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2007 stories
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Shopping Review – Who improved most, least?
26-Jun-2007, NFL.com
"Our choices for the five
teams that did the most and five teams that did the least to
improve follow: FIVE THAT DID MOST – New England: There isn't a more obvious choice. The Patriots
signed arguably the best free agent at any position in
former Baltimore linebacker Adalius Thomas, who brings
off-the-charts athleticism to a well-coached scheme that
surrounds him with other talented and smart players. Trading
for former Raider malcontent Randy Moss was bold, but Bill
Belichick should keep him in line well enough to provide at
least a season's worth of big plays."
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Travelers Championship Celebrity Pro-Am
21-Jun-2007, Journal Inquirer
"Hollywood was well represented Wednesday as
Academy Award winner Joe Pesci was at the TPC, as well as TV
personalities George Lopez and Dennis Haysbert. ESPN anchors
Chris Berman and Stuart Scott were there, along with
Patriots coach Bill Belichick, Heisman Trophy winner Doug
Flutie, and NBA great K.C. Jones. UConn football coach Randy
Edsall and women's hoop coach Geno Auriemma made their
annual appearances."
full story | full info |
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Best Brains In Sports
16-Jun-2007, SI.com
"Here are some of the best brains in sports,
beginning with New England's head coach. Although his
game-day attire might not reflect his IQ, his complex
defensive schemes and attention to detail have led the
Patriots to three Super Bowl victories since 2002."
full gallery |
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Honoring Halberstam
13-Jun-2007, Boston Globe
"So how does a truly great man get sent off
by the city he loved? If you're David Halberstam, you get
famed Jazz pianist Billy Taylor playing an uninterrupted
half hour of 'Selections' as the guests take their seats at
the mammoth Riverside Episcopal Church on the far Upper West
Side of Manhattan. … You get nearly two
hours, and when it's done the overall effect on those in
attendance is to reinforce the idea that David Halberstam,
who died at age 73 in an automobile accident on April 23,
was perhaps even more of an amazing man than most of us had
realized."
full story | halberstam books |
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Moss Appeal
12-Jun-2007, Sports Illustrated
"[Randy] Moss needed to show up in New England this spring
and make a good impression. In his first six weeks as a
Patriot he has made a great one. At 2 a.m. on April 29 coach
Bill Belichick called Moss in Houston and informed him that
he would have to accept a … reduction in his … base salary
and undergo a physical in Boston within 10 hours if he
wanted to be a Patriot. Moss immediately agreed to the pay
cut and hired a private plane to rush him to New England."
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Thomas'
Do-Everything Ability Is Scary In Hands Of Belichick
12-Jun-2007, ESPN.com
"Of all the unrestricted free-agent acquisitions
this spring, the migration of [Adalius] Thomas to New
England seems the most optimum fit and the best outlay of
big bucks. The Patriots, despite Belichick's fertile
imagination, haven't employed a defender with double-digit
sacks since 1995. Thomas, with 20 sacks over the past two
seasons and 28 in his three years as a starter, seems a
prime candidate to restore the edginess to the New England
pass rush off the edge."
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Belichick Breaks Bread
With Fans
11-Jun-2007, Patriots.com
"While Belichick offered some humorous replies to
his good-natured questioners, he gave them some sage advice
as well. … 'The event was
absolutely sensational in every way,' raved [Patriots] Extra
Points [VISA] cardholder William Hendrick, who drove with
his teenage son from their Long Island, New York home for
the evening. 'Coach Belichick was brilliant, charming,
insightful, and very kind. He left us both with a lot of
take-aways, both for sports and for life.'"
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Choose Your Weapon: Pats' offense
will be hard to stop with new WR depth
11-Jun-2007, SI.com
"The dumbest thing you could write about New England
right now is that owner Bob Kraft, coach Bill Belichick and
personnel veep Scott Pioli are loading up for one last Super
Bowl run. I don't know how long Belichick is going to coach,
but it's not like he signed a bunch of Roger Clemenses. Moss
is 30 and may be past the midpoint of his career, but other
additions like Stallworth, Welker and Adalius Thomas are
basically at their prime. 'This program's not falling off
anytime soon,' [Rodney] Harrison said."
