2006 stories     Never Count Out Belichick And Brady 31-Jul-2006, NFL.com "It sounded like the sky was falling until I sat down with Tom Brady. Is it possible Mr. Brady is better today than he was during the Super Bowl run? It appears he is bigger and stronger, and most importantly, smarter. Brady appears to be in control of an offense he knows better than any other person in Foxboro. He is entering his seventh season, has been given the ability to control the offense from the huddle/line of scrimmage, appears unfazed by the absence of his top two wide receivers and loves the possibilities some of his 'new' weapons bring to the offense. … I'm not ready to take the Patriots down off their pedestal." full story           Two-A-Days Are One Hot Topic With The Patriots 31-Jul-2006, Boston Globe "The Patriots haven't scheduled regular back-to-back two-a-days since they moved camp from Bryant University to Gillette Stadium in 2003. This year, New England has five sets of back-to-back two-a-days on its camp schedule. After the two practices today and tomorrow, the Patriots will have had nine workouts in the first five days of camp. 'We just talked about it and decided to change it up this year,' Belichick said. 'You only get so much time and you try to figure out what's the best way to be most productive. I think fundamentally we can use the time on the field to work on our fundamentals and basics. That's really where the emphasis is.'" full story           Today's Players Don't Know The Drill 29-Jul-2006, Boston Globe "'These guys have no concept of what training camp was 30 years ago,' Patriots coach Bill Belichick recalled with apparent fondness yesterday after the first morning of practice ended. 'You can't tell them that. I tell them that, but they don't want to hear that. My first year in the league, we went to training camp July 5. We had six preseason games and we opened September 21. We had three scrimmages with the Redskins. Three scrimmages, six preseason games, we hadn't played an NFL game yet, and that is longer than any college season that I'd been involved in.'" full story           Belichick To Be Leader In Games Coached 28-Jul-2006, Providence Journal "'It hits me every once in a while,' Belichick said earlier this week when asked how it felt to be the longest-tenured coach in the NFL. 'Part of what I feel is pride. This is not the easiest business in the world to have a long career in. Part of it is a recognition that I'm getting older. I'm not going to do this forever. But as long as I enjoy it and feel good about the situation – which I do – I will keep coaching. I don't think about (retiring) or moving on.'" full story           Belichick, Tippett And Reynolds To Host Launch Event 27-Jul-2006, New England Patriots "On August 1, Fidelity Investments and the New England Patriots will announce a season-long alliance to provide support to Pop Warner Football teams across New England. They will kick-off the season with a donation of more than 400 helmets and additional pieces of equipment to four start-up Pop Warner Football teams in the communities of Brockton, Blackstone Valley, Roxbury, and Providence, RI." full story           The Line On Mankins: He'll Be Ready To Play 25-Jul-2006, Boston Globe "Coach Bill Belichick said [Logan] Mankins's rookie approach is a good example for any newcomer – he started by showing up in good physical condition and fully accepted coaching from assistant Dante Scarnecchia and teammates. 'He continued to get better every day. It wasn't perfect, but he didn't make the same mistakes twice,' Belichick said. 'He learned from things that happened and improved them and got better the next practice. That's really what a rookie has to do. You can't get it all in one day. You can't master it in two weeks of training camp.'" full story           Harry Carson Hall Of Fame Press Conference 18-Jul-2006, New York Giants Bill Belichick: "It comes back to one word, and that's respect. I think Harry, of all the players that I've been associated with in the National Football League for over 30 years, is as respected as any player I've been associated with on and off the field … It was certainly a great opportunity for me to have the privilege – I really mean that, the privilege – to coach Harry. He's as easy a player as there ever was to coach. He's well prepared, worked hard, and always put the team first. That's really what, to me, a good football player is all about." full transcript           UF's Meyer A True Patriot: Gators' coach takes lessons from Belichick 16-Jul-2006, Orlando Sentinel "Like most coaches, Meyer says the Patriots embody the qualities he wants from his team. He credits Belichick and his staff for setting that standard. 'They're the only team in professional sports that doesn't deal with any [off-field] issues,' Meyer said this spring. 'They're into development up there. I'm not sure how many teams are like that.'" full story           Hold That Line, But Don't Hesitate To Supersize The Coaching Staff 12-Jul-2006, New York Times "Robert K. Kraft, the owner of the Patriots…compared coaching staffs to any business. 'When you want to get a message through, you want accountability,' Kraft said. 'It's like middle management: if you have a lot, it's hard to get through.' … And the smallest staff in the league? New England has 12 assistants. Maybe Belichick knows something. His staff is shrinking. In February 2005, he won his third Super Bowl with 14 assistants." full story           Mangini On A Mission: Jets' rookie coach readies for takeoff 06-Jul-2006, USA TODAY "'It's been a steady climb,' Belichick says of Mangini's career. 