2005 stories: december - july     Deserving Of Award: Belichick the league's best for keeping team in contention 31-Dec-2005, Pro Football Weekly "This is the time of year when accolades are handed out, and two of the biggest are the league's Most Valuable Player and the Coach of the Year awards. Let others debate the former, but the latter seems clear to me, although perhaps unlikely to others. The coach who did the best job under the most adverse conditions in 2005 is Bill Belichick, regardless of whether or not his New England Patriots successfully defend their Super Bowl title for the third straight time." full story           Classics Sure Pack Them In 31-Dec-2005, Boston Globe "Welcome to the Patriots' offensive meeting room. Up front, a movie screen hangs from above. To the left, a computer loaded with football footage is stationed on a table. The seats are stadium-like, each row a bit higher than the next. Along the walls are color pictures of Patriots offensive players. There are two signs, reminding offensive players their dos (i.e. physical football) and don'ts (mental errors). The lights are dimmed and through the door walks Patriots coach Bill Belichick. 'Class is in session,' he says with a smile." full story           Belichick Film Session 30-Dec-2005, Patriots Today "For the second consecutive Friday, Bill Belichick welcomed the media into a film study session. After last week's look at some 1940s footage, the head coach fast forwarded to the 1980s, specifically some tape of his New York Giants defenses including how the Giants tried to defend star quarterbacks such as Joe Montana and John Elway. He presented a look with plenty of analysis at what made Lawrence Taylor and Pepper Johnson so effective for the Giants." video clip (fast forward to 2:35)           These Six Coaches Deserve Their Props 30-Dec-2005, FOX Sports "3. Bill Belichick, Patriots: Perhaps the best coaching job he has ever done. … New England...managed to rip through the Bucs two weeks ago, and everyone else recently for that matter. Wow, what a job. Just about every other coach in the NFL would have watched his team fold under such adversity." full story           Analyze This: Coach of the Year 29-Dec-2005, NFL.com Pat Kirwan: "It is always hard to pick one coach from the 32 men working themselves to the bone trying to scratch out enough victories to make the playoffs. … Bill Belichick lost both of his coordinators and so many starters to injury that most coaches in his situation would have folded up the tent and gone home for the year. He might be completing one of his best coaching jobs of his career." full story           It Was No 2004: But 2005 still offered its share of memorable moments in the world of sports. Our picks of the top stories. 29-Dec-2005, Newsweek "1. Dynasty I: In the topsy-turvy world of the NFL, where conventional wisdom is no wisdom at all, the reign of Bill Belichick's New England Patriots defied expectations and history. It's hard to say the Pats didn't get respect. Still, they were underdogs at home against the Indianapolis Colts in their playoff opener last January before stuffing Peyton Manning and Co. Three Super Bowls in four years, each by the margin of an Adam Vinatieri field goal, has established the Pats, in this age of parity, as one of the great teams in NFL history. It is fitting that the Colts will likely have to first knock off the Pats if they hope to supplant them as champion." full story           The Whistle-Blower Within: Vrabel has coaching ahead 25-Dec-2005, Boston Herald "Vrabel said he's learned a lot from Belichick beyond just the Xs and Os. In particular, he respects the way his coach puts the team first. 'One strength I'll take down the road (in) coaching is the way he'll never tell the media how great a guy looked, but that means he never has to tell the media how bad he looked,' Vrabel said. 'I can agree with that. You don't need to say how great I played if you're not going to come back and say how terrible I played. I like that.'" full story           Loud Cheer For The Quiet Ones 25-Dec-2005, Boston Globe "'Jim Brown and I talked about this,' said Patriots coach Bill Belichick. 'He feels as soon as the play is over, you should be thinking about the next one. There were times when Jim played that he was slow getting back to the huddle, and it might have looked like something other than it was, but in his mind, as he was walking back, he was already getting himself into the proper mind-set to think about the next situation.' Belichick said spontaneous celebrations are fine, but staged antics have no place on the field. 'This is the way I was brought up,' Belichick said. 'It's the only way I've ever seen it. At the Naval Academy, it was all about teamwork and what the team embodied.'" full story           Jim Brown Talks NFL 25-Dec-2005, Mercury News "On Raiders owner Al Davis: 'He's one of my best friends. When Al Davis made the Hall of Fame, I remember laughing on the phone with him. Al said, 'What am I going to cry about now? I'm in the Hall of Fame.' I like guys like Bill Belichick, Bill Russell and Bobby Knight. They're all rebels who do things their way.'" full story           Film Captures Father's Glory: Belichick revisits NFL in '41 24-Dec-2005, Boston Globe "Bill Belichick may be the best at what he does in the 21st-century NFL, but there is a certain twinkle in his eye reserved for the leather-helmet days of the old National Football League. Leather helmets like the circa 1940s one the Patriots coach whipped out yesterday to show the small media contingent gathered for his final press conference before Monday night's game against the Jets. Besides the old helmet, Belichick had with him a pair of roughed-up, high-top Spot-Bilt shoes that his father Steve wore in his playing days." full story | video clip (fast forward to 5:31.8)           Pair Of Former Navy Football Stars Has Risen To Top Of The Ranks 21-Dec-2005, San Diego Union-Tribune "Stufflebeem started his Navy football career on a broad front, playing tight end and wide receiver in addition to his punting duties. Assistant coach Steve Belichick persuaded Stufflebeem to concentrate on punting. Much later, Belichick's son Bill would ask Stufflebeem to address his New England Patriots. 