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NFL Needs More Citizens Like
Patriots' Green
08-Jun-2007, USA Today
"Frankly, I'm a little disillusioned about pro
football players who don't 'get it.' … Today, I will tell you about one of the good guys. And,
really, there are many more. Jarvis Green gets it. I don't
think we will see him in Roger Goodell's disciplinary
doghouse anytime soon. The New England Patriots defensive
end is too busy with business pursuits and with being a
husband and father. The adventurous entrepreneur also is a
caring, involved member of his community back home in
Louisiana."
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Minicamp Ends With Max Effort
08-Jun-2007, Boston Globe
"The Patriots concluded mandatory minicamp
yesterday at Gillette Stadium, capping off a three-week
stretch of various team-building workouts, and coach Bill
Belichick was pleased with the progress. 'I think that we
have a lot of our system installed; we've done a lot and
we're a lot further ahead than we were three weeks ago when
we started coming off of the offseason program,' he said.
The next key dates are June 22 (the final day of the
offseason program) and July 27 (the start of training camp)."
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Junior Seau Returning For 18th
Season
07-Jun-2007, USA Today
"Seau and the Patriots remained in contact and he
signed another one-year contract on May 21 – taking a shot at an 18th NFL
season at age 38. A conversation with coach Bill Belichick,
he joked, convinced him the team wanted him back. 'Belichick
called up and said he loved me,' Seau said. His return
allows a player just starting his pro career a chance to
work with an idol. Like Seau, who grew up in suburban San
Diego, seventh-round draft choice Oscar Lua played
linebacker at Southern California. At the minicamp, they
lined up side-by-side in practice."
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Patriots Ignore Expectations, Focus
On Getting Better
05-Jun-2007, ESPN.com
"Depending who was standing at the interview podium in
the Gillette Stadium media work room after a morning
minicamp session, the New England Patriots either were
acutely aware of what observers are saying about them and
have embraced the heightened expectations for 2007 or they
couldn't care less. Guess into which of those camps coach
Bill Belichick falls. 'It doesn't matter what people think.
It doesn't matter what we think. It matters what we do,'
said Belichick."
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Patriots Grieve For Hill At New
Orleans Service
02-Jun-2007, Boston Globe
"Former Patriot linebacker André Tippett, now with
the team in a community relations capacity, said that after
the organization was made aware of Hill's death, owner
Robert Kraft and coach Bill Belichick decided the Patriots
should pay their respects to Hill as a team. 'Going down as
a team says a lot about the organization and the Kraft
family,' said Tippett. 'It was the right thing to do and it
sends a powerful message.' 'When you talk about being a
family, you can't be there just for the good times,' said
Kraft. 'This is an unfortunate tragedy.'"
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The Best: Coach
30-May-2007, ESPN.com
"It was unanimous. Jeffri
Chadiha, John Clayton, Merril Hoge, Matt Mosley and Len
Pasquarelli proclaim Bill Belichick Best Coach: "By adopting a trait once associated primarily with
the NBA, the NFL arguably has become the consummate coach's
domain, a league in which the person on the sideline is even
more critical than the ones on the field. And there is no
more consummate coach in the NFL than Belichick. The New
England coach does the two things that are critical to the
position – pushes the right
buttons and connects with his players – and he does them significantly better than any of his peers."
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Patriots Will Attend Hill's Funeral
30-May-2007, Times-Picayune
"Those who played with former New England Patriots
defensive end Marquise Hill, who died in an accidental
drowning in Lake Pontchartrain on Sunday, said a commitment
to team was what the gentle giant stood for whenever he
stepped on the football field. And in memory of their former
teammate and friend, a team response is exactly what Hill
will receive as representatives from the New England
Patriots and LSU plan on paying their respects during his
visitation and funeral services this weekend."
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Patriots' Hill Mourned As 'A Hero
Until the End'
30-May-2007, ESPN.com
"Hill spent much of his free time and his NFL paycheck
helping loved ones rebuild in the hurricane-damaged city
where he grew up. Aiding others came naturally to him, and
distraught relatives on Monday said Hill died a hero after
the former LSU star helped save the life of a former high
school classmate who could not swim. While the woman
survived by grabbing a piling and holding onto it until she
was rescued, the 24-year-old Hill, who friends described as
a good swimmer, drifted away and disappeared until searchers
pulled his body from the water on Monday afternoon, about 17
hours after the accident."
full story | tribute page |
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Patriot Marquise Hill Dead At 24
28-May-2007, New England Patriots
"The New England Patriots are terribly saddened to learn
that Marquise Hill's death has been confirmed by the Orleans
Parish Coroner's Office. The New Orleans native was reported
missing Sunday night after suffering an accident while jet
skiing on Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana. The U.S. Coast
Guard led the search and rescue efforts, teaming up with the
Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Department. … 'We have suffered a stunning and
tragic loss today,' said Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick.