'He's certainly a person who's pretty smart and he can do multitasks. He can keep a lot of balls in the air at the same time, and that's important in our business.' … Mangini describes Belichick's influence as 'immeasurable.' He adds, 'We're obviously competitors now, but we'll always be friends.'" full story           Camp Gets Super Bowl Of Pep Talks, Exec Visits Whitmore Lake 01-Jul-2006, Ann Arbor News "Nick Caserio has gone from Division III quarterback to the three-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, but big-time football fans probably have never heard his name. The Patriots are OK with that. It's people like him who make the organization one of the best in the NFL. Caserio, 30, is the Patriots' director of pro personnel. He reached his status as front office executive at such a young age because of a strong work ethic and fierce dedication." full story           Off To See The Wizard (The Great And Powerful Os Has Spoken) 30-Jun-2006, Sporting News "Enough e-mailers have told me I need a brain, so I'm taking a trip down the yellow brick road to see the Wonderful Wizard of Os (and Xs). Surely, he can help me…. Based loosely on a conversation with Patriots coach Bill Belichick."  Illustration by Jack Kruyne, The Sporting News, Issue date: June 30, 2006. full story           The Disciples: West Pointers overtaking West Coasters in NFL 29-Jun-2006, SI.com "In 2006, the West Coasters are being overtaken by what we'll call the West Pointers. The name 'West Pointers' is given in honor of the man who stands at the top of the tree, Bill Parcells. He coached at Army for four years and has carried a military bearing with him. Parcells' leading sideline progeny, his former defensive coordinator Bill Belichick, also has a certain martial quality – not surprising, considering that Belichick's father, Steve, coached for 33 years at the Naval Academy. In the 2006 NFL, the West Pointers will narrowly outnumber the West Coasters." full story           Bill Belichick on San Diego TE Antonio Gates 29-Jun-2006, USA TODAY USA TODAY's 2006 NFL Player Rankings – Tight Ends (Elite): Antonio Gates "New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick understands completely. If L.T. doesn't get you, Gates will. 'There's no question,' Belichick says. 'I mean, what are you going to do? Give him the ball and see whether or not you can tackle him in the open field? You don't want to get into that game. So, whoever has him better get him. Whoever has Gates, they better get him.'" full story           Patriots' Mankins Leads Group Of Emerging NFL Linemen 21-Jun-2006, USA TODAY USA TODAY's 2006 NFL Player Rankings – Offensive Linemen (Up-and-comer): Logan Mankins "After the Patriots made him a surprise first-round pick, he moved right into the starting lineup at left guard and never moved out…. Mankins thus became the first Patriots rookie offensive lineman to start every game since Damien Woody did it in 1999. Despite the constant patching and filling, the Patriots averaged 352 yards of offense a game, seventh best in the league." full story           Ask PFW Part II: More post mini-camp ponderings 20-Jun-2006, Patriots Football Weekly "The bottom line is that the best players generally earn the most money. Givens is gone because he was a No. 2 wideout here but another team was willing to pay him near No. 1 wideout money. Is a dominant defensive end more difficult to find than a similarly talented wide receiver? Maybe, but we just have to be careful with generalizations across all positions. Each player, position and example needs to be assessed on an individual basis. That's what Pioli and Belichick do. And whether you like their decisions or not, that's what they will continue [to] do. It's not as easy as widespread generalizations like DE is more important than QB or TE than WR. It's just not that simple." full story           Dillon Speaks 15-Jun-2006, Patriots Football Weekly "[Corey] Dillon was asked about the draft day phone call he received from Bill Belichick shortly after the Patriots made Laurence Maroney their first-round pick. The 31-year-old veteran expressed appreciation, calling Belichick 'a very, very great coach,' but added that the gesture was unnecessary. Maroney and Dillon have spent a lot of time together on the field during mini-camp. The youngster said on Wednesday that the guidance has been beneficial, and Dillon intends to continue the mentoring for as long as Maroney wishes. 'Why not?' Dillon said. 'What kind of person would I be if I have all this knowledge and experience in this league and not share it, I would be a schmuck and I don't want to be a schmuck. So why not share it?'" full story           Belichick: Pats Will Not Trade Daniel Graham 15-Jun-2006, ESPN.com "Bill Belichick has heard all of the rumors of a trade involving tight end Daniel Graham, and read the reams of copy written about an alleged deal with the Denver Broncos, and has finally grown weary of mounting speculation surrounding the short-term future of the four-year veteran. So just before the New England Patriots began their final day of minicamp on Thursday, their head coach offered a final word on the trade rumors. Emphatically. 'We have not had a single discussion about trading Daniel Graham,' Belichick told ESPN.com Thursday morning. 'We will not trade Daniel Graham this year. End of story.'" full story           If You Have Just One Lineman, Make It Seymour 31-May-2006, USA TODAY USA TODAY's 2006 NFL Player Rankings – Defensive Linemen (Elite): Richard Seymour "In a team-oriented game such as football, narrowing down the best players at each position can be tough. Many times, players shine because of a coach's system, or because so many good players surround him. But New England Patriots defensive lineman Richard Seymour is the rare player whom experts recognize despite the lack of gaudy individual numbers. But then again, a trio of Lombardi trophies can speak for itself." full story           A 3-4 Defense Can Shut Door On Draft Options 27-May-2006, Sporting News "A quarter of the league's teams are expected to run the 3-4 this season, including the Browns under second-year Coach Romeo Crennel – who helped make the 3-4 so popular with his success as defensive coordinator in New England. More teams are using it now than in any point since the mid-'80s. Just three years ago, only four teams used the 3-4. 