2004 stories
	On A Number Of Programs, Smerlas Fits Bill 31-Dec-2004, Boston Globe "On this day, Smerlas mostly has Belichick on his mind. 'His knowledge of X's and O's is beyond the knowledge of even former players like us [Smerlas, DeOssie],' Smerlas said. 'He's bringing in players higher on the scale of football evolution. They're smarter and better behaved. But that's only half the story. He's in charge. He's set the parameters for coaching this team. Football players are aggressive guys with a lot of bravado. They'll eat a coach for lunch and take over the team if the coach lets them. Needless to say, that won't happen here.'" full story
	A Love Fest For Herm, Belichick 26-Dec-2004, New York Daily News "[The 'Border War'] took a civilized turn in 2001, when Parcells left the Jets' organization. These days, it's downright peaceful. The coaches, Herman Edwards and Bill Belichick, actually like each other – a lot. Is this any way to run a rivalry? ... 'I respect the heck out of the guy,' Edwards said of Belichick. 'He's a Hall of Fame coach, in my eyes. If they ask me to vote, he's going in, no doubt about it.'" full story
	Off The Belichick Tree 24-Dec-2004, Fresno Bee "Fresno State's Pat Hill and Virginia's Al Groh are former assistants on Bill Belichick's 1992 Cleveland Browns staff.... 'I'm not really surprised by what any of them have done,' says Belichick, the Super Bowl-winning coach of the New England Patriots. 'Outstanding group of coaches and people. I think time has shown that was a pretty capable and competent staff.'" full story
	Amos Alonzo Stagg Coaching Award 23-Dec-2004, US Sports Academy "The United States Sports Academy announced today that New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has been awarded the 2004 Amos Alonzo Stagg Coaching Award for his outstanding success at American football's highest level of competition." full story
	In The Huddle 22-Dec-2004, Sports Illustrated Kids (January 2005 issue) "Our NFL PLAYERS POLL takes you inside the helmets of 33 players on 17 teams. We asked them to vote on the hardest hitter, the hardest thrower, and everything in-between... Coach you would most like to play for (other than your own): 1. (tie) BILL BELICHICK, New England Patriots / Tony Dungy, Indianapolis Colts – 11%; 2. Herman Edwards, New York Jets – 9%." full story
	Dolphins Star Insists Pats Still Team To Beat 22-Dec-2004, Eagle-Tribune "While he says he always respects his opponent, there is no other franchise in the NFL [Jason Taylor] holds in higher regard than your New England Patriots, at least since Bill Belichick got this steamroller moving forward in 2001. 'They play football the way it's supposed to be played. They play a team game,' said Taylor. 'There are no Kobe Bryants on that team. Everybody has one goal, and that's winning. I respect what they do. Look around the league with guys wanting all the stats and publicity. That doesn't happen in New England.... I think you have to look at Belichick. I've never played for him, but he's the leader. He's the guy that sets the tone. He brings in people that are good players who want to win. He doesn't just look at talent. We have some guys around here like that, but not enough.'" full story
	Top Coaches Achieving Personnel Bests 10-Dec-2004, NFL.com "Blaming a team's failure on the coach having total control is as overrated as quarterback ratings. No matter how much power coaches do or don't have, they must surround themselves with qualified front-office people and informed personnel people that complement their opinions. Belichick, Reid and Cowher do.... If players such as New England's Troy Brown and Denver's Champ Bailey are good enough to play two positions, so are the men who coach them." full story
	Brown Inspired Pats' Belichick 09-Dec-2004, Cincinnati Enquirer "Belichick, known for his extensive library, has two copies of Brown's biography, 'PB: The Paul Brown Story.' 'The one Paul Brown autographed is the one that got ate by my dog,' Belichick said in his conference call Wednesday with Cincinnati reporters. 'What did you do to the dog?' he was asked. 'The dog's not around now....' 'What kind of dog was it?' 'A dead dog,' Belichick said." full story
	Hall Of Famer Paul Brown An Inspiration To Belichick 09-Dec-2004, Providence Journal "In a conference call with the Cincinnati media yesterday, the reverence Bill Belichick has for Paul Brown, the founder of both the Bengals and the Cleveland Browns, was on full display.... 'There probably isn't one thing that we do as the New England Patriots, other than maybe a technological improvement, that he didn't do 30 years ago, or maybe more than that. Maybe 40 years ago,' said Belichick." full story
	Marvin Lewis News Conference 08-Dec-2004, Cincinnati Bengals Q: "Is there anything you borrow from Coach Belichick?" ML: "I think it's that they pick players who fit their style. Their is no question about it. On draft day they choose players who might not be the popular choice, but in two or three years they are the right choice. That's what's important. I don't think they will be swayed by some outside source. They don't choose who others feel is the best player for the Patriots, they choose the player who they feel has insight of what is important to the team." full transcript
	Sportsman Of The Year: Patriots QB Tom Brady 08-Dec-2004, The Sporting News "Belichick says he has been around only one other player with Brady's knack for treating everyone, no matter their station, with the same grace and respect. 'Roger Staubach,' he says. 'I knew Roger when I was 11 and a nothing, and he treated me like his best friend. Same with Tom. I don't care if it is the owner or the ballboy, it doesn't matter to him.'" full story
	The American Money Machine 06-Dec-2004, TIME "Belichick defines the 21st century NFL coach: tech savvy, detail oriented and passionate about personnel – a mini-CEO in his realm. New England spends inordinate amounts of time evaluating players and not just assessing athletic talent. It looks for personalities that fit into New England's system, which is not star driven." full story