'Marquise will be remembered as a thoughtful and caring
young man who established himself as one of the year-round
daily fixtures of our team. I send my deepest condolences to
the Hill family.'"
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Belichick Assesses Rookie Mini Camp
14-May-2007, Patriots.com
"Overall, what does Belichick expect from rookie
mini camp to call it a success? He replied, 'That each
player will be able to take that information that he's been
given in the meeting room, the walkthroughs, film sessions,
and so forth, and go out there and apply it in the segment
or in the framework that we're able to work in at this
point, which is not as a full team, but it's the best we can
do. That's really what we're trying to do, is trying to get
everybody to a level where they can be competitive with each
other in camp, so that we can evaluate who the best players
are and what players can do, rather than have guys that are
so far ahead of other guys.'"
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Fuzzy Reception: Many WRs taken in first round have dropped the ball
27-Apr-2007, Boston Globe
"'There is a pretty decent failure rate at a lot of positions,' said Patriots coach Bill Belichick, 'and receiver is up there.' … The question to be answered, then, is why the receiver position has produced such uneven results. When Belichick considers the challenges of evaluating college receivers, he points to several areas. 'No. 1, just in terms of defense, there is no press coverage in college and you see a lot of it in the NFL,' he said. 'So if a player can't get away from that, he'll have a problem. In college, they might not see a defender until they are 10 yards off the line of scrimmage.'"
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Halberstam And The Dolphins
26-Apr-2007, Palm Beach Post
"'David said Bill did talk about Nick Saban and he'd love to
talk to you about it,' the rep said. 'David said you should
call him at home tomorrow night, about 6 p.m. He should be
back from Washington, D.C. by then. He's speaking at the
Department of Veteran Affairs. Here's his number…' Yes,
David Halberstam, one of my heroes and giants of my
profession, gave me his home phone number. I called him the
next day and he couldn't have been nicer or more
accommodating. We talked for over an hour, but not just
about Belichick and Saban."
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Bill Belichick On The Death Of David Halberstam
24-Apr-2007, New England Patriots
"It was a privilege and honor to watch David practice his
craft and an even greater one to call him a friend. David
was as warm, considerate, intelligent, interesting and
accomplished a person as I have ever met and his loss is
heartbreaking."
story | books |
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David Halberstam, 73, War Reporter
and Author, Is Killed in a Car Crash
24-Apr-2007, New York Times
"David Halberstam, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist
and tireless author of books on topics as varied as
America's military failings in Vietnam, the deaths of
firefighters at the World Trade Center and the high-pressure
world of professional basketball, was killed yesterday in a
car crash south of San Francisco. He was 73, and lived in
Manhattan. Mr. Halberstam was a passenger in a car making a
turn in Menlo Park, Calif., when it was hit broadside by
another car and knocked into a third vehicle, said the San
Mateo County coroner. He was pronounced dead at the scene."
full obituary |
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Patriots-Colts Will Play Again Nov. 4
11-Apr-2007, Associated Press
"The New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts, who have
developed one of the fiercest rivalries in the NFL, will
meet in Indianapolis on Nov. 4 in what should be one of the
highlights of the 2007 NFL season. That game will be a
rematch of January's AFC title game, won by the Colts 38-34
after they fell behind 20-3. Indianapolis and Peyton
Manning, who went on to beat Chicago in the Super Bowl, now
have beaten Tom Brady and the Patriots three straight times,
including the title game and a victory in Foxborough during
the 2006 season."
full story | full schedule |
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China Preseason Game Rescheduled For 2009
02-Apr-2007, NFL.com
"The NFL has determined that it will focus its global
resources this year on its first overseas regular-season
game – to be held Oct. 28 in
London, England, with the Miami Dolphins hosting the New
York Giants. The American Bowl preseason game in China,
originally set for Aug. 9 in Beijing between the New England
Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, will be rescheduled. Working
in partnership with the Beijing municipal authorities, the
NFL will plan to play a game at the National Stadium of
Beijing in August of 2009."