'There was a time there when you could look at certain guys (who fit the 3-4) and say nobody else in the league is going to have this guy rated very high because he's not a 4-3 end and he's not a 4-3 'backer,' Patriots Coach Bill Belichick says. 'That's not the case now.'" full story           We Were All Lucky to Have Caught This Act 16-May-2006, Boston Globe "He was out of sight and out of mind last year, and then came the dropkick. The dropkick against Miami on New Year's Day had many consequences, the most amazing of which was revealed yesterday. Thanks to Doug Flutie, Bill Belichick, not once, not twice but at least seven or eight times in the span of a minute used a word that most observers would have wagered was unknown to him. It's a mortal lock that no one in the room had ever before heard it emitted from his lips." full story           Doug Flutie Press Conference Announcing Retirement 15-May-2006, Patriots.com Bill Belichick: "In the 31 years that I've coached in the NFL, we've had a lot of game plans, we've had a lot of plays – we've had the trick plays…little special blitzes for different games and all. But I think the dropkick was a play that was a very important play in football in the first half of the 20th century. It's been out of circulation for a long time. I don't think there's ever been kind of a special play in my coaching career that we've had as much fun with as a team and as an organization. And there's no player that's more appropriate or more deserving to execute that play than Doug Flutie." full audio & transcript | video news 1 | video news 2           Tom Brady Press Conference 04-May-2006, New England Patriots About Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli, and the current state of the New England Patriots: "Hopefully, everybody – all of our fans, hopefully you guys – have just as much trust in them as we do. They've proven time and time again that they make great decisions, just like the players, their track record and the history. If you're around here, you're around here for a reason: because you're really pulling your weight. Scott Pioli and the way he works and his staff and the way they put together their draft – every time I see him he's here as early as any player, and he leaves as late. That's extremely important to him. He runs a great part of that building. And Coach Belichick, everyone knows how I feel about him. I trust those guys. There's probably [no] two people in this world, outside of my father, that I trust more with any important decisions like that." full transcript           Bill Belichick…Always The Coach…Always Prepared 03-May-2006, Strategic Marketing "In early May I had the pleasure of of listening to Bill Belichick, head coach of the three time Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. He was the featured speaker at Madison Square Garden during the 6th Annual Frank McGuire Foundation High School Coaches Seminar… Belichick focused on his audience of high school coaches at the MSG seminar, yet the wisdom he shared that day is applicable to any business executive or manager striving to deliver success for their own organization." full story           Draft Aftermath 01-May-2006, SI.com Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan on Patriots first round pick Laurence Maroney: "I loved him. I think the Patriots got a steal. An absolute steal. I think he's going to be the best back in the league." full source           He's Got His Foot In Patriots' Door 01-May-2006, Boston Globe "Belichick said he liked Gostkowski's competitive nature, and there are indicators Gostkowski could be immune to the pressure of kicking in the NFL…. By his senior year, Gostkowski was showing consistency that put him among the top kickers in college football. He connected on 22 of 25 field goal attempts last season, including an impressive 10 for 10 outside 40 yards, including three of 50 yards or more." full story           Raiders, Patriots Pick Lubbock Products 30-Apr-2006, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal "'I couldn't be more excited about going to such a good team and such a good organization,' Thomas said. 'You hear nothing but good things about their coaches, their players and their owner. I feel blessed to be going to such a great organization.' … When the Patriots called him Saturday, Thomas got to speak with both head coach Bill Belichick and team owner Robert Kraft. 'It meant a lot that people who were so high up in the organization would take the time to talk to me,' Thomas said. 'I think that just shows how first-class they run things.'" full story           Their Pick No Bush Leaguer: Maroney was high on everyone's list 30-Apr-2006, Boston Globe "One NFC assistant coach said his team had Laurence Maroney, the Patriots' first-round pick (21st overall) in yesterday's draft, rated above every running back available except Reggie Bush, who was taken second overall by New Orleans. 'You look at the guy's numbers and how he did against defenses like Ohio State, and you know he's not worried about competition,' the coach said. 'You give him the ball, he just runs and doesn't get tired.'" full story           Chad Jackson: The right decision 29-Apr-2006, Gainesville Sun "Chad Jackson's timing – and his time – could not have been better. The Florida wide receiver decided to leave school early in a year where the NFL prospects are few at his position. Then he went out and ran the 40-yard dash in a blazing 4.32 seconds at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. What timing. What a time…. 'I felt like I was one of the top receivers in the draft. That's why I came out,' Jackson said. 