	Belichick Has Risen To The Top 01-Dec-2004, Patriots Football Weekly "Let's all step back and marvel at what we are witnessing in Patriots Nation. It's only sports, but we are, after all, passionate about our teams. They affect morale. They can lift the spirit of an entire region or tear away a piece of its heart. And so we do place a certain level of importance on our teams even if their performance is far less vital than many other things in life. With that in mind, it's hard to place a historical perspective on these recent Bill Belichick-led New England Patriots because we are living in the midst of it." full story (subscribers only)
	21: The Story Behind The NFL's Longest Winning Streak 01-Dec-2004, New England Patriots "Every game of the streak is chronicled with highlights and insider sideline and locker room footage. Also included is Head Coach Bill Belichick's weekly 'Belestrator' segments from the Patriots All Access TV show where he previewed key factors to look for prior to each game. Plus, bonus content includes exclusive interviews with all the games' playmakers and never-before-seen footage from the Patriots Super Bowl XXXVIII ring ceremony at owner Robert Kraft's house." full details | the streak
	Monday Morning QB 29-Nov-2004, SI.com "Coach of the Week: New England defensive backs coach Eric Mangini. Never met the man. Don't know much about his philosophy or his hands-on teaching. All I know is Bill Belichick and Romeo Crennel let their position coaches coach, and that the Patriots went 4-0 in November, surrendering 12.5 points per game, with a wide receiver (Troy Brown) and three former practice-squadders (Randall Gay, Omare Lowe, Earthwind Moreland) playing major minutes at cornerback." full story
	Let's Praise Old-School Patriots 28-Nov-2004, San Antonio Express-News "Leaving opponents, fans and media flummoxed along the way, the Patriots are 9-1 despite a spate of costly injuries, rolling up 96 points in three victories since a 34-20 setback at Pittsburgh halted their record streak. Bill Belichick, who has emerged as the strongest coach in the league, has fully implemented an old-school system populated by players who fit into the game plan, instead of forcing the game plan to fit them." full story
	Ravens Personnel Department's Roots Go Back To Belichick 27-Nov-2004, Ravens Insider "The Bill Belichick tree has multiple branches and a sphere of influence that extends throughout the elite ranks of the NFL and college football. And a few of the New England Patriots head coach's strongest roots are thriving in the Baltimore Ravens' personnel department." full story
	By The Numbers: Calling The Playmakers 26-Nov-2004, Wall Street Journal "Who's the best NFL coach ever? Big Game Factor says its Vince Lombardi, followed closely by the still active Bill Belichick and Joe Gibbs. This stat combines regular-season wining percentage with playoff winning percentage, thus placing a special emphasis on post-season performance rather than piling up regular-season wins, which is why active coaches like Mike Shanahan rank ahead of legends like Don Shula and Tom Landry." full story
	White-Collar Heroes: Teams' GM Becoming Big Hit With Baseball Fans 26-Nov-2004, Boston Herald "Simply put, baseball fans are rapidly shifting their loyalties from the players on the field to the men in the front office.... Lucchino said last week, 'If the fans have developed a respect for us, we've earned it. Players come and players go, but the ownership in the front office remains the same and it's working hard to produce a winning team.' ... But the perceived greed of the modern peripatetic ballplayer is only part of the story. The success of Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots head coach, has also reinforced loyalty to the front office." full story
	Quarterbacks Facing "The Belichick Factor" 26-Nov-2004, NFL.com "The young quarterbacks with winning records in the AFC that have the best chance to make the playoffs along with Manning have a combined 4-10 career record with 19 touchdowns, 19 interceptions and 22 sacks against the best defensive game planner in the league. Keep in mind not one of them has ever won more than one game against the Patriots coach." full story
	Brian Billick Conference Call 24-Nov-2004, New England Patriots "Is there anyone in the profession today that is performing any more brilliantly than Bill? In a historical context, I will leave that for you all to judge. The thing I admire most about Coach Belichick is the way they are winning now. This is a good, solid football team that is very veteran. They really don't do a lot. What they do is brilliant in its execution in that it is absolutely fundamentally flawless. They are at the right place at the right time doing the right things. I have never seen an entire team manage a game as well as the Patriots do, and you have to attribute that to Coach Belichick." full transcript
	Ten Things To Be Grateful For This Season 24-Nov-2004, NFL.com "8. Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots: The consistency that his team has displayed over the past three-and-a-half years has been nothing short of amazing. His team wins regardless of injury or whom they are playing. There have been some who have said that today's NFL, because of free agency and the salary cap, cannot sustain a dynasty. They long for the old days when teams like the Steelers, Cowboys and 49ers ruled the NFL landscape. But I point right to [the] Patriots and their success as a counterpoint to that argument. Watching greatness unfold before our eyes is something we all can be thankful for." full story