'What Bill tends to do is he builds sort of a theme that he wants to use for the season, and he brings in people to help him establish the message,' Stufflebeem said." full story           Peter King's Monday Morning QB: Tale of Two Teams 19-Dec-2005, SI.com "It's understandable that what Brady did on Saturday in the 28-0 rout of the Bucs would get lost because of the incredible job by the Pats defense. Brady gets taken for granted, almost, and it's a tribute to his consistent greatness that a 65-percent, 258-yard, three-touchdown, no-pick performance against the NFL's No. 2 defense was barely discussed after the game. Except by those who really know football, like Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. Brady was magnificent in this game. I mean, top-10-in-history magnificent. …'What we saw today,' Ronde Barber said, 'was a living legend.'" full story           Defense Has Patriots In Attack Mode 19-Dec-2005, ESPN.com "If you know anything about Bill Belichick defenses, you understand the importance of linebackers to his brilliant scheming. Linebackers, and particularly the kind of hybrid, edge athletes whose versatility has always been the hallmark of Belichick defenses of the past, are essentially the most critical chess pieces in his 3-4 scheme. They are the defenders Belichick most loves to tinker with, the guys that he most uses to create confusion and wreak havoc, the players whom his intricacies revolve around, the players who give headaches to opposing quarterbacks." full story           After Limping Along, Patriots Crush Buccaneers 18-Dec-2005, New York Times "After a 28-0 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday at Gillette Stadium, the Patriots (9-5) were the American Football Conference East champions for the fourth time in five seasons ... Brady reached a career high for passing yards in a season, with 3,888, and the Patriots' defense recorded its first shutout in two years." full story           'Tis The Season – Start Dreaming 18-Dec-2005, Boston Globe "The Patriots are the equivalent of any great local team we've ever been privileged to know, be it the Red Sox of 1912-18 (four championships), the Russell Celtics, or the Westwood girls' basketball squad. They do not need to win Super Bowl XL to validate their greatness. They need only to keep doing what they're doing, whatever the eventual outcome. What they are doing is giving us all a lesson in perseverance and determination and how a classy team goes about its business." full story           FOX NFL Pregame Show: Jimmy Johnson with Bill Belichick 17-Dec-2005, FOX Jimmy Johnson: "A coach can only take a team just as far as the talent available. They've had so many injuries this year, it's been difficult to overcome. But this team will win the AFC East for the third year in a row." Howie Long: "Yeah, I think this might be arguably his best job to date with all the players he's had injured. I think these players on this team are a reflection of him." full transcript           Patriots' Brady Has It; Bucs' Simms Wants It 16-Dec-2005, Tampa Bay Tribune "When Simms' dad quarterbacked the Giants, Belichick ran the defense. Chris wasn't even 11. 'I remember Coach Belichick,' Simms said. 'I'd see him. I'm sure he didn't notice me. He was probably in his own world.' Now Chris Simms is in Bill Belichick's world. And Simms is in the world his New England counterpart, the dinged but undaunted Patriots quarterback. Who else but Tom Brady can be Tom Brady? At 27, just two years older than Simms, Brady has already won enough for 10 NFL lifetimes. Sportsman of the Year. Team Player. Leader. King Calm. 'He just has that certain 'It.'' Simms said." full story           It's History: Tuck rule play changed the fortunes for many 16-Dec-2005, San Francisco Chronicle "Gruden's team, the Buccaneers, plays Saturday at New England in a matchup of NFL division leaders, and it's hard not to think about how much has changed since the last time Gruden was in that stadium at Foxborough, Mass. – or, for that matter, how different life is for so many because of one play on that last visit. That occurred on the snowy night of Jan. 19, 2002 – the night America learned of the tuck rule. It was just one game, really one play, during a divisional playoff game. But the fortunes of at least nine NFL franchises may have been changed because of it." full story           Patriots Don't Make Excuses 16-Dec-2005, Sheboygan Press "Some fans think Packers head coach Mike Sherman deserves a free pass because of his team's sizeable spate of injuries. No way. Certainly, Green Bay has been hit pretty hard, but not nearly hard enough to excuse 3-10. Take a look at two-time defending Super Bowl champ New England. Now that team has been besieged by injuries all season long. But rather than fold up, this proud group has gutted out an 8-5 record and an AFC East title. Now that's great coaching." full story           Champs Get Off The Mat 12-Dec-2005, ESPN.com "Every piece of the puzzle that comes back makes the Patriots that much more a threat to make some noise in the postseason. This is, after all, a team that's all about heart. And the pulse that was so weak only a month or so ago is beginning to race a tad stronger now. Yep, it has been accomplished against a severely diluted division. But this could, in retrospect, end up being the best coaching job Bill Belichick has ever done." full story           Snap Judgments: Don't Look Now, But Here Come The Patriots 11-Dec-2005, SI.com "For most of this season, the story in New England has been about who or what is not there any more. Be it Charlie Weis, Romeo Crennel, Ty Law, Tedy Bruschi (at least in the early going), Ted Johnson, Rodney Harrison or the two-time champs' aura of invincibility. But all of that has now been thoroughly dissected and digested for the past three months. It's old news. At this time of year, when that New England-style weather sets in and the thermals go on, who starts showing up is all that really matters." full story           Ultimate Standings 07-Dec-2005, ESPN The Magazine "No. 10 – New England Patriots. Last year's rank: 4. The priciest parking bill in all of pro sports ($35). But try putting a price on three rings in four years, or Tedy Bruschi returning eight months after a stroke, or a coach so humble that even the guy who runs his tribute Web site (allthingsbillbelichick.com) won't woof. Small wonder the Pats are a top-10 fixture. It's not all about the money." full story           Bill Belichick's comments about Tom Brady being named "2005 Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated 05-Dec-2005, New England Patriots "I think it's certainly a well-deserved honor, and to me, I would just add, maybe, person of the year. Because I think Tom, what he does goes beyond sports. Certainly it's a big part of it, I'm not saying that. But Tom as a person – his makeup, his character and the way he carries himself on and off the field, in and out of football – is, I think, exemplary in all phases. Not just as an athlete and not just on the football field, but as it extends to pretty much everything he does in his life, I think it's exemplary. I think the recognition is well-deserved. He's certainly had a lot of accomplishments in football and on the field and is well-deserving of all those, but I think his excellence extends well beyond that. And to me, I hope that the award is, in part, reflective of that." more  |  full story | reasons  |  ultimate teammate  |  acceptance video           Peter King's Monday Morning QB: The Award Section 05-Dec-2005, SI.com "Coach of the Week: New England coach Bill Belichick. For a little thing, because the little things are what make Belichick pretty good at his job. The situation: 1:11 to play, third quarter, Jets-Pats slugfest. From the Jets' 49, Tom Brady had just thrown an apparent completion to Kevin Faulk. But Faulk had the ball fly out of his grip one step into his run as he was being tackled by a Jet. The ball rolled toward the sideline, and Faulk pounced on it. It was ruled a catch on the field, a 6-yard gain to the Jet 43. But Belichick could see it was, let's just say, a dubious ruling, and he yelled something that looked like, 'Go! Go! Go!' Brady ran to the line, got the five offensive linemen set quickly, took the snap against a totally unprepared Jets defense and rambled over right guard for six yards. Two more seconds and the Jets would have known enough to throw the red flag for the replay. But they got to keep the 6-yard gain and got six more yards on top of that." full story           When Parcells Became Ordinary 04-Dec-2005, New York Times "[Bill Parcells] has shown that he can quickly turn a bad team into a playoff team, having done so with the Cowboys just as he did with the Giants, the Patriots and the Jets. But he has yet to prove that he can put together a championship team, or even a near-championship team, without his old defensive assistant, Bill Belichick. … In his six seasons without Belichick – in New England and Dallas – Parcells has lost more games than he has won. His Belichick-less record, 44-47, is worse than Dave Wannstedt's career record or Wayne Fontes's or Jim Haslett's. Without his old understudy, Parcells has won as many playoff games as Bruce Coslett or Butch Davis: none." full story           Like The Red Sox, The Patriots May Also Become A Memory 04-Dec-2005, New York Times "'Coaches, players, head coach – there's room for improvement on every level,' [Belichick said]. Asked how this defense measured up to those in the Super Bowl seasons, linebacker Willie McGinest said, 'We don't compare ourselves to teams of the past.' ... 'I don't think we lack confidence, but I think we can have more,' Belichick said. 'I've been around a lot of teams and a lot of players that really don't have any confidence. They're just hoping for the best. I don't feel that way at all, and I don't think our defensive players or team feels that way. But if we were to play better, I think we would have more confidence.'" full story           Master And Commander 22-Nov-2005, Sports Illustrated "It's a short walk to the onetime bedroom of Steve and Jeannette Belichick's only child, now 52 and coach of the two-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. The twin beds are made pristinely, as though awaiting military inspection. Two maritime paintings done by amateur painter Steve – hang on the walls. A high school graduation photo of Bill sits on the dresser.... 'That room hasn't changed in 40 years,' Bill says when asked about it later." full story           Even In His Darkest Hours, Belichick's Brilliance Shines 21-Nov-2005, Providence Journal "There never was any thought that Bill Belichick wouldn't be on the sidelines with his team Sunday afternoon. People would have understood if Belichick had decided to fly to Annapolis Sunday morning. But those people don't understand what makes Belichick tick. As Bruschi said: 'His father would have wanted him to get the victory first.' 'Coach Belichick and his dad were very close,' [Don] Davis said. 'That's the reason he's coaching.' Bill Belichick's coaching is the reason the Patriots have three Lombardi trophies. 'I'd always thought players won games,' Pats punter Josh Miller said yesterday. 'Until I came here. This was an unbelievable awakening. This staff brings out the best in you.'" full story           Patriots 24, Saints 17 21-Nov-2005, Associated Press "Bill Belichick showed how focused he can be when there's a game to win. Hours after his father died, Belichick led his New England Patriots into Sunday's 24-17 victory over the New Orleans Saints. His sideline demeanor hadn't changed. His players didn't know. And his sights for those three-plus hours were zeroed in on his usual goal – winning." full story           The Mozart Of The Game Plan 20-Nov-2005, Boston Globe "So we know, in layman's terms, that nobody is more deft at breaking down film of his own team or of opponents. We are told that from the start Belichick has had his own signature approach to the study of film. Whereas other coaches searched for an opponent's weakness and ways to exploit it, Belichick has inveterately sought out the source of the enemy's strength and then devised schemes to take that strength away. In biblical terms, this may be described as the Delilah formula. The book lives up to its title, recounting the experiences and phases that formed the education of a coach." full story           NFL Features Coaches Who Are Hot Or Cold, Sensitive Or Aloof 20-Nov-2005, Denver Post "Chad Brown has played for four coaches during his 13 NFL seasons, giving him greater perspective to the different ways coaches operate. … Of his current coach, the enigmatic Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots, Brown said, 'I don't think he likes to waste words. He just tries to speak the truth.' Indeed, asked what he considers the most important aspect of dealing with players, Belichick stressed the need for honesty: 'Be direct with them. Don't tell them what they want to hear, but