'I didn't really have anything left to accomplish in college. I don't care which team takes me…I just want to go out and play my game and keep a humble mind about it.'" full story           Patriots Draft: DE/OLB Mincey Visited NE 13-Apr-2006, Patriots Insider "After spending a couple of days hanging around with Bill Belichick and meeting all the people with the New England Patriots, Jeremy Mincey has a totally different perspective about the man many call the best football coach in the world. The intensity and stone face Belichick that you see on the sidelines during NFL games isn't anything at all like the Bill Belichick that Mincey has gotten to know." full story           Richard Seymour Press Conference 13-Apr-2006, New England Patriots "I don't love Coach Belichick like I love my kids and my wife, but at the same time I think there is definitely a level of respect that I have for him. When you look at his track record, he is the winningest coach in the last four years. That speaks for itself. Myself, I'm like a sponge. I know he has a lot of knowledge and wisdom on a lot of issues as far as football is concerned that can help me out because he's coached a lot of great players. He's always pushing me to go to higher levels and that's something that I definitely respect and would like to grow with as well." full story           Belichick In The Spotlight 12-Apr-2006, ESPN The Magazine Blog "With no notes to glance at or read from, Belichick started by addressing the students who will be searching for jobs and internships soon. Follow your heart, he said. Don't do work that seems like work; find something you love to do and are passionate about and follow that. I was expecting him to reference himself here, how as a hungry twentysomething he took an unpaid job with the Colts just to get in with a pro team. Perfect color, right? But he passed. He went into how all you have is your name and reputation, and how your reputation is earned." full story           Branch Hopes To Remain With Pats 07-Apr-2006, Boston Herald "'My job is to finish my contract regardless of whether I get an extension or not,' Branch said. 'Coach (Bill) Belichick has given me every opportunity to excel here. This is where I want to be, and I'm pretty sure things will work out for me and for us as a unit…. The guys making the decisions are the right people. With Coach Belichick and Scott Pioli at the helm, what's going on may look crazy now, but in the end, those guys know exactly what they're doing.'" full story           Toughest Places To Play 06-Apr-2006, SI.com No. 2: Gillette Stadium "The Patriots are 30-6 at Gillette Stadium since it opened in 2002, including 4-0 in the playoffs. The Razor is always a tough place to visit, but it gets even scarier when the weather gets cold, because the conditions don't seem to bother a Bill Belichick-coached team." full list           Undrafted [Everson] Walls Spent His Career Showing He Had Skills 01-Apr-2006, News Star "Finally, after years of steady effort, the former Grambling State defensive back came to understand one of football's basic truths: 'Whatever was going to happen for me,' Walls said, 'would have to happen because of what I did on the field.' … Walls capped a 14-year pro career with a Super Bowl title playing for the 1990 New York Giants – leading the team in picks that season under former defensive coordinator Bill Belichick. 'He was a master, even then, not only at preparation but also at making adjustments,' Walls said. 'That's pretty scary when you can master both. I was extremely fortunate.'" full story           Tough Going: Bruschi tries to look ahead as friends move on 31-Mar-2006, Boston Herald "'The bottom line is this: Move on. We're going to miss them, but they're not going to help us win any football games so I can't focus on who's not here.' Expect that to be the theme all offseason as Pats players are asked to put the departures in perspective. Any disappointment will be lessened in the knowledge that the Pats always do business their way. 'Bill (Belichick) has said it since he got here: He's going to do what's best for the team,' said Bruschi. 'And what's best for the team sometimes hurts your feelings because you see guys leave. Sometimes what you think is best for the team is keeping all your buddies around. That's what you want. They have to look at it without emotion – and I think they do a good job of that.'" full story           Bill Still The Man: Belichick sticks to plan that works, always 28-Mar-2006, Boston Herald "The Patriots, under Belichick, don't see emotional value in anyone. Or anything. Ever. And it's an approach that has worked out OK in the last five years. In the end, this illustrates the great and necessary divide between the Patriots coach and Patriots fans. When the fans look at Vinatieri, they see the magical kick through the snow against Oakland, the two Super Bowl winners, the drama, the heroics, the history. Belichick sees a kicker, and figures he can always find another one of those. Hey, anyone can succumb to the demands of the angry masses. It takes a strong man to tune out the crowd noise and stick to the game plan, not a god necessarily, just a strong, secure, disciplined man." full story           Krafts: In Bill We Trust 28-Mar-2006, Boston Herald "'I don't have anything new to say,' Belichick said. 'We lose players every year and every year I say the same thing: It's the nature of free agency. That's the way it was when we lost (Joe) Andruzzi and (David) Patten and Ty Law and that's the way it is now. That's the way the game works.' … Whatever unease troubles the fandom has not extended to ownership. In Bill We Trust remains a valid motto. 'I don't think there's any impatience,' the younger Kraft said. 'A lot of great players on our team are coming back. They're still under contract. Then you've got the draft, and there's still probably a lot of movement to take place in free agency.'" full story           Cowher Prepares For Challenge To Keep Steelers On Super Level 28-Mar-2006, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "'When they've won, they've done it with humility and they've done it with class,' Cowher said of Belichick's Patriots, who won two AFC championship games in Heinz Field. 