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Troy Brown Back With
Patriots For Another Go
29-Mar-2007, NBCSports.com
"Troy Brown is in the Patriots' 2007 plans
despite recent surgery to repair a ruptured patella tendon.
'I expect Troy to have a role with us this year as far as
I'm concerned,' Patriots head coach Bill Belichick told
NBCSports.com on Wednesday. 'He is part of the plan for next
season.' Meanwhile, Brown told the Associated Press
Wednesday night, 'My intention is to play. That's what the
deal is. We'll see what happens. I'm not writing anything in
stone but my intentions are to play.'"
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Belichick Has Thought Of Everything
27-Mar-2007, Sporting News
"What Patriots coach Bill Belichick does probably better
than anyone in the history of organized football is prepare
for every contingency. Nothing escapes him. He anticipates
the thoughts and moves of every opponent. Whether it's
studying draft prospects, finding an opponent's weakness,
deciding how to best use a player or figuring how to handle
a delicate situation, Belichick makes preparation an art
form."
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He'll Skip Breakfast
26-Mar-2007, Boston Globe
"While chairman/CEO Robert Kraft and president
Jonathan Kraft will be present in Phoenix for the meetings,
coach Bill Belichick is not expected to attend. As part of
the meetings, there are media breakfasts with the head
coaches from each team, with the AFC scheduled for tomorrow
morning and the NFC Wednesday morning. 'It was a long trip
to Hawaii [for the Pro Bowl], that put a dent in things a
bit,' Belichick said. 'It's also shortening up the offseason
a bit coupled with the China trip. I feel I'll be more
productive here, getting caught up on the draft and with the
offseason program starting last week.'"
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Getting In The Coach's Head
25-Mar-2007, Boston Globe
"The Patriots have played in nine overtime games
since Bill Belichick was hired as coach in 2000, and they
are 8-1, with eight straight victories. Given that run of
success, one might assume Belichick is just fine with the
current rules. Not exactly. In fact, overtime rules are one
aspect of the game he is particularly passionate about. …
While Belichick is prepared to adjust to all rule changes,
here are his thoughts on some of the proposals that will be
discussed."
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All Roads Lead To Foxborough
20-Mar-2007, Sports Illustrated
"It should surprise no one that prime free agents would
want to join a franchise that has won three of the past six
Super Bowls. What is unusual is that they'd take less money
to play for one with so much salary-cap room. And it's
stranger still to see the Patriots playing the free-agency
game as aggressively as coach Bill Belichick plays defense.
In their eight years of team-building, Belichick and vice
president of player personnel Scott Pioli have mostly been
bargain-basement shoppers…"
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Patriots Sign Wide
Receivers Donté Stallworth & Kelley Washington
13-March-2007, New England Patriots
"'When Donté and Kelley were drafted, we were very
interested in them as receivers who could help our offense
and that feeling still exists,' said Patriots Head Coach
Bill Belichick. Stallworth, 26, is a veteran of five NFL
seasons with the New Orleans Saints (2002-05) and
Philadelphia Eagles (2006) and has played in 68 career games
with 43 starts. … Washington, 27, is a veteran of four NFL seasons, all
with the Cincinnati Bengals (2003-06)."
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Award-Winning Writer For Courant
Dies At 55
07-Mar-2007, Hartford Courant
"The Patriots opened a press conference call
today with Coach Bill Belichick expressing his condolences
to the family of Courant sports writer Alan Greenberg. 'On a
personal note, and on behalf of the organization, we're
shocked and saddened by the news today of Alan. I want to
express our deepest sympathies and condolences to his family
and our prayers and thoughts are with them. He was a person
that definitely added a lot of levity to the press
conferences even thought he asked a lot of very difficult
questions…'"
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More Than The Money: Why Thomas
chose Pats
05-Mar-2007, SI.com
"When the Patriots brought Thomas in for a visit
Saturday, he met owner Bob Kraft, talked with Bill Belichick
and saw the stadium. But there weren't many frills. He
didn't even tour the locker room. 'I like that it was
low-key,' he said. 'I don't care about any of that other
stuff.' I asked Thomas, given the early estimates of a
bigger deal, if he was disappointed with how this deal ended
up. 'No,' he said. 'The contract is nice and clean. I'm
happy with it. I'm not interested in being Nate Clements.
You don't know how much of that contract is real, and how
much is just paper. I know what my contract is.'"