	Patriots-Chiefs: How They Performed – Notes, Quotes 24-Nov-2004, Patriots Insider "Bill Belichick is now the Patriots' all-time winningest coach. The Patriots' win over Kansas City, which improved the team's best ever start to 9-1, also was Belichick's 54th of his career in New England. He passed Mike Holovak, who posted a 53-47-9 record between 1961 and 1968. Belichick is now 54-26 as the Patriots' head coach and 48-26 during the regular season. He also is the all-time leader in terms of winning percentage with a .675 success rate in four-plus seasons. He still needs four wins to tie Holovak for regular season wins since all of Holovak's came during the regular season. Belichick is also the only Patriots coach with a perfect postseason mark at 6-0. Raymond Berry is the only other head coach in team history with a winning record in the playoffs (3-2)." full story (subscribers only)
	Kraft Turns Pats Into Perfect Franchise 22-Nov-2004, Kansas City Star "'With me, it's first of all having good people, and that means people you're comfortable having at your dinner table,' said Kraft. 'The one thing I said when I hired Bill Belichick is, 'You can do whatever you want in personnel; just don't bring any bad apples here.' If they come into this community and do something...this team carries my family name, and it's an embarrassment to me and my family personally. I'm proud of the people Bill has brought into this organization.'" full story
	Implicit Trust In Coaches Is Key To Patriots' Success 22-Nov-2004, Pro Football Weekly "LB/special-teams captain Larry Izzo says the players' belief that the New England coaching staff is acting with a single-minded goal – to win every game – fosters the team's unbeatable aura. 'I think what we've done in the past to be successful is to buy into what Bill (Belichick) and the other coaches are saying,' Izzo told PFW. 'Every week, it's amazing how they identify what we need to do to win. And, you know, so far we've been pretty successful at that. But there are still some things we want to get better at. But the faith that we have in our coaches is a credit to them because they've proven it year-in, year-out, game-in, game-out that they know what they're doing – they know how to win. If we can just consistently do the things they identify each week, we'll be successful. We're not quite there yet, but we're striving for perfection. I think you can be perfect. Obviously we haven't been, but that's our goal and hopefully we'll get there.'" full source
	Belichick Takes Offense 19-Nov-2004, Boston Herald "'I am in 1,000 percent agreement with Tony Dungy. That's 1,000 percent.... If preserving the integrity of the game and presenting it in the right way involves getting lower ratings, then that's what we're going to have to accept,' said Belichick. 'If that's what we have to do to, if that's the deal, then that's the deal. This can't become the XFL.'" full story
	Cowboys Get Old At Wrong Positions 19-Nov-2004, ESPN.com "Loading up with aging veteran starters can provide the leadership necessary to turn a good team into a great team. Look at the Patriots. They've patented the processes. Bill Belichick knows the value of role players and loves to fill out key positions with veterans.... Older teams require bolder decisions. Belichick stays ahead of the curve because he and vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli constantly churn their roster." full story
	Analyze This: Best besides Brady 18-Nov-2004, NFL.com Vic Carucci: "Bill Belichick is the most indispensable member of the Patriots, period. That includes Tom Brady and any other viable player candidate such as Adam Vinatieri, Tedy Bruschi, Corey Dillon, Mike Vrabel, Richard Seymour or Troy Brown. Every bit of the success that Brady and his teammates have enjoyed starts with Belichick, who not only is the greatest coach in the game today but one of the greatest – if not THE greatest – in NFL history. The Patriots' structure, strategy and philosophical approach follow his brilliantly crafted blueprint. Take it away and there are no Super Bowl victories or history-making winning streak or current 8-1 record that has set the stage for another Super Bowl run." full story
	Charlie Weis Press Conference 17-Nov-2004, New England Patriots "I have said this before and I will never say anything other than this, that I have never seen a man with as much foresight and insight as Bill. He always seems to be one step ahead. It is not just x's and o's. It is personnel. It is the whole organization. He is thinking ahead rather than just staying on an even keel. I think that gives a decisive edge over most people he is going against because there are a lot of good football people. There are a lot of people that are good at x's and o's. But, there are very few people that have the insight/foresight to look ahead and try to figure out what he is going to do before those times even come up." full transcript
	Romeo Crennel Press Conference 17-Nov-2004, New England Patriots "The thing about Bill is he is a very thorough football oriented guy. He knows football. He knows offense. He knows defense. He knows special teams because he has coached all of those positions. He is willing to put in the time to work, the study, and the effort that it has to have to get it done. I think that is one of the reasons that our team is a thorough team because that is his nature.... If you give him an idea and it is sound and he thinks it is a good idea, he will go for it. If he doesn't think it is a good idea, he is not going to go for it. He is open-minded. He is flexible." full transcript
	Only Patriots And Eagles Are Consistently Good 16-Nov-2004, Providence Journal "'You're always looking for consistency,' said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick yesterday after his team's 29-6 win over Buffalo. 'With each player, each unit, and collectively as a team. That's the key to being successful. It's a long season. There's a lot of games, a lot of snaps, a lot of circumstances that you go through. You play in a lot of different elements – home and away, field conditions, you're ahead, you're behind, you're on your own 1-yard line, you're on their 1-yard line. There's so many things. To be able to consistently play at a high competitive level is what you're striving for.'" full story