'I think that's why they've been able to play at a very consistent level – they've kept a very simple approach to the game. They've never taken themselves very seriously. They realize it's done through a lot of hard work and a lot of good fortune. I learned a lot just watching them handle that and hopefully we can emulate what they've done. Three in four years is not easy. We've done it once; nobody can take that away from you, but now the challenge is to be able to maintain that same level.'" full story           Can Belichick Patch It Up Again? 26-Mar-2006, Hartford Courant "The Patriots have a plan for building quality depth: pay a lot of players decent money but allow all but a handful of superstars to leave if they demand more money than the team has slotted for that position. The Patriots practice patience in free agency, believing that once the initial frenzy of overpaying subsides, he who waits often gets the most bang for his bucks. 'Everybody talks about following the Patriots' model,' said the NFL coach who requested anonymity, 'but no personnel guys have the discipline to. They all want that T.O. Belichick believes you build a roster from the bottom up. Other guys believe you build from the top down.'" full story           Belichick Knows This Routine 24-Mar-2006, Boston Globe "Patriots coach Bill Belichick does not share in the widespread panic that seems to have engulfed Patriot fandom over the losses of free agents…. 'This is all part of the process,' Belichick said yesterday. 'You do everything you can to improve the team when you can do it. That's the process. And it doesn't stop, really, until you get to the regular season. We have a long way to go…. Every team has to go through it.'" full story           Ask Vic 23-Mar-2006, Jaguars.com "The best coach-GM situations are those that involve two men who respect each other's opinion, share a fundamental personnel philosophy and are capable of coming to joint decisions. Bill Belichick clearly has that going for him in New England, where Belichick and Scott Pioli represent one of the best coach-GM relationships in recent football history. Belichick and Pioli are daring men who understand the value of the cap and the need to turn over your roster on a yearly basis. Look at who the Patriots have lost this offseason: Willie McGinest, David Givens and Adam Vinatieri. Do you realize what kind of message that sends? Nobody is safe. Age and money have their limits. I am in awe of what they do in New England. They're the best." full story           Pats Coach Lends Gators Super Lecture 22-Mar-2006, Florida Times-Union "Bill Belichick stood in front of the Florida basketball team just days before the start of the NCAA Tournament at the request of his friend, coach Billy Donovan, and spoke to the players not of hoops, but about something he knows a great deal about: winning. 'I told them I don't know anything about basketball,' Belichick recalled to me in an interview. 'I wouldn't know a low post from a pick and roll. What I talked to them about was winning big games.'" full story | national champs           Making A Difference: Josh McDaniels '99 Spring 2006, John Carroll Magazine "Josh McDaniels, '99, has enjoyed a stunning rise in professional football, but then he did grow up in Canton, Ohio, the home of the Professional Football Hall of Fame, and his father has coached at Canton McKinley, one of the most legendary football high schools on the planet. Moreover, McDaniels went to the university that formed Don Shula '51, the National Football League (NFL) coach with the most wins ever." full story + photo           Team Motivation Comes With NFL Twist 17-Mar-2006, Gainesville Sun "Donovan, always looking for something to motivate his players, called Belichick and asked him if he would speak to his team. So as the Gators gathered in a room at the practice facility to watch tape, the man who has made hooded sweatshirts famous entered the room. His message was simple – congratulations on winning the SEC Tournament, guys, but it won't matter if you lay an egg in the NCAAs. 'You might be able to beat South Alabama nine times out of 10,' Belichick told the team, 'but if you let Thursday be that one time, you'll never forget it.'" full story           Bill Belichick statement about Willie McGinest 16-Mar-2006, Boston Globe "Willie McGinest had an incredible career with the New England Patriots. He will always be regarded as a smart, talented, tough team leader who infused professionalism to the team every day and contributed greatly to many championship seasons." full source           Belichick, Coleman Ties Remain Tight 16-Mar-2006, Plain Dealer "After covering sports for almost 30 years, Casey Coleman has many big-league names in his Rolodex. Dozens of old friends have called to wish Coleman well during his battle with cancer. One of them is former Browns coach Bill Belichick. That's right. Bill Belichick, aka Dr. Doom, the stone-faced, Super Bowl-winning coach from Planet Football 24/7. That Bill Belichick." full story           Basketball Notes: Bill Belichick on Pat Riley 12-Mar-2006, Boston Globe "Last week, we offered Miami Heat coach Pat Riley's version of his power lunch with Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Well, Belichick checked in and, basically, rhapsodized about Riley, whom he said he has followed for some time. 'I've read his books and have a lot of respect for him,' Belichick said. 'It's always good to sit down and talk with someone like that and get the perspective of another coach. Obviously, we are in different sports, but you can still learn an awful lot in terms of how you deal with the locker room, with players, with certain situations. It's good to get a different point of view.'" full story | heat win championship           Woody, Kraft Step Up For Owners 11-Mar-2006, Newsday "That Johnson and Kraft were the ones to set the deal in motion was somewhat ironic, especially given the history of the two ownership groups. After all, it was Johnson who started his tenure with the Jets by suing the Patriots over their hiring of Bill Belichick as head coach. The Jets ultimately prevailed in their grievance against the Patriots, getting first-round and third-round picks as compensation for Belichick's departure. But Johnson acknowledged for the first time that, shortly after Tagliabue rendered the decision, he made peace with the Kraft family. They have since become close friends. 