rather the way that it is.'" full story           The Seeds Of Success Planted In Cleveland 20-Nov-2005, Miami Herald "Even though there can be a difference between working hard and working smart, both were prevalent with the Browns. Even though Belichick and his staff didn't win much while in Cleveland (one playoff appearance in five years), they have spread through the NFL since and have played significant roles in four of the past five Super Bowl titles. Their ideas were not simply related to how to win games. Rather, it was an organizational philosophy that valued intangibles – intelligence and character chief among those – as much or more so than physical abilities that has transcended the vast changes that have occurred in the NFL during the advent of free agency and technological advance." full story           Browns' Past Crucial To Savage, Saban 20-Nov-2005, Plain Dealer "Phil Savage's rise to general manager of the Browns began 14 years ago, when at the age of 25, he was hired by then coach Bill Belichick to break down film and help defensive coordinator Nick Saban coach defensive backs. Now, Savage and Saban, head coach of today's visiting Miami Dolphins, consider those years as the instruction manual for rebuilding their current teams...'That's definitely my reference point for what it takes to build a successful program,' Savage said. 'I'm sure Nick and most of the others from that staff feel the same way.'" full story           When Gurus Lose Their Juju 18-Nov-2005, Los Angeles Times "Of the last 10 NFL coaches of the year, half were subsequently fired. … And of the other five, only Bill Belichick at New England and Marty Schottenheimer at San Diego are coaching teams with winning records. The Patriots and Chargers are each 5-4. The league's structure makes it especially difficult for a coach to be a consistent winner. Better teams get lower draft positions and tougher schedules, and they often have more difficulty holding on to free agents because rival teams want a piece of that success. The wear and tear of the playoffs also plays a part. New England, for instance, has played nine postseason games in the last four years, winning all of them. That's roughly three months' more football played than the Redskins, Cowboys, Giants, Bills and the other six teams that failed to make the playoffs over that stretch." full story           Limits Of Genius: Coaches only as smart as the talent at their disposal 16-Nov-2005, SI.com "Coaches like Brown, Belichick, Jackson and the rest didn't win championships because they have some special quality or ingenious system that other coaches don't. They won because they found that elusive place where coaching ability, talented players, committed assistants and a touch of good fortune all come together at just the right time. When any one of those elements disappears, a coach's 'genius' usually does, too." full story           My Sportsman Choice: Bill Belichick 15-Nov-2005, Sports Illustrated "He merely expects his players to do their jobs, and to trust that their teammates will do theirs. It's a simple formula when you think about it, one built on faith, selflessness and trust. It's also an approach that has led to one of the most impressive runs in recent sports history, one that should make Belichick the recipient of Sports Illustrated's most prestigious honor." full story           Peter King's Monday Morning QB: Stat of the Week I 14-Nov-2005, SI.com "Want to know why the balance of power in the AFC has turned upside down? Games missed by defensive starters due to injury in 2005 – Indianapolis (9-0): 2; New England (5-4): 31 full stat           Week 10 Snapshots 13-Nov-2005, NFL.com "Bill Belichick, who already had made a bold move by not playing for a go-ahead field goal, showed further guts by going for a successful two-point conversion. He knew enough to put his trust in the fact Brady was determined to do whatever was necessary to carry the injury-depleted Patriots to success, and nothing would stop him – including Miami's defense. New England's defense also did a nice job of keeping the Dolphins from scoring the tying touchdown in the final seconds." full snapshot           Emotions of Browns' Move Still Raw 10 Years Later 11-Nov-2005, SI.com "Check out the landscape of the NFL today and it speaks volumes to see how many members of the '95 Browns – a doomed team if there ever was one – continue to dot the league map. The coaches and front office staff of that Browns team comprise virtually a Who's Who of the NFL a decade later." full story           Belichick: Inquiring Mastermind Wants To Know 07-Nov-2005, New York Times "'He's a perfect example of what we've let slip away in the image of a coach – the job is a teaching job,' said Giants General Manager Ernie Accorsi, who was the general manager of the Cleveland Browns when Belichick became the head coach there in 1991. 'Bill certainly has a great deal of self-confidence, but he's got the humility to know that he can always learn from somebody that's successful. To me, the smarter you are, the more you want to learn.'" full story           Hyperion Releases The Education of a Coach by David Halberstam 01-Nov-2005, Hyperion Books "In this groundbreaking new book, David Halberstam explores the nuances of both the game and the man behind it. He uncovers what makes Bill Belichick tick both on and off the field, as a coach and a son. 'I've been fascinated by Bill Belichick for more than 20 years, going back to the time when he was a young coach in his early 30s working with the linebackers on the Giants,' Halberstam writes." full story | stories & reviews           Friends, Family Honor Mara At Funeral 28-Oct-2005, NFL.com "Although tied to the Giants since becoming a ballboy for his father Tim's team at age 9, [Wellington] Mara's family and faith were recalled more than any football games. An assortment of NFL coaches with ties to Mara also turned out, including Dallas coach Bill Parcells, New England's Bill Belichick, Carolina's John Fox and Cleveland's Romeo Crennel. Their attendance, two days before the Week 8 kickoffs, spoke volumes about their level of regard for Mara." full story           Josh McDaniels: Born To Run . . . An Offense 23-Oct-2005, Boston Herald "Quite simply, Josh McDaniels was born to coach. His father is the winningest coach of the most successful program in Ohio high school history. His brother quarterbacked Kent State under current