	Patriots' Rushing Attack Hits A New High 16-Nov-2004, MetroWest Daily News "The Patriots rushed for 200-plus yards in a game for the first time in Bill Belichick's four-plus years as coach. How did they do it? The plan started to take shape on the first offensive possession of Sunday night's impressive 29-6 victory over the Bills.... But as we've learned from the Patriots under coach Bill Belichick and coordinators Charlie Weis (offense) and Romeo Crennel (defense), there's a calculated reason for every decision they make. It comes after intense film study and research, and the latest example – carried out by the sharp execution of a talent-rich team – was brilliant." full story
	The Amazing, Enigmatic Belichick 11-Nov-2004, Newsweek "Patriots players have bought into a successful system that is revolutionizing the game in a fashion that hasn't been seen in the NFL since the Bill Walsh heyday with the 49ers back in the '80s. Walsh's revolution can be neatly summed up as the West Coast offense, while Belichick's impact is difficult to describe with any catch phrase. But in a me-first era in professional sports, he has somehow resurrected old-fashioned notions of team and made them paramount." full story
	Otis Smith Waits For Pats To Call 10-Nov-2004, Eagle-Tribune "Smith says coming to New England would be one of the only options he would consider. Not only because of the team's success, but because of Belichick.... Smith says Belichick's best attribute, though, might be his ability to make adjustments during a game. 'I've played for other coaches and it's not even close,' said Smith. 'If the defense gives up a big play, he immediately goes to work on the sidelines with an adjustment so it doesn't happen again. You never see the Belichick defense get burned by the same play twice.'" full story
	Patriots Of 2004 Find Their Identity 09-Nov-2004, Providence Journal "Players – regardless of their résumé – are welcomed onto this team that has done great things. In return, they must perform when their time comes. Sunday, many players did just that. The Rams game is now a reference point for what the 2004 Patriots can do. Not what somebody else who used to wear the same number and uniform did some other year. The 2004 Patriots' season is now under way." full story
	Midseason Awards 09-Nov-2004, SI.com "Best coaching job of the first half: I started to over-think this one for a time, and then I realized New England's Bill Belichick is still the measuring stick in this league. Despite getting every opponent's A game, Belichick has had his defending champion Patriots up to the challenge seven times in eight games, with their first six victories furthering New England's remarkable NFL-record 21-game winning streak." full story
	MMQB: The Fine Fifteen 08-Nov-2004, SI.com "2. New England (7-1). The 40-22 win over St. Louis is a new chapter in the Belichick / Pioli / Weis / Crennel / Seely brilliance book. Imagine going into Rams-ville and conquering the obstacles the Pats did. Midway through the first quarter, because of injuries, the starters were Randall Gay, who started one game in college last year, and Earthwind Moreland, who I think last played an NFL snap in 2001. The nickel back was Troy Brown. That's right, the wide receiver. Don Davis, a linebacker and special-teamer, played a good chunk of the game at safety. And Marc Bulger did some damage (23-33, 285 yards), but not enough to win this game. Bill Belichick and his offensive, defensive and special-teams men – Charlie Weis, Romeo Crennel and Brad Seely – then had the gumption to call a touchdown pass to linebacker Mike Vrabel and a fake field goal when the kicker threw a touchdown pass." full source
	Tips From The Pros 08-Nov-2004, Zweig White Consulting "Some of the best team builders come from the world of professional sports. A select group of managers and coaches have become household names by accomplishing great feats – not on their own, but through others.... In the professional sports world, coaches and managers can plan, strategize, set lineups, cheerlead, and even throw tantrums – but they can't strap on a helmet, run onto the field, and actually make the tackles. Their primary responsibility is to put their players in a position to win, period. How can you build a team without actually playing the game? Let's take a look at some lessons from the pros." (Includes Red Auerbach, Vince Lombardi, Herb Brooks, Joe Torre, Bill Belichick) full story
	This Victory What Patriots 'Team' Is All About 07-Nov-2004, CBS SportsLine.com "Their coaches have the answers. They deal with adversity better than any staff or team in the league. 'It's probably as complete a team victory as any I've been around,' Patriots coach Bill Belichick said afterward. Notice the word 'team.' The Patriots always do." full story
	The Sporting Side Of Election Day 07-Nov-2004, Philadelphia Inquirer "Sports Illustrated's Web site, SI.com, held an Election Day fan poll last week, and asked readers to pick their favorite athlete in the clutch....When asked which coach – of any sport – you'd want calling the shots in a title game, the fans gave Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots 35 percent of the vote." full results
	Martz Raves About Belichick, And Vice Versa 04-Nov-2004, St Louis Post-Dispatch "'Bill [Belichick] is probably the standard for the rest of us in the league, how he manages the game, his team,' Martz said at his Wednesday news conference. 'He does a great job of creating turnovers, creating opportunities for his football team to win. When they do get the opportunity, they take advantage of it.' And ... 'Bill is terrific,' Martz said. 'I have great admiration for him. He's a Hall of Fame head coach, He may be as good as there has ever been. I consider him a good friend. I have a chance to talk to him more than any other head coach and I enjoy the relationship a great deal.'" full story
	Our Famous Alumni 01-Nov-2004, Lacrosse Magazine (Nov/Dec 2004 issue) "While his notoriety comes from football now, lacrosse was his best sport, starting all four years and earning captain honors while playing sparingly during his collegiate gridiron career. Although [college coach Terry] Jackson envisioned Belichick, a close family friend during his time at Wesleyan, heading into the business or teaching realm, there were signs of coaching ability early on." full story (photo courtesy of US Lacrosse)