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Patriots Act Quickly: Thomas,
Morris, Brady in the fold
04-Mar-2007, Boston Globe
"In all, it was a blazing start to free agency (which
began Friday morning), with the Patriots identifying their
targets early and opening their checkbook. While some might
view the approach as out of the norm, coach Bill Belichick
suggested otherwise… 'I don't
think this is any change in philosophy; it's the same thing
we've always done, trying to improve the football team,'
Belichick said. 'Whether we give a player on the team a
large contract, or it goes to another player, it's investing
in talent. That's all we're doing.'"
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After A Bruising Year, Belichick
Opens Up
04-Mar-2007, Boston Globe
"If ever there were a time when Belichick could use a
little positive PR, this would be it. Though he remains the
Zeus of Patriot Nation, his football season last year was
peppered with incidents that earned him bad press. Stiffing
his former defensive coordinator Eric Mangini after the Pats
lost to Mangini's New York Jets. Shoving a Globe
photographer out of his way in an overly eager effort to
embrace Mangini after the Pats' playoff win over the Jets.
Brushing past a victorious Peyton Manning after losing the
AFC championship to the Indianapolis Colts. Having his name
dragged through the tabloids in a messy divorce case
involving a New Jersey couple…"
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Patriots Sign Unrestricted Veteran
Free Agents: LB Adalius Thomas, TE Kyle Brady And RB Sammy Morris
03-Mar-2007, New England Patriots
"Personally and professionally, we are very
impressed with Adalius Thomas,' said Patriots Head Coach
Bill Belichick. 'His playmaking, toughness, intelligence,
versatility and character were all factors in our decision
to pursue him. Adalius has contributed in many ways to some
excellent defensive units and we look forward to getting to
work with him.' … 'Kyle Brady is a
tough, smart and dependable player. His familiarity with our
system and his consistency make him a good fit for our
offense. We are excited to add him to our tight end group.'"
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Patriots Release Corey Dillon,
Re-Sign Evans, Yates
02-Mar-2007, New England Patriots
"The New England Patriots released running back Corey
Dillon, re-signed unrestricted free agent running back Heath
Evans and re-signed restricted free agent guard Billy Yates
today. Terms of the agreements were not disclosed. 'On
behalf of the New England Patriots organization, we respect
and appreciate Corey Dillon's significant contributions to
our team,' said Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick. 'Those
contributions extend beyond his individual on-field
achievements and his integral role in a championship season.
They also include three years of veteran leadership and
positive relationships throughout the team.'"
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Four-Fathers: Hub's pro coaches
work hard to be dads first
23-Feb-2007, Boston Herald
"Stephen and Brian Belichick both spent time with
the Pats coach this season charting plays on game-days.
Stephen also has worked the past three summers scouting with
club vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli and
doing film work and other projects. … 'It's been great for me to have them around, and have them
be a part, but it's only if they want to be there,' said
Belichick… 'It doesn't matter to me what sport they play, or
what activity they do, as long as it's something they want
to do and want to commit to. Then, I'm behind it. I don't
want them to do something just to please me. I want them to
do it because they want to do it.'"
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Patriots Name Nick Caserio Wide
Receivers Coach
19-Feb-2007, New England Patriots
"'I am very grateful for the opportunity to work
with our receivers,' said Caserio. 'I have tremendous
respect for our staff and players and am eager to join them
in a coaching role.' … 'Since
2001, Nick has been a tremendous asset to this program
through his contributions in both coaching and scouting,'
said Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick. 'He brings a
thorough understanding of our offensive system and personnel
and we are excited for his return to the staff.'"
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Patriots Designate Asante Samuel
Franchise Player
16-Feb-2007, New England Patriots
"Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick has offered the
following comments regarding cornerback Asante Samuel, who
was designated the Patriots' franchise player today. 'Asante
Samuel is an outstanding player who has been a consistent
contributor for us for several years,' said Belichick. 'We
hope Asante remains a Patriot for many seasons to come.'"
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Manning Leaves Hawaii As King Of
The NFL World
12-Feb-2007, Honolulu Star-Bulletin
"AFC head coach Bill Belichick leaned in to whisper
something meant only for Manning. The quarterback smiled,
shook his nemesis' hand and acknowledged Belichick with a
nod and a simple, 'Thanks, Coach.' … 'Peyton deserves
everything that's coming his way,' Belichick said. 'He's
worked hard, he played well in the big moments. Winning the
Super Bowl is what every guy in this room wants to
accomplish more than anything else.'"