Patriots linebackers coach Dean Pees and is now a graduate assistant at the University of Minnesota. Josh McDaniels began scouting games with his father before his 10th birthday, was sitting in on film sessions by middle school and called his own plays at the line of scrimmage in high school. Buffalo Bills linebacker London Fletcher, a former teammate of McDaniels' at Div. 3 John Carroll University, said McDaniels entered college with the most advanced knowledge of the game he had ever seen." full story           For Ty Law, The Patriots Are Just A Fond Memory 23-Oct-2005, Providence Journal "On how things were left with Bill Belichick: 'I left on great terms. It was rocky during the contract issue, but that was separate. When we got to the field it was fine. He coached, I played. I'm sure it was hard for him to release someone who played for him for a while, but he does it all the time and I knew it was coming. I'll always appreciate that he called me throughout my injury and checked to see how I was doing.'" full story           Coach Is Doing His Level Best 21-Oct-2005, Boston Globe "Coach Bill can still coach 'em up better than anyone else on earth. There's a lot of football left to be played. Whatever this bunch is supposed to be, that's what they will be. Nothing has changed. In coach Bill I trust. You should, too." full story           Pats Just Want To Play By Same Rules As Everyone Else 16-Oct-2005, Providence Journal "After a while, you notice these things. … Taken one-by-one, these instances aren't that sinister. And they are – at least from the outside – mild obstacles to success. Tweaks. But the tweaks wear thin after a while if you're the tweakee." full story           Bill Of Rights 14-Oct-2005, Rocky Mountain News "Fresno State coach Pat Hill, one of many Belichick disciples around the country, takes issue at the paranoid and genius labels. Though what he does might seem covert, Belichick operates within league rules, Hill said. 'And I don't think he considers himself a genius,' Hill added. 'It's like a business, and his business is very successful because people understand the plan and are all singing the same song.'" Includes the Belichick Football Family Tree. full story           Tough Guys Show Lots Of Fight 10-Oct-2005, Boston Globe "'When you have No. 12 back there, it brings a lot of confidence to your team regardless of the situations we put ourselves in,' Izzo said. 'There's an inner confidence here that's been built through success. …Bill doesn't let us buy into the stuff that can weaken you. We've won before with guys out. There are no excuses here. You win or you lose. We knew we'd have to go toe-to-toe with the Falcons the same way Hagler did with Hearns. Then you win or you don't.'" full story           Memorable Boxing Match Inspires Patriots 10-Oct-2005, Associated Press "[Daniel Graham] got Bill Belichick's message Saturday night when the coach showed his players the 1985 boxing slugfest between Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Thomas 'Hit Man' Hearns. … 'I don't think that really affected the outcome of the game,' [Belichick] said. 'I think what affected it was how the players performed and how they played under pressure.'" full story           Brady, Pats Avoid Second Straight Loss 10-Oct-2005, ESPN.com "The two-time Super Bowl most valuable player, who might be the most irreplaceable performer in the entire league, is now 12-4 in games following losses. He has not lost consecutive games as a starter since 2002, when all four of the defeats came, and Brady is 6-0 after losses since the start of the 2003 season." full story           Brady Time 03-Oct-2005, Sports Illustrated "At 28, with three NFL championship rings and a pair of Super Bowl MVP trophies, Brady is only now being recognized by rivals as the unquestioned master of his craft. The victory on Sunday was the 18th that came on a winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime in Brady's five years as a starter. 'That's why he's the best,' Pittsburgh wideout Hines Ward said as he walked off the field." full story           New Exhibit Honors Patriots Streak 29-Sep-2005, Pro Football Hall of Fame "A new exhibit opened at the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Thursday that chronicles the New England Patriots' record winning streak. The Patriots won an NFL record 21 straight games during the 2003 and 2004 NFL seasons that also included playoff wins. The winning streak began on October 5, 2003 as New England defeated the Tennessee Titans, 38-30 and continued through the team's 13-7 victory over the New York Jets on October 24, 2004." full story | the streak           The Thinker 28-Sep-2005, Sporting News "What separates Belichick from other championship coaches is he's the only one to win three Super Bowls in the salary cap era, when staying on top has become more difficult than ever. He also is the only coach who has won three Super Bowls in four years. 'Under the circumstances as they are now, we may never see another coach win three Super Bowls in our lifetime,' Bears general manager Jerry Angelo says." full story           Adversity Seems To Bring Out The Best In Patriots 27-Sep-2005, USA TODAY "'When we meet with NFL coaches (the day before games), many of them complain about injuries to us,' Simms said. 'Bill Belichick never – and I mean never – does. He eliminates the talk, which then eliminates a built-in excuse (for players) subconsciously.'" full story           Rich Eisen: Time for Praise 27-Sep-2005, NFL.com "I defy you to name another team that watches two team leaders get carted off within minutes of each other in the most hostile territory possible and still does not fold. Sure, many teams would hang in there, keep that upper lip stiff and come away with the moral victory. The Patriots are the ones that emerge with the actual victory." full story           Phil Simms: Getting it Done 27-Sep-2005, NFL.com "I've said this many times in this space and I'll say it again – because it got reinforced to me once again: Yes, you need good players to win. But, more than anything, how you handle those players determines who wins. The New England Patriots continue to overcome tremendous obstacles put in their way – every year, almost every game – and it shows you what coaching is all about in the NFL." full story           Best In The Business: Patriots once again prove why they're champions 26-Sep-2005, SI.com "The Pats turned it over three times. They committed 10 penalties for 108 yards. Very un-Belichickian. I'm sure talk show jocks all over the country, watching this CBS doubleheader game, were yelling into their mikes: 'You don't go on the road and turn it over and have any chance of winning.' Same thing I would have said had I not been transfixed. This is the odd thing about the Patriots. Have you noticed they seem to play better when the world is closing in on them?" full story           Despite Flaws vs. Steelers, Patriots Can Rely On Vinatieri 26-Sep-2005, New York Times "Brady then completed passes for 17 and 14 yards. Dillon ran into the line for no gain before a 6-yard pass by Brady set up the winning field goal with one second left. 