	Those Championship Seasons: The fans, plans, & teamwork in Pats' success 31-Oct-2004, Boston Globe "For a region steeped in extraordinary devotion to the Red Sox, the New England Patriots had long been a bumbling sideshow, their haplessness snapped only by the occasional, futile title run. Then they won two NFL championships in three years. Only delusional cynics ignore the idea that these Patriots are gifts from the football gods, spiced with the ingredients of professional athletic excellence: a devoted owner, a new stadium, a dynamic defense, a golden-boy quarterback, a freon-veined kicker, a virtuoso coach, a team-first philosophy, and a knack for winning close games. In 'Patriot Reign,' former Globe columnist Michael Holley explores the organizational culture behind such magnificence." full story
	Patriots Buy Belichick's Philosophy 28-Oct-2004, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Asked after the Patriots' 13-7 win Sunday over the formerly unbeaten New York Jets how the team was able to respond to Belichick week after week, safety Rodney Harrison said, 'Concentration. Maturity. Confidence. And we don't panic. We go through a lot of situational football, so, when it is a critical moment, we don't panic. Someone always steps up and makes a play.' When he addressed his team after that game, Belichick handled the winning streak the same way as usual. 'I didn't say one word about it,' he said. That's no surprise to anyone who has paid attention to Belichick. It turns out, though, that Belichick might not be as one-dimensional and dry as he lets on." full story
	Belichick Values A Victory 26-Oct-2004, Washington Post "When he was 7, Belichick's father, Steve, longtime football coach at the U.S. Naval Academy, took him to see a Bears game against the Colts in Baltimore. When Belichick was introduced to Halas in the locker room afterward, Halas pulled out a $1 bill, signed it and handed it to the youngster, telling him that because he was the first to congratulate him for the victory, he would be suitably compensated." full story
	NFL's Longest Winning Streaks 25-Oct-2004, Pro Football Hall of Fame "On October 5, 2003, the New England Patriots defeated the Tennessee Titans, 38-30. That win began a record streak of victories by the Patriots that spanned more than a calendar year.... The Patriots record winning streak reached 21 games and included wins in both the regular season and post-season highlighted by a victory in Super Bowl XXXVIII. New England also entered the record book when the team strung together 18 straight wins in the regular season which surpassed the mark held by the Chicago Bears in 1933-34." full story | hof exhibit | special section
	Superstitions Not In Pats' Game Plan 24-Oct-2004, Providence Journal "We figured this week we'd go off the board and ask what kinds of pregame rituals the players go through. Somewhat predictably, many have none. They feel they are a distraction, an impediment to focusing on what matters. 'What do you mean, do I tie my left shoe first?' asked head coach Bill Belichick when the subject was broached. 'No. There's plenty of people who do that but you're not talking to one of them. There's gotta be more to it than wearing the same underwear. I don't buy into it and I won't knowingly let [the team] buy into it. We're not doing something one week because we won when we did it two weeks ago.'" full story
	Belichick: Genius At Work 24-Oct-2004, Newsday "Belichick owes much of [his] creative genius to his intense scrutiny of game films. He began studying them as a child, sitting next to his father, Steve, a former assistant coach at Navy. The elder Belichick used to take his son to the Annapolis train station on autumn Monday mornings to pick up game films of the upcoming opponent, and the two would examine the intricacies of the game. 'I think I had an appreciation for it early,' Belichick said. 'A lot of times, guys don't watch film until they get to college. But I was 10 years old and studying it. Film was important to me.'" full story
	Boston Sports Media Watch 22-Oct-2004, BostonSportsMedia.com "As for the Patriots, how crazy is it that they are going for the 'Official' league record for consecutive victories (already owning the 'unofficial' record) this Sunday against the New York Jets, and no one is saying a peep about it. Maybe it's better that way, it seems to have made Bill Belichick's press conference's even better, you need to check out today's transcript. Maybe it was because there were only hard-core football writers there, but this stuff is as informative as you're going to see anywhere. It continues to boggle my mind how media types complain about Belichick being boring and dull. They want the Bill Parcells' 'She' material all the time, yet if you take the time to read and listen, Belichick tells you 100 times more about the nuances of football than Parcells or probably anyone else does." full story
	Patriots Let Results Make All The Noise 22-Oct-2004, Newsday "They have won 20 consecutive games, the longest winning streak in NFL history. They're the defending Super Bowl champs. They're 5-0 and tied with the Jets for first place in the AFC East. A win over the Jets on Sunday at home and they're alone at the top. If ever there is a team in the NFL that has a right to feel good about itself, it's the Patriots. But they don't." full story
	The Patriots Act: CEO Belichick Has Created The Model Organization In Today's NFL 20-Oct-2004, SI.com & NPR News "Presumably Belichick is a fine coach on the field, but in a way, we don't really know. Maybe it doesn't matter. We do know that he has superb assistants. Football, like the army, is a hierarchical enterprise. Staff officers are crucial. And just as crucial, Belichick has developed a system to deal with the bureaucratic intricacies of the business of football today, where the salary cap and free agency force complicated decisions on all franchises. It is primarily Belichick's ability to manipulate personnel and finances that have made the Patriots the winner of a record 20 straight games. Management executives and academics see Belichick more as a CEO than a coach." full story | full audio