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Jimmy Johnson: New England
Architects Are Top
11-Feb-2007, Boston Herald
"To say
that Bill Belichick has modeled his team-building philosophy
directly after that of Jimmy Johnson would be an
overstatement. Belichick came to the Patriots in 2000 with
his own ideas about long-term success under the salary cap,
and he's implemented them. … 'I think Scott
Pioli and Bill are very, very intelligent and know what
they're doing,' Johnson said. 'The times we had
conversations about it, (Belichick) had done his homework.
He knew exactly what he wanted to ask. He does a great job
of covering all the bases, whether it's X's and O's
football, or it's salary cap or drafting players or trading
for players. It's a model franchise.'"
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Afternoon Delight
11-Feb-2007, Honolulu Advertiser
"Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer was named the
Dan McGuire Player of the Game … 'I'm very happy and I told him that walking off the field,'
Belichick said of Palmer, who missed last year's Pro Bowl
while recovering from knee surgery. 'Obviously, he wasn't
able to play in the game last year. For him to have the kind
of game he had and get that recognition, I'm happy for him.
He deserved it.' … 'We compete
against these guys, game plan against them every week and
it's fun to be coaching them and not worrying about them,'
New England coach Bill Belichick said of his AFC squad."
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AFC Gives NFC The Boot
11-Feb-2007, Honolulu Star-Bulletin
"A pass-interference call against Arizona strong
safety Adrian Wilson set up a chip-shot field goal by San
Diego place-kicker Nate Kaeding to give the AFC a 31-28
victory over the NFC before a sellout crowd of 50,410. … 'I tell you what, this is really a fun group to coach,'
Belichick said. 'They were a great group of guys, very
cooperative, who played hard until the end. The NFC made a
nice comeback, but our guys stayed with it and were able to
score late when we needed to.'"
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Quick Hits
11-Feb-2007, Boston Herald
"It was interesting hearing the range of opinion
regarding Bill Belichick at the Super Bowl. There was some
negativity, of course, but more often than not you heard
friends leap to his defense over the various episodes of
tunnel-vision and/or grumpiness shown following games this
season. ESPN analyst Joe Theismann was particularly irked
that Belichick caught grief for not giving Peyton Manning
the proper embrace following the AFC title game. (Belichick
called Manning on the Friday before the Super Bowl to wish
him luck and has been congenial with him at the Pro Bowl in
Hawaii). … 'People ought of get
off of Bill's back.'"
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Pro Bowl Notebook: Meeting
Belichick
10-Feb-2007, Associated Press
"For several AFC stars, the most interesting part
of Pro Bowl week was the opportunity to investigate Bill
Belichick. … 'I never really met
Belichick before, and you always hear about how he's a mean
guy,' Baltimore linebacker Adalius Thomas said. 'But it's
real interesting to see how he reacts with different
players, how he gets comfortable over here. He's actually a
really nice guy. I was surprised.' … 'For Bill, this is his peace on the football field,'
league MVP LaDainian Tomlinson said. 'He's definitely
happier out here. This is where he loves to be. Out here, I
get to talk to him and understand the man.'"
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Best Of The Best
10-Feb-2007, Honolulu Star-Bulletin
"'You only have these guys for less
than a week, so you don't have that much time to get ready,'
Belichick said. 'I think we've all enjoyed spending this
time together. It's fun to get to know the players and their
families. Frankly, I'd much rather be coaching in last
week's game (Super Bowl XLI) than this week. It's nice to be
in Hawaii, but the Super Bowl is where all of us want to
be.'"
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Coaching Change
05-Feb-2007, Yahoo! Sports
"Vermeil paid homage to the NFL's legendary
sourpuss, Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England
Patriots. Under Belichick, who usually radiates all the
warmth of a blizzard, Patriots won the Super Bowl in 2001,
2003 and 2004 and nearly got there again this year. Pointing
out that Belichick's cold style contrasts with that of Dungy
and Smith, Vermeil added, 'If you wanted to go based on
[Super Bowl victories], you'd have to say Bill Belichick's
style is better. It's totally dependent on number one, being
very good at what you do in your own personality, and number
two, having very, very good football players.'"
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A Satisfying Completion
05-Feb-2007, Boston Globe
"He's good enough at basic math to know that now that he
has one championship he's still two behind that guy in New
England. 'This is not the end,' [Peyton Manning] said. 'We
want to be a better team next year.' And speaking of the
Patriots, guess who left him a go-get-'em voice mail Friday?