'It was kind of like a basketball game,' Patriots Coach Bill Belichick said. 'We were playing for the last shot. If we make it we win, and if we don't it goes to overtime.' So simple for the Patriots. So infuriating for every other team." full story           The Dan Patrick Show's Celebrity Football Picks: Week 3, Jon Bon Jovi 23-Sep-2005, ESPN Radio "After giving his picks Jon touched on a few other football topics including who is the better coach between Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick and in his view it's Belichick. When asked who would write a better song though he said it would be Parcells, because Belichick has 2 left feet, no rhythm and Parcells is better in front of a microphone." full story+audio  |  partial transcript           Bill Cowher Conference Call 21-Sep-2005, New England Patriots "The way that Bill [Belichick] handles everything. I think it starts at the top. And Scott [Pioli]. Those guys are a class act. I learned a lot watching how they dealt with everything through the years; all the tough decisions that Bill had to make. I have tremendous respect for him as a coach and Scott as an evaluator. At the same, when you look at the players, they play the way the game's supposed to be played – they play together, they are very sound and are very respectful of the game. They've proven the way to do it and they have been a great model for other organizations and teams in trying to achieve what they have. I think they do a great job of keeping everything in a proper prospective. They have great respect for the game and you can do nothing but respect them when you watch them play." full transcript           Belichick, Pats Deserve The Benefit Of The Doubt 20-Sep-2005, Providence Journal "He was standing at the podium in a cut-off gray sweatshirt saying how his team has to improve everything, in a tone of a guy talking about the yard chores he's got to do the rest of the week. No emotion. Low key. Sounding as if he were reading off a list. As though he had watched the film, knew what the sins were, and now it was simply time to move on to the next week and try to play better. Vintage Belichick. The irony is that where once this was perceived as a weakness, now it's perceived as a strength." full story           Team Valuations 19-Sep-2005, Forbes "Impressive is Belichick's ability to win with player costs of $92 million – 24th highest last year among 32 NFL teams. For the second year in a row Belichick is the league's best coach when it comes to the number of victories relative to the amount spent on players, with a score of 246 (the NFL average is 100; postseason wins count double)." cover story  |  full list           Belichick Not Talking Super Bowl 17-Sep-2005, Charlotte Observer "Harrison credits the team's veterans for making Belichick's no-nonsense approach work. Five defensive starters have played nine or more NFL seasons. 'A lot of teams today do not believe in veteran players,' said [Rodney] Harrison, who's in his 12th season. "But (Belichick) believes in bringing smart, disciplined, tough football players who respect the game and have the ability to move on whether we win or lose." full story           A Shift In Brainpower Is Detected 14-Sep-2005, Boston Globe "If you get past what Coach Bill is not telling you about who's hurt and when so-and-so is coming back and all that bookkeeping stuff, and focus instead on Coach Bill's almost passionate daily explanations about matters of pure football detail, you discover that he is in possession of a frightening amount of empirical knowledge about the whys and wherefores of football." full story           Sched-ache 13-Sep-2005, Sports Illustrated "The Patriots gear up for arguably the toughest five-game regular-season stretch in the history of the NFL: The five-game stretch begins on Sunday at Carolina (7-9 last year) and continues through Oct. 16 with games at Pittsburgh (15-1), at home against San Diego (12-4), at Atlanta (11-5) and at Denver (10-6). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, no other NFL team has ever had a five-game run in which four games were on the road and the five opponents averaged 11 wins or better in the previous season." full story           Coach Makes His Mark 11-Sep-2005, Boston Globe "Career victory No. 100 as a head coach. The milestone largely went under the radar over the last few days, which appears to be the way the 53-year-old Belichick likes it. No matter that he's the ninth active coach to reach the mark, joining Marty Schottenheimer, Bill Parcells, Joe Gibbs, Bill Cowher, Mike Holmgren, Mike Shanahan, Dick Vermeil, and Dennis Green. And no matter that he's only the 33d coach in NFL history to record 100 overall wins." full story           Philips Andover Star Shines At Brown 11-Sep-2005, Boston Globe "'Coach Belichick would come to some of our games and he offered me a job as ball boy,' said [Zak] DeOssie. … In addition, Belichick's crew filmed DeOssie's passes and then the coach discussed them with DeOssie. 'He went out of his way for me,' said DeOssie, a former All-New England prep selection, 'and I will always be grateful.'" full story           Focused on Katrina & Congrats to Bill Belichick 09-Sep-2005, Roger [Staubach]'s Blog "It looks like my good friend Bill Belichick is off to another good start with a win on the NFL's opening night. Bill was just a young kid back in 1963 when I was playing for the Naval Academy where his father was one of my coaches. As a young man Bill watched our practices and followed along with his dad – no doubt getting the foundation of knowledge he has today." full story           Survivors Laud Bill 08-Sep-2005, Boston Herald "'You hear of coaches leaving the office at 4 or 5 o'clock to go play golf. He and his staff put in a tremendous amount of hours,' McGinest continued. 