'We won the battle with Belichick, but we lost the war, because he's undoubtedly the best coach in the league, and the Patriots are three Super Bowls ahead of us,' Johnson said." full story           Ask PFW: The ABCs of the CBA 28-Feb-2006, Patriots Football Weekly "The Patriots philosophy regarding the salary cap is to spread the money as evenly throughout the roster as possible. Obviously, players like Brady and Seymour and other veterans make more than the young guys, but there is a large 'middle class' of players making around a million or so that other teams don't always have…. That's why the Patriots spend to the cap but don't always have the money to sign some high-priced free agent looking for a $15 million signing bonus. At one time (I'm not sure if this is still accurate) the Patriots had more players on their roster making at least $1 million than any other team in the league. That philosophy has been a large part of their success." full story           Belichick In Combine, Not Tag, Mood 23-Feb-2006, Patriots Football Weekly "Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick arrived at the 2006 NFL Scouting Combine Thursday to begin a hectic four-day affair in preparation for April's draft. And despite the busy atmosphere created by the slew of NFL decision makers and pro prospects that have converged on the RCA Dome and adjacent Indiana Convention Center, Belichick found time in his first night in Indy to spend a few minutes with a small group of New England reporters to discuss a variety of matters, most notably his team's decision not to use either its franchise or transition tags prior to Thursday's deadline." full story           Madden Needed More Analysis 06-Feb-2006, Chicago Tribune "The star of the pregame show proved to be a surprise. Normally reticent New England coach Bill Belichick delivered some interesting analysis on several fronts. But Belichick isn't about to give up his day job, saying he wasn't going to go over to the 'dark side' to join the media." full story           A Final Broadcast By ABC, By Rote 06-Feb-2006, New York Times (Late Edition – Final) "What surprised me most came in the postgame coverage. What happened to New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick? ABC hired him as an analyst for its three-and-a-half-hour pregame program, seriously underutilized him, and then did not use him afterward. Would you rather hear him or Michael Irvin, Steve Young, Tom Jackson and Berman, the ESPN quartet of 'Sunday NFL Countdown,' toiling for ABC? The answer should be obvious." Photo credit: unknown full story           Bill Belichick Joins ABC's Super Bowl XL Pre-Game Show as Guest Analyst 30-Jan-2006, Patriots.com "Belichick will share his unique insights on the Super Bowl and provide analysis on this year's Seattle Seahawks-Pittsburgh Steelers match-up throughout the 3.5-hour program (2:30-6 p.m. ET) leading into ABC's exclusive high-definition broadcast of Super Bowl XL. … 'I was invited to participate in ABC's pre-game show and saw it as an interesting opportunity to gain a different perspective on the Super Bowl,' added Belichick. 'I have always enjoyed a good relationship with ABC and look forward to working with Mike Tirico on Sunday.'" full story           The Top 10 Super Bowls of All-Time 26-Jan-2006, SuperBowl.com "To celebrate the NFL's Road to Forty, we asked 11 NFL.com and NFL Network analysts to sit down and select the Top 10 Super Bowls of all-time." Bill Belichick has coached in three of the ten: #7 is Super Bowl XXV, #6 is Super Bowl XXXVIII, and #2 is Super Bowl XXXVI. full story           Patriots Name Josh McDaniels Offensive Coordinator 21-Jan-2006, New England Patriots "'Every job that I have had here, (coach Bill Belichick) has given me because he felt like I was ready for it,' McDaniels said in a teleconference Friday. 'I trust his judgment and have faith in whatever he tells me that I'm ready to do.' … 'Josh has been one of the key components on our offensive staff,' Belichick said. 'He is very well respected and we look forward to him taking on the coordinator role.'" full story | audio + transcript           Belichick: I'm happy for Eric 19-Jan-2006, New York Daily News "'He did a good job for me, that's obvious,' Belichick said. 'I hired him three different times, counting Cleveland. Actions speak louder than words. I'm happy for him. I just wish he wasn't in the division. But, hey, that's the business.'" full story           Mangini: No ugly breakup 18-Jan-2006, Boston Herald "Dispelling rumors of a rift, former Patriots defensive coordinator Eric Mangini yesterday said head coach Bill Belichick encouraged him to become head coach of the New York Jets. Mangini accepted the job Monday and held his introductory press conference yesterday at the Jets' training facility in Hempstead, N.Y. He said that Belichick never tried to talk him out of accepting. 'It never got to that point,' Mangini said. 'Bill and I are the best of friends. We had a late conversation last night. He really wants what's best for me and my family. Bill always encourages me to take advantage of good situations.'" full story           Kraft Tries To Look On The Bright Side 18-Jan-2006, Boston Globe "'It's our intention that Bill will be the coach for some time,' Kraft said. 'Bill Belichick and his staff have done a great job. In many ways, the coaching job this year was his most outstanding. He's not about ego and the sidebar privileges that come with being the head coach. He represents the face of our team and family with values that we feel are important. Trust in this business is very important. When the tough times come in this business, the arrows start flying, and you have to stick together. We have the utmost trust in Bill Belichick.'" full story           Patriots Name Dean Pees As Defensive Coordinator 17-Jan-2006, New England Patriots "'Dean Pees has done an outstanding job coaching our linebackers,' said Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick. 