, Belichick is capable of doing something Ryan hasn't attempted in his brief tenure with the Jets: turn the other cheek."
Newsday.com

Bill Belichick Mini-Camp Q&A
"We've been at it here for a couple of weeks and we are kind of winding it down. It's good to be back out, good to have everybody working and good to see the players on the field rather than a bunch of names up there on the depth chart board. See them running, see them doing the plays and start to see things come together a little bit on the football field. [It's an] exciting time to get started but we still have a long way to go and a lot of work to do, so we will just take it one day at a time. I think we're making some progress. We just have to stay at it and be ready to make a long haul out of it [and] try to take these opportunities out here, this week, on the field to make sure we are as close to being ready for training camp as we can possibly be and that's when we will really find out what we have."
full transcript + video link

Tuesday, June 9, 2009
New England Sports Stars Play Some Cards
"Boston Red Sox players Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield led a celebrity poker tournament for their Pitching in for Kids charity at Faneuil Hall. The tournament also included Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. 'It's important to give back to the community that supports us everyday,' Wakefield said. 'And we threw a little extra twist in there this year. Play a little poker, have a bunch of guys [play] because I know we like to do it in the clubhouse and on the plane.'"
NESN video

Thursday, June 4, 2009
COACHES RANKINGS:  Give it up for Bill Belichick
"The top coaches are the grizzled vets who have proven their worth over time. But there are some young coaches who are pushing their way to the top and finding new ways to do things. The coaching tide is beginning to turn in the NFL. RealScouts, Sporting News' team of former NFL scouts, rank their top 20 head coaches: 1. Bill Belichick, Patriots. The smartest coach in the NFL. No one does a better job of adapting schemes and personnel to the opponent on a week-to-week basis. He always finds a way to win the matchup game."
Sporting News

Wednesday, June 3, 2009
VIDEO:  Harrison Retires, Kraft, Belichick Reaction
Patriots Now!

Bill Belichick on Rodney Harrison
"Veteran safety Rodney Harrison has announced his retirement from professional football after 15 NFL seasons. Harrison spent the last six seasons with the New England Patriots (2003-08) after playing nine seasons with the San Diego Chargers (1994-2002). … 'Rodney Harrison is one of the best players I have ever coached,' said Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick. 'In the biggest games, in any situation and on a weekly basis, his production was phenomenal. Rodney is the best practice player I have seen in 35 years in the NFL, which is a testament to his exceptional passion for the game and his desire to sustain and improve his level of play. Regardless of his status on the team and in the league, Rodney's approach to preparation spoke volumes about his devotion to the team and his ability to raise every player's game. Rodney embodies all the attributes coaches seek and appreciate – toughness, competitiveness, leadership, selflessness, hard work, intensity, professionalism – and coming from Rodney, they are contagious. I am honored to have coached Rodney Harrison and am grateful for his significant impact on my career and the success of the New England Patriots.'"
full story | conference call

2009 stories | 2009 quotes | 2009 transactions