'They put in so much to give us every edge, every possible little thing they can do to make us better, and help us have a better chance at winning. Anyone who has ever been in his system . . . why would you want it any other way? It's proven.'" full story           Patriotic Evolution: How the Patriots evolved from the pre-Belichick era 08-Sep-2005, Boston Herald "The evolution of the Patriots from the pre-Bill Belichick era before January 2000 (i.e. 'Before Bill,' or 'BB') to the post-Belichick era (i.e. 'After Bill,' or 'AB')." full story           Woicik Fosters Winning Conditions 08-Sep-2005, Boston Herald "When Woicik arrived, attendance in the offseason conditioning program was spotty, muscle injuries were rampant and the Pats consistently faded at the end of the season. Five years later, Belichick and Woicik have changed the culture in Foxboro, where working out in the offseason, reporting to training camp in shape and finishing strong now is the way business is done." full story           Talk About An Evolution 08-Sep-2005, Boston Herald "'I think that talking isn't going to do it. Fans are going to judge me and judge our football team by what we do and what our performance is, and that's what we should be judged by. So what I'm going to demand from the players and the people in the organization working for me is that they make the commitment toward a championship-caliber football team. That's what our goal is, and if we get that commitment...(fans) will back us. If we don't, I'm sure they won't be happy about it, and neither will I.'" –Bill Belichick during his first press conference as Patriots coach, Jan. 27, 2000." full story           Belichick Redefining Linebacker Position 01-Sep-2005, ESPN Insider "Much has been written about the Patriots' defensive scheme. Most of it revolves around the genius of the play calling, but there is something very specific in the scheme's design that makes it special. The key to the Patriots' defense is the way they use their linebackers. It is worth noting that Bill Belichick was a linebackers coach for years before becoming a head coach. In fact, Belichick was present at the creation of the modern-day 3-4 rush linebacker." full story           Efficiency Key To Patriots' Success 29-Aug-2005, ESPN Insider "'How could a player not want to come here?' [André] Davis said. 'This is a team that has been able to turn around careers. They've got magic here, it seems, and they know what they are doing with guys. Just look at the last few years, right?' Sneaking a peek into the rear-view mirror, of course, is not a luxury Belichick permits himself, his staff or his players. He preaches a gospel with a forward-looking theme, and parables that stress the lack of efficiency brought on by living in the past. Change is a constant in the NFL and Belichick embraces that reality. The irony is, the more things change in the league, the more the Pats stay the same." full story(subscribers only)           Utah's Devastating Offense Proliferates And Evolves 28-Aug-2005, New York Times "Belichick...flew to Florida and spent four hours discussing and dissecting the offense in the film room with [Gators head coach Urban] Meyer. He later dispatched his quarterbacks coach, Josh McDaniels, to Gainesville for two days to learn from Meyer and Dan Mullen, the Florida offensive coordinator, who was Meyer's quarterbacks coach at Bowling Green and Utah. 'Some of the concepts they have are good,' Belichick said in a recent interview. 'I think a couple of them complement something we do or could do.'" full story           Patriots' Way Is The Right Way – For Them 27-Aug-2005, Associated Press "Belichick knows it takes 53 players to win three Super Bowls, not 22 (or 23 counting Adam Vinatieri). And the Patriots build their roster that way, not by accumulating stars. … Belichick, personnel director Scott Pioli and the rest of the scouts and coaches involved in the draft defy conventional wisdom with a unique rating system. It lists players not in order of their overall ability but in order of their value to the Patriots." full story           USSA Presents Belichick with Coaching Award 25-Aug-2005, United States Sports Academy "On behalf of the United States Sports Academy, Trustee Tom Cafaro recently presented New England Patriot Head Coach Bill Belichick with the Academy's 2004 Amos Alonzo Stagg Coaching Award for his outstanding success at American football's highest level of competition. … The Amos Alonzo Stagg Coaching Award is named in honor of Amos Stagg, the college football legend, who coached for more than 70 years, beginning in 1888, before retiring at age 98. … The award is presented annually to an individual who has experienced outstanding achievement as a coach. As such, this person should exhibit a high standard of propriety, imagination and innovation as a character-builder in the tradition of great teachers and coaches." full story           Sports Byline USA Goes To Iraq 25-Aug-2005, Sports Byline USA Radio "Another thing that impressed the troops were all the big name athletes, coaches and managers (Tony LaRussa, Dusty Baker, Bill Belichick, Cal Ripken, Jr., Joe Nemechek, Bob Costas, Tommy LaSorda, Coach K, Bobby Knight, Phil Jackson, Roger Staubach, Steve Young, Pete Carroll, Senator John McCain) who were guests on our broadcasts. Being able to talk with them, and hear their words and comments of support and well wishes only re-enforced to the troops that they are supported and their efforts are appreciated." full story           Urban Renewal: Building on success, Meyer putting bite back in Gators 25-Aug-2005, Boston Globe "How hot is Meyer? Consider this: Before the NFL Draft in April, Patriots coach Bill Belichick traveled to Gainesville to talk offensive strategies with Meyer. Meyer was almost in awe of a coach who had won three Super Bowls in the last four years, wanting to pick his brain. They talked for five hours. But Belichick's message to Meyer was clear: Control your environment and things will work out if you get players who have as much character and discipline as they do talent." full story           Sporting A Different Look, Pats Still Have Super Shot 17-Aug-2005, Pro Football Weekly "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm completely aware that Charlie Weis is now in South Bend, Romeo Crennel is in Cleveland, Ty Law has joined the Jets, and Tedy Bruschi and Ted Johnson will be leading cheers from somewhere other than their customary LB spots this year. But you know what, guys? Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli appear to have the answers for all that and more." full story           Despite Key Losses, Now Is No Time To Count Patriots Out 17-Aug-2005, USA TODAY Sports Weekly "Coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady still set New England's unsatisfied standard. Wearing blue shorts and his everyman gray hooded sweatshirt despite August heat, Belichick twirls his whistle, his mind whirring in synch as he walks among his players during stretching. Belichick is New England's stone wall against complacency. No one schemes better against change than the most adaptive coach in sports." full story           Hey Tony! 14-Aug-2005, Plain Dealer "In the season before their first Super Bowl, Belichick's Patriots lost 11 games, including one to the Browns, by a total deficit of 91 points – an average margin of 8.2 points. Nine of the losses were by eight points or fewer – the measuring stick now of close games (touchdown and two-point conversion). Your point is a relevant one. Based on the scores alone, you could say the Patriots were competitive while losing 11 games. Unlike a lot of teams that experience close losses, however, they progressed the following season." full story not available           Belichick Named Best Coach In The Best Sports City August 2005, Sporting News "Boston vigorously defended its title as the Best Sports City giving its nation of zealous fans a chance to celebrate the Patriots ... and ... the Red Sox." The Best in the Best  –  Best Coach: Bill Belichick; Best Player: Tom Brady; Best Sports Suburb: Foxboro. full story           By Power Of 3, Patriots Defy Rules 03-Aug-2005, Dallas Morning News "The New England Patriots are the exception to every rule. Defense wins championships. … Run to win. … You need a stout kicking game. … You need to stay healthy to win. … You can't win with age. … So the Patriots shouldn't be winning championships, but they are. That's testimony to their Big Three. New England has the best coach, best quarterback and best kicker in the game." full story           Despite Changes, Pats Ready For Another Run 01-Aug-2005, NFL.com "What a great start to my NFL training camp tour – a day in Foxboro, Mass., with the world champion New England Patriots. The team could not have been more receptive to my visit. I had the opportunity to sit down with owner Robert Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick, VP of player personnel Scott Pioli, quarterback Tom Brady and wide receivers Deion Branch and newcomer David Terrell." full story           Patriots' Adaptability Tested 01-Aug-2005, USA TODAY "Coach Bill Belichick recounted three decades' worth of experience during his first meeting with the players, emphasizing how the ability to deal with inevitable turnover factored into each season. 'This year's team is this year's team, and the challenges they have to meet will be different from the ones that any other team has had to meet,' says Belichick, who owns one more postseason victory than legendary Vince Lombardi. 'I think that goes for every other team in the league, as well. That is just the way it is in the NFL. That is the way it is in sports, period.'" full story           Patriots' Belichick Focuses On Filling The Gaps 31-Jul-2005, Dallas Morning News "When Bill Belichick studies the roster of his New England Patriots, he doesn't see a Super Bowl champion. He sees a team in need of improvement. … In three of the last four years, New England's best has been good enough. … But Belichick is not one to play a pat hand. No team is perfect, not even a championship team, and Belichick aggressively seeks solutions to his problems." full story           And Once Again The Tough Get Going 31-Jul-2005, Providence Journal "Sometime next decade, people will look back on the New England Patriots' era of dominance and point out the reasons for their success. … But what will go shamefully overlooked are the trials the team has gone through, year after year, during its run. People will forget the most important character trait these teams had: resilience. … The list of issues this team has faced under coach Bill Belichick is stunning. And – interestingly – the time at which the trials began overlaps neatly with the time the team started to ascend." full story           Belichick's Mission: Prove Attrition Is Not Erosion 30-Jul-2005, New York Times "If anyone is equipped to handle an overhaul, it is Belichick, widely regarded as the shrewdest mind in football. He is entering his 31st season as an N.F.L. coach, the longest tenure among active head coaches, and his 10-1 playoff record is the best in league history. New England has enjoyed the most successful two-year run in N.F.L. history, winning 34 games since 2003." full story           Coach's Corner: Belichick Eager To Start the Grind 25-Jul-2005, Patriots Football Weekly "The following is taken from Bill Belichick's Q&A with Patriots Extra Point credit card holders that cashed in points to have dinner with the Patriots head coach. Belichick: 'This is a busy time for us. We're at the start of training camp and behind it is five months of work. When the season ended in Jacksonville, the first thing we started doing is building our team for this year. We've had a lot of changes, which is part of the game, either on the coaching staff or with the players. It's always that way. So we've worked on that and now we're on the verge of trying to put everything in place and seeing how that's going to develop.'" full story (subscribers only)           Hidden Treasures 15-Jul-2005, Pro Football Hall of Fame "This jacket was worn by New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick in Super Bowl XXV when he was an assistant coach with the New York Giants. Belichick, the Giants defensive coordinator / secondary coach, is widely credited with devising the game plan that slowed the Buffalo Bills' powerful 'no huddle' offense and helped the Giants beat the Bills, 20-19, to win Super Bowl XXV on January 27, 1991. Belichick earned his first head coaching position nine days later when the Cleveland Browns selected him as their coach." full story           2005 stories continue

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