	A League Of Their Own 18-Oct-2004, Sports Illustrated "The most amazing thing about the run is the ever-changing Patriots' roster. This is Belichick's fifth year as coach. At the beginning of every season he has had at least 10 starters who weren't in the opening day lineup the previous year, including a dozen guys in '04 who were not in the lineup that opened the season for last year's title team. This year the Pats replaced their running back, the fullback, a wideout, three offensive linemen, the tight end, two defensive linemen, two linebackers and the free safety. By comparison, the lineup for the '72 Dolphins had only three changes from 1971. In '73 Miami changed two starters." full story
	Like Wilfork, Belichick Doesn't Give Much Ground 15-Oct-2004, Providence Journal "Little about the Patriots is underrated anymore, but the nuances of a Bill Belichick news conference are still largely underappreciated. There are days when Belichick is so deadpan he'd make straight-faced comedian Stephen Wright check the coach for a pulse, but regardless of delivery, there is usually some heft to what the coach has to say when he's allowed to roam with game-related thoughts." full story
	New England Simply The Model Franchise 15-Oct-2004, St. Petersburg Times "Rams coach Mike Martz said he 'can't even fathom' winning 19 straight and believes getting to the milestone starts with coach Bill Belichick.... 'One of the best things he does is he keeps everybody level-headed,' Martz said. 'It isn't a team of superstars. He has a real solid team atmosphere and he keeps their feet on the ground because he has his feet on the ground.... That's how he coaches, that's why he's got it going so well.'" full story
	Go 2 Guy: Tale Of A Dogged Newshound 14-Oct-2004, Seattle Post-Intelligencer "After shaking his hand, I could tell he was in a hurry and had time for one quick question, causing me to pull out old reliable, the query that inarguably measures the greatness of a man. 'Got any dogs?' I asked. Belichick looked at me like I was out of my mind, an astute observation from a genius. But right when I thought he might go Joe Paterno on me, Belichick said: 'Yes, I've got two. They're English white golden retrievers.' Vince Lombardi, step aside." full story
	Team Takes It 'One Game At A Time' 13-Oct-2004, ESPN.com "Clichés are tired and trite, but they are also true. The New England Patriots believe in them, which is why they have managed to win one game at a time – 19 times in a row. After the Patriots handled the Miami Dolphins 24-10 last Sunday, they celebrated their NFL record by orchestrating what has become the ultimate victory cliché. Richard Seymour and Rodney Harrison doused head coach Bill Belichick with a vat of Gatorade on the sidelines at Gillette Stadium." full story (subscribers only)
	Brains Over Brawn 12-Oct-2004, SI.com "What continues to impress me is that they have smart players who get it. They want to win. Some players say, 'I just want to win. And I'll sacrifice a few bucks to do it.' At least six Patriots have proven this in the last year and a half. Tom Brady saw Peyton Manning and Chad Pennington get $58 million in new bonus money before this season. They've combined to win no Super Bowls. Brady's won two.... These guys know they're in a special place in time, and they're not going to screw it up. I give Bill Belichick his due in Sports Illustrated this week on the terrific coaching job he's been doing (surprise!), and I urge you to read it if you want to know how a very good team stays very good." full story
	It's Pats, Then Everyone Else 10-Oct-2004, Newsday "If the Patriots beat the Dolphins today at home...they will be the first NFL team to win 19 consecutive games. Five other NFL teams have won 18 in a row, with the 1997-98 Broncos the most recent team to accomplish the feat before the Patriots.... 'It really doesn't affect me,' Belichick said. 'I am respectful of the situation ... but it doesn't have a lot to do with what we are doing. It doesn't affect what our preparation is. It doesn't affect what our game plan is. It doesn't affect how we practiced. That is all determined by the opponent we are facing. It is all determined by Miami and what we have to do for this week.'" full story
	This Doctor Orders A Cliché A Day 08-Oct-2004, Detroit Free Press "ESPN interviewed [Dr. Don] Powell Tuesday for an 'NFL Countdown' segment on Belichick, who's known to be a master of the cliché. It is expected to air between 11:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. 'His use of clichés is a way of motivating his players, but also not providing fodder for the other team,' Powell said." full story
	Take Less, Win More Is Their Battle Cry 07-Oct-2004, Boston Herald "One of the reasons why the Patriots have a chance to be a consistent championship contender through the salary cap era is that they have enough players who operate under a different philosophy. Left tackle Matt Light and special teams captain Larry Izzo are just the latest examples. Both players recently came to terms on contract extensions with the Pats, giving up the chance to make bigger scores as unrestricted free agents after the season. Both followed the lead of several teammates who decided that playing for a championship organization was more valuable than a higher number on their contract." full story
	Patriots Are Best Because They're The Smartest 07-Oct-2004, Sun-Sentinel "They are the thinking person's football team, one that should change the way all people think about pro football. Their run has been borne more of brains than of brawn. They have proved how much intelligence matters in this sport, with nimble minds as valuable as robust bodies." full story