Why, none other than Bill Belichick, and don't think Manning
didn't appreciate that. If he was ever bothered by
that postgame snub two weeks ago, he's sure over it now."
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Belichick Weighs In On 2006 Season
27-Jan-2007, Boston Globe
"When Patriots coach Bill Belichick reflects on the
team's recently concluded 2006 season, it very well could
rank as one of the most rewarding of his 32 years in the
NFL. Belichick touched on those feelings in a wide-ranging,
season-ending interview that included a look back, a glimpse
into the future, and his thoughts on why he's looking
forward to continuing to serve as head coach of the team. … 'The way we're trending gives me confidence that we're on
the right track. We're not an old team, with no cap money
and no choices, where when you look at it, you say, 'How are
we going to get any better?' I think you can look at it and
say, 'OK, we have some draft choices, a little bit of room
on the salary cap, and some young players you think will
improve.''"
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Colts Report: Notes, quotes
26-Jan-2007, The Sports Xchange
"New England coach Bill Belichick and Patriots team
owner Bob Kraft have offered Colts coach Tony Dungy and
Indianapolis their congratulations for the Colts' AFC
championship win Sunday night. 'No. 1, he said, he told me,
'You've got a great team and this was a great game. Your
quarterback is very, very special. And I hope you guys go on
to win it,'' Dungy said of his conversation with Belichick.
'Bob Kraft, the owner of the Patriots, called me and
reiterated pretty much the same thing (as Belichick).
(Kraft) hurt to lose, he was still wounded, but he was happy
for us and wished us the best in representing the AFC in the
Super Bowl.'"
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Belichick Shows Touch Of Sincerity
24-Jan-2007, Plain Dealer
"Belichick looked devastated, like a man who had
seen the creek rise and the crops fail. He could barely form
the words to speak. Words are not Belichick's stock in trade, anyway. X's and
O's are. Pro football is the only thing he knows. It is all
he has got. … He is like an
advanced mathematician, working on the cold fringes of
speculation, using a specialized language only Good Will
Hunting could understand. Although Belichick and the
Cleveland media feuded when he was here, most have come to
respect him as a man who represented the triumph of merit
and hard work."
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USA TODAY's All-Time Super Bowl Team: Coaches
24-Jan-2007, USA Today
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR — Bill Belichick, New York Giants:
"Chicago's Buddy Ryan or the Giants' Belichick? Both
coaches parlayed Super Bowl wins into head coaching gigs. … The Pro Football Hall of Fame put
Belichick's Giants coaching jacket on display because
his Super Bowl XXV game plan slowed Buffalo's K-Gun offense
in New York's 20-19 victory. 'I would pick Bill because the
offense the Patriots had wasn't near as tough as what
Belichick had to game-plan against with the Bills,' Sabol
says. Good point. Belichick gets our defensive headset."
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America's Game Countdown: 2004 Patriots Ranked #9
23-Jan-2007, NFL Network
"What did head coach Bill Belichick tell his players
prior to the Super Bowl? Plus, a look inside the final
minutes of the Super Bowl and how a phone call motivated the
Patriots against the Colts in the Divisional Playoffs....
The story of the 2004 Patriots – ranked 9th among all Super
Bowl winners by a 53-member blue ribbon panel of NFL experts
– is told through the eyes of Belichick, linebacker Tedy
Bruschi and wide receiver/ cornerback Troy Brown, who
provide an intimate portrait of how these players became
Super Bowl champions."
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Full Speed Ahead For Belichick, Just A
Chip Off The Navy Block
21-Jan-2007, Baltimore Sun
"Before his junior year, Belichick moved from Bates
High to Annapolis High and played football for Al Laramore.
Big Al was the kind of coach players would run through a
wall for – especially if he
ordered them to. Still on the chubby side, Belichick lined
up at center in a simple offense that was faithful to the
3-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust era. The plays were much simpler
than what Belichick saw at Navy practices. Still, he was
much better at envisioning the plays than executing them."