'When he joined us, Dean brought a wealth of experience into this system and has been a significant part of our success over the past two seasons.'" full story           Statement from Bill Belichick about Eric Mangini 17-Jan-2006, New England Patriots "For over a decade, I had the pleasure of working with Eric Mangini, who is an outstanding coach and an even finer individual. I will always appreciate Eric's contributions. I value our friendship and look forward to supporting Eric's commitment to youth football in the future. Eric worked his way from the most entry-level position to a position of great responsibility during several successful seasons. The opportunity Eric has now earned is truly an example of good things happening to a good, hard-working person and I wish him well." full story           Road To NFL Success Goes Through Cleveland 17-Jan-2006, NFL Network "Go back to the mid-1990s, when the Cleveland Browns assembled a coaching staff that has benefited other teams, giving new definition to what Brown can do for you. Serving under then Browns head coach Bill Belichick was a veritable dream team…. Eric Mangini … Mike Tannenbaum … Nick Saban … Kirk Ferentz … Pat Hill … Ozzie Newsome … Jim Bates … Phil Savage … Scott Pioli … Jim Schwartz … All on the same team. Which is amazing. Cleveland once lost its football team. But it also lost the best and the brightest." Photo: Getty Images full story           Broncos Bust Up Patriots' Reign 27-13 14-Jan-2006, USA TODAY "The Patriots, riding a league-record playoff win streak spanning 10 games, fumbled away their chance at the NFL's first Super Bowl three-peat. All but three of the Broncos' points came off turnovers. 'In the playoffs, one mistake can cost you a whole season and we had four or five,' Patriots receiver Deion Branch said. 'When you lose, you want to go down fighting,' New England quarterback Tom Brady told The Associated Press. 'You want to go down playing your best and we didn't do that. We made it easy for them.'" full story           Nothing Could Have Prepared Him 14-Jan-2006, Boston Globe "The foundation of the Patriots' success is their talented players. Yet the cement that Belichick used to make sure that foundation remained cohesive was imported from Annapolis, where Steve Belichick was a teacher, a junior varsity football coach, and the advance scout for the varsity. His son recounts catching spirals from Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach after practice with the same enthusiasm he undoubtedly felt as an 11-year-old boy brushing shoulders with his idols." full story           He's A Real Smart Guy 13-Jan-2006, Boston Globe "He is the only one who can get away with it. Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel will not only perform hilarious impressions of Bill Belichick right in front of him – he'll actually do it in the middle of a practice that is going extremely poorly, and still elicit a chuckle from his normally deadpan coach. 'Bill has granted Mike immunity,' said former teammate Ted Johnson. 'He has written him a free pass. And you know what? Vrabel deserves it.'" full story           A Meeting Of The Masterminds 13-Jan-2006, Associated Press "Away from the Xs and Os, part of Belichick's success as a motivator is that he doesn't look at the seasons as extensions of each other. Three Super Bowls in four years is fantastic, but for Belichick, the only thing that counts is what's going on this week, this game, this practice." full story           The Coaches' Show: Shanahan, Belichick among league's best 12-Jan-2006, Reporter-Herald "'You'd like to play for him,' New England receiver Deion Branch said of Belichick. 'I would wish that on anybody to get the opportunity to play for a coach like him.' … When asked about his reputation around the league, Belichick demurred. He doesn't feel like he's the resident genius despite winning three of the last four Super Bowls." full story           A Coaches' League 10-Jan-2006, SI.com "Take a good, long gander at the NFL's final eight. What jumps out at you about who's still standing? Great coaches on every sideline, that's what. One divisional round matchup features Bill Belichick versus Mike Shanahan, who have combined to win five of the past eight Super Bowls." full story           Wisdom From A Playoff Football Game 09-Jan-2006, Firehouse.com "I like to watch all of the playoff games, and it was during the New England Patriot and Jacksonville Jaguar's wild card game that the title for this visit with you was born. Announcer John Madden was discussing the work ethic of the Patriots with his sidekick Al Michaels. At some point during the fourth quarter, Michaels spoke of a quotation that one of the Patriot team members attributed to Coach Bill Belichick. That player was quoted as saying that Coach Belichick was often heard to say, 'If you live in the past you will die in the present.'" full story           Peter King's Monday Morning QB: The Award Section 09-Jan-2006, SI.com "Coach of the Week: New England coach Bill Belichick. It was the little things he did on Saturday night. Then again, it's always the little things with him. [King gives a detailed example from the Jacksonville game.] I'm not saying Belichick is smarter than everyone else in this game, but he gives New England an edge that very few other teams have." full story           Brady Riddles Jaguars And Patriots Press Ahead 08-Jan-2006, New York Times "Bill Belichick tells his players not to focus on the past, saying 'If you live in the past, you die in the present.' That should serve as an apt warning to future opponents. The Patriots team playing now seems more like the one that has won 24 consecutive games at home when leading at the half, the one that is 10-0 with Tom Brady in playoff games, not like the one that faltered through three-quarters of the season as the defense struggled. The defense is back, though. Even with linebacker Tedy Bruschi on the bench with a bad ankle, the Jaguars had just 87 yards rushing and once they were made one-dimensional, the pass rush was unleashed." full story           A Perfect 10 08-Jan-2006, Boston Globe "The Patriots…won their record 10th straight postseason game, scoring 21 points in a span of about seven minutes that was capped by an Asante Samuel interception return for a score on the first play of the fourth quarter…. Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who improved to 11-1 in the postseason, the best playoff record in NFL history, said his squad put in a solid effort in all three phases of the game. The Patriots advance to the divisional round and will play next weekend on the road against either Indianapolis or Denver, both of whom beat New England in the regular season." full story           Championship Credentials: Their place in history is secure 07-Jan-2006, Boston Globe "Its stage this evening will once again be Gillette Stadium, and that is all that matters to this generation's most successful football team. But the New England Patriots will also be situated in that imaginary football arena where only select teams are admitted. So say the men who've played in the company of greatness and welcome the Patriots to an elite fraternity." full story           Flutie Seems To Have Knack For Creating Memorable Moments 07-Jan-2006, New York Times "Flutie was named the American Football Conference's special teams player of the week after converting the drop kick for an extra point in the regular-season finale against Miami, a 28-26 loss. He said he felt a bit guilty about snagging an award for what amounted to a cameo appearance…. 'I think Doug deserves it,' [Belichick] said Sunday. 'He is a guy that adds a lot to this game of football, has added a lot through his great career – running, passing and now kicking.'" full story           Belichick, The Teacher, Is In 06-Jan-2006, Associated Press "The Patriots' media room is a classroom, chairs with flat arms on the right side so reporters can take notes. It fits. Bill Belichick, like most coaches, is a teacher, so if you listen closely, you can penetrate the coachspeak and learn a lot about football." full story           Belichick Better Than Ever In '05 04-Jan-2006, Pro Football Weekly "In the NFL, the final grades are in for the league's head coaches with another regular season completed. It's hard to imagine any profession subjected to as much scrutiny as the head-coaching profession, as fans – and publications like Pro Football Weekly – take great delight this time of year speculating on which head coaches will grab postseason honors, and at the same time, which ones slipped up enough to receive pink slips." full story           No One Could Have Seen This On The Pats' Horizon 03-Jan-2006, Providence Journal "That they didn't pack it in, that they somehow managed to survive that stretch when they weren't very good, saved their season. Credit Bill Belichick. Credit a core of veteran players who know what it takes to win. Credit anyone you want…. Somehow, someway, the Pats found a way to fight through their adversity and find a new season, a new life." full story           Powered Up: Tom Brady 03-Jan-2006, Sporting News "Who is in your all-time power top five? Michael Jordan, Donald Trump, Jesus Christ, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady Sr." full story           Power Structures 03-Jan-2006, Sporting News "Money and market size aren't all a franchise need to get way ahead. It also needs a great front office setup – y'know, like the … New England Patriots. Bill Belichick handles New England's personnel from both the front office and the sideline, with backing from owner Robert Kraft (who has gotten more hands-off with age)." full story           Bill Belichick's comments on Doug Flutie's dropkick 01-Jan-2006, New England Patriots "We had tryouts out there, and Doug shanked a couple, but he hit a couple pretty good ones so I thought if we had an opportunity to do it here in one of these last couple games that we'd give him a shot. I think Doug deserves it. He's a guy that adds a lot to this game of football, has added a lot through his great career – running, passing, and now kicking. He's got a skill and we had a chance to let him use it. I'm happy for him. First time since '41 … It might be sixty years again, too. It's a lot tougher the way the ball is now. It's a lot tougher kicking than it was back then. Really, Doug's hit a lot of good ones in practice. We've done it a few times and he's banged it right through there." full transcript | news story           Cradle Of Coaches: Bill Belichick took his hits in Cleveland, but he and his staff have had a lasting impact 01-Jan-2006, Daily News Transcript "Perception pulled the wool over one of the greatest compilations of coaching talent in NFL history. Maybe the Romeo Crennels and Charlie Weises build powerhouses of their own, and guys like Eric Mangini and Josh McDaniels become hot names, get corner offices and succeed as head coaches. Maybe. But as it is right now, they've got a long way to go to match the Cleveland staffs that Belichick employed in the early 1990s. 'It was special and I knew that at that time,' said Belichick. 'I told the owner (Modell) that several times too, when he had some questions about how the coaching was going.'" full story           This Ballot Is For Belichick 01-Jan-2006, Boston Globe "Winning when you have two of the best teams in the league, as Dungy and Holmgren are doing, is not easy and deserves credit. But continuing to win after long-term success with a depleted lineup and a coaching staff that was without the heads of both its offense and defense seems a far more daunting task. Bill Belichick completed it, whether or not his team wins the season's final game. This was his finest hour. For that he deserves to have the [Coach of the Year] ballot checked in his favor." full story | also here           august–december 2006 stories

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