	Mike Martz On Bill Belichick 07-Oct-2004, St Louis Rams "I think you're talking about one of the best coaches to ever coach the game to begin with, in Bill Belichick. To be able to do what he's accomplished, and put together what he's put together is remarkable in today's NFL, how things are done. I don't know if people really appreciate what he's been able to do to keep that team together. To have changes, and the injuries he's had, they just keep finding a way to win. The best thing he's done, as good as anybody in the league, is keeping his team as a team. They're connected, and they really kind of disdain that superstar mentality, and I think it works well." full transcript
	Don Shula On Bill Belichick 05-Oct-2004, NFL "It's just a tremendous job that Bill has done in New England, two out of the last three Super Bowls. And I think that's what he cares about more than the streak at this time.... I know that Bill would be proud of breaking the record, but the record that he's looking for is winning the big game at the end of the year." full audio
	Patriots Tie Unofficial Standard For Victories In A Row 04-Oct-2004, New York Times "After adding a touchdown on a fumble return, the Patriots won, 31-17, in front of 72,698 at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The victory was New England's third in a row to open the season, its 15th in succession in the regular season and its 18th straight victory over all, including the postseason. The Patriots joined four teams with 18 consecutive victories, although the N.F.L. acknowledges only regular-season victories in its record book." full story
	Pats Attitude Right For Continued Success 03-Oct-2004, NFL.com "Yes, their success is about talent and about excellent coaching, to be certain. But it's also about attitude. With two Super Bowl victories in the last three seasons, a winning attitude seems pretty much a given. What's truly remarkable about the Patriots is their ability to maintain a workman-like attitude these past few years, especially the past two seasons." full story
	Patriots' Win Streak 03-Oct-2004, Florida Times-Union "The Patriots are aiming for a place in NFL history today when they play at Buffalo in search of their 18th consecutive victory over the last two years. A victory would enable them to become just the seventh pro team to achieve that feat. If the Patriots beat the Bills and then the Dolphins next Sunday, they'll become the first team to win 19 in a row, including playoff games. Since the NFL officially doesn't mix regular season and playoff games in its record books, the Patriots are three shy of the regular-season record of 17 in a row set by the 1933-34 Chicago Bears." full story
	No Past Or Future For Pats – Only The Here And Now 01-Oct-2004, Providence Journal "In most cases, such statements are just lip service, a meaningless variety of sports psycho-babble. For the coaches, it's usually wishful thinking. For the players, it's baloney. But not in the case of the Patriots, who have bought into the Belichick approach, take it seriously, truly believe in it, and make it work so successfully. 'Last year is over,' said The Coach. 'I think we've talked enough about that. Right now, a streak of one division win would be what I'm looking for – one division win.'" full story
	Belichick's NFL Success Is Anything But Boring 01-Oct-2004, Democrat & Chronicle "With a 7-1 post-season record – second only to the immortal Vince Lombardi – Belichick is at the top of his game. At just 52 years old, he could spend the next 10 seasons cementing his place in football history. He may have the staying power because he's not distracted by the pursuit of airtime or headlines. It's the game, not fame that fuels him. He's happy to let his players get the publicity, just as long as they don't forget his team-first, individual-second credo." full story
	Coaching Fraternity 01-Oct-2004, Hartford Courant "For more than 20 years, Nick Saban and Bill Belichick have done things virtually the same way. Their coaching styles mirror each other, born of a longstanding friendship, both professional and personal. They are no-nonsense men, with a keen attention to detail and a genius for defense. And then early this year, the two 52-year-olds suddenly had something else in common. In the span of a month, both coaches reached the pinnacle." full story
	Pats' Belichick The Model Teams Now Want To Copy 30-Sep-2004, Providence Journal "Belichick is viewed differently now. It no longer matters that his news conferences lack the kind of inherent theater that the Tuna's did. No longer matters that he's never going to say a lot, that there's always a moat around both his feelings and how he runs his football organization. No longer matters that once upon a time he seemed to be the antithesis of the popular perception of what a coach of legend was supposed to be. Now, everyone wants a coach like Belichick, and if there's a certain irony to that, so be it." full story
	E=TD SQUARED 28-Sep-2004, Boston Globe "Why aren't we surprised that Patriots coach Bill Belichick wrote the forward to Timothy Gay's new book, 'Football Physics'? (A professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Gay demonstrates how scientific principles figured into Steeler Franco Harris's Immaculate Reception, among other great pigskin moments.) Belichick, who majored in economics at Wesleyan, writes that 'while some observers see only carnage and chaos, brilliant athletic performances and bone-jarring collisions, the science-minded see the field as a working laboratory.'" full story
	The Confidence Factor, From One With Plenty Of It 26-Sep-2004, Boston Globe "There are dozens of heroes, from Mandela and New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick to corporate chiefs Jim Kilts at Gillette Co. and Gordon Bethune at Continental. What such leaders have in common is a belief in confidence as a system and what Kanter calls an 'egoless' management style that consists of listening, fostering open dialogue and initiative, holding others to their goals, and inviting them to believe in themselves and rise to the occasion." full story
	Heeding The Call: As A Member Of The Patriot's 'Brain Trust,' Ernie Adams '71 Strategizes For The Super Bowl Champs Fall 2004, Andover Athletics "While there are many members of the Patriots organization more visible, there are few who contribute more to the team's success than Ernie Adams '71, sometimes referred to as the head coach's right-hand man. Belichick and Adams, offensive line mates on an undefeated 1970 football team at Andover and friends who spent time in the dormitory drawing up football plays on scrap paper, are still collaborating 33 years later with tremendous success." full story (Adobe Reader required)
	Faulk Speaks About Return 22-Sep-2004, Patriots.com "Just more than a week after he returned to the Patriots following the death of his mother, running back Kevin Faulk spoke publicly for the first time Wednesday about his two-week hiatus from the team....'When my mom was sick, I was going to be down there,' Faulk said. 'Coach [Bill] Belichick, being the coach that he is, he was like 'However much time you need to be down there with your family, or whatever you need, I grant you that.' That just goes to show how much class the organization has.'" full story
	Bill Belichick on Patriot Reign: Bill Belichick, The Coaches, And The Players Who Built A Champion during Patriots Monday on WEEI 20-Sep-2004, WEEI "The reason that Michael [Holley] had the access that he did was to give the fans a look at kind of how the organization runs a little bit, and some of the things behind the scenes. That was the arrangement that we had with Michael when he did the book. It was about the background, the preparation, how things work, meetings, a little bit of a week-to-week or day-to-day type of routine, kind of what the fans don't see. And it wasn't done with the idea to stir up a lot of controversy, and try to take something and manufacture it into a big story." full transcript
	Sox, Ryder Cup Team Could Learn Something From Pats 20-Sep-2004, Providence Journal "For the last 17 consecutive games, the Patriots have walked off the field winners. For nearly a year now – ever since last Sept. 28 at Washington – the Patriots have done whatever they have needed to do to win. Against good teams, and mediocre teams, and bad teams – in the snow, in the bitter cold, in the pouring rain, in oppressive heat and energy-sapping humidity – whether a season opener, or a Super Bowl, the Patriots always find a way to win." full story
	Wesleyan An NFL Footnote 20-Sep-2004, Record-Journal "When Patriots head coach Bill Belichick won a second Super Bowl in February, he joined an elite fraternity of two-time winners that includes legendary names such as Lombardi, Shula and Landry. What is in some ways almost as impressive is that Belichick has thrust his alma mater, Wesleyan University in Middletown, a small, Division III, liberal arts college, to the forefront of the football universe." full story
	Bill Belichick On 60 Minutes 19-Sep-2004, CBS News "The biggest stories in pro-football today aren't about quarterbacks or wide receivers – they're about coaches.... Why has the coach become such a big star? 60 Minutes figured the best way to find out was to go to the two head coaches from the last Super Bowl, Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots and John Fox of the Carolina Panthers. Correspondent Lesley Stahl reports." full video + transcript
	Building Programs Using Belichick's Blueprint 18-Sep-2004, New York Times "These days, life on the sideline is nearly as good for Belichick's boys as it is for the man who has led New England to two Super Bowl victories in three years. Four coaches who worked for Belichick in Cleveland between 1991 and 1995 have college programs in the Associated Press Top 20 this week. Belichick has become the most respected coach in the N.F.L., and his ideals and habits are also thriving in the college game." full story
	Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure Opening September 17th 16-Sep-2004, New England Patriots "Audiences will be able to help support the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation when they see Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure, opening September 17 at The Feinstein IMAX® Theatre, Providence Place.... Three years ago, Head Coach Bill Belichick brought the team to the Feinstein Theatre for a special engagement of Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure because of its inspirational message of teamwork and human endurance." full story | more
	SI Players Poll: Who Is The Best Coach In The NFL? 14-Sep-2004, Sports Illustrated "Q: Who is the best coach in the NFL? Bill Belichick 45%; Bill Parcells 9%; Tony Dungy 8%; Dick Vermeil 8%; Steve Mariucci 5%; Brian Billick 4%; Mike Shanahan 3%; Marvin Lewis 3%; John Fox 3%; Andy Reid 3%. ... Q: Who would you most want to play for? Tony Dungy 19%; Dick Vermeil 10%; Bill Belichick 10%; Bill Parcells 7%; Steve Mariucci 7%; Marvin Lewis 6%; Brian Billick 5%; Mike Shanahan 4%; Jeff Fisher 4%; Joe Gibbs 4%." full story
	Collector's Corner 12-Sep-2004, Providence Journal "COACHES SIGNING: Almost overlooked in the flurry of football cards on the hobby market are two series of cards that feature the autographs of National Football League coaches. The most ambitious are in a Topps program called 'Ring of Honor Coaches Cuts' in its 2004 Football set that boasts cards with the 'cut' signatures of all 38 winning Super Bowl coaches including Vince Lombardi, Bill Walsh, Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick." full story | more info
	2004 NFL Opening Kickoff 10-Sep-2004, Boston Globe "Ceremonies commemorating the Patriots' triumph over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII were part of a one-hour live pregame special on ABC that featured musical performances from four stages at the stadium.... Patriots owner Robert Kraft took the stage and was greeted by a rousing ovation from the capacity crowd. 'Fans of New England,' he began, 'exactly two years ago to the day, I stood here with you to celebrate a very special evening. O