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Belichick Still An
Enigma To Wordsmiths
21-Jan-2007, San Diego Union-Tribune
"On pages 242, 243 and 244, detailed in the clear,
concise prose of David Halberstam, a Pulitzer Prize-winning
author, there it is: What enters into Bill Belichick's
thinking when he is preparing for a game against the
Indianapolis Colts. I should explain. I have been thumbing
through The
Education of a Coach, Halberstam's study of Belichick,
in the hope that within the book's pages I could find ways
to crawl under his skin. I wanted to understand him, to
learn what has caused him to become the remote, closed-up
person he is."
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Graham's Browns Dynasty Of Different
Color
21-Jan-2007, Boston Globe
"In some ways it really doesn't matter what happens
tonight at the RCA Dome. Certainly, to play for the AFC
Championship and a shot at returning to the Super Bowl for
the fourth time in six years is a significant moment for the
Patriots, but in the broader framework of what they have
done, the outcome will matter little. Their place in history
already has been cemented. When the discussion turns to NFL
dynasties, only seven teams truly exist … and these
Patriots must be among them."
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Twin Cornerstones Catapult the
Patriots To Amazing Heights
21-Jan-2007, New York Times
"It has been suggested that Kraft and Scott Pioli, the vice
president for player personnel, believe they can replace
anyone, as long as they have Belichick and Brady. Kraft
disagreed with that assessment. 'I think Belichick is the
best coach in the business, and I think Brady is the best
quarterback,' Kraft said. 'But in the end, it's far more
than Belichick and Brady. Scott has done a wonderful job
evaluating and acquiring talent. And there's a core group of
players here, there's a great coaching staff, and there's a
culture in the locker room. They believe if they do what
Bill tells them to do, they'll win.'"
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Serby's Sunday Q&A With...Carl Banks
21-Jan-2007, New York Post
"Q: How did Belichick push Lawrence Taylor? A: He'd
be screaming if Lawrence didn't run the bag drills right and
make him do it over. Lawrence would be cursing and
screaming: 'Why do I have to run these bags like this?' Bill
had no problem stopping the bag drill and explaining why
running the bag drill full-speed was important. He'd pick a
team, or a player: 'If so-and-so's trying to cut your knees
while you're running to the football, you can jump over him
full-speed and make a play and not have to worry about it.'"
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Great Company
21-Jan-2007, Boston Globe
"'In fairness,' said [Charlie] Casserly, who worked
in the Redskins' front office during a 10-year run in which
they won three Super Bowls, 'that New York Giants team
didn't lose free agents like the teams do now, so if you
write a story comparing today's teams to those from other
eras, you're writing a story about apples and oranges.' … 'What this team has done,'
said [Gil] Brandt, 'is the most unbelievable accomplishment
in the history of football.' … 'The thing that's truly remarkable,' said Casserly, 'is that
Belichick and the Patriots have done what they said couldn't
be done in this age of parity.'"
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Simple Stuff
20-Jan-2007, Yahoo! Sports
"Belichick is the first to tell you he isn't perfect,
but by NFL standards he may be as close as anyone, ever.
While there is no statistical analysis of smart game
management, Belichick's record in the playoffs (13-2) and
overtime games (9-1) backs the perception that no one is
better at making quick, effective decisions based on sound
philosophy. This is the coach who rarely screws up, who
almost never lets the game's emotional rollercoaster knock
him off his principles. 'That's why you don't see him all
excited until the end of the game, because he's always
constantly thinking about the next play,' said defensive end
Richard Seymour."
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Like It Or Not, Belichick Model Coach:
Patriots coach does one thing very, very well—win
20-Jan-2007, Associated Press
"His career regular-season record of 111-81
translates into a .578 winning percentage. Take away those
five calamitous seasons in Cleveland, and it jumps to .670.
That's better than any active NFL coach and would put him
ahead of George Halas and Don Shula. He finds ways to win
even when the Patriots have no business doing so, exploiting
mismatches nobody else sees. He makes adjustments better
than anyone, and his team rarely looks the same from one
half to another, let alone week to week."
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Head Coach With 3 Super Bowl Wins
Traces Start To $25-A-Week Job With Baltimore Colts
20-Jan-2007, Indianapolis Star
"I worked right outside of Earl Weaver's office,' he
said of the old Baltimore Orioles manager. 'I wrote down all
of the films. Every player was all on one card. Punch out
the holes, put an ice pick in, drop the cards out, do the
breakdowns, do probably 15 to 20 for (assistant coach) Maxie
Baughan and the defensive coaches in the old Baltimore
Memorial Stadium.' … 'I remember that,' he said. 'I
learned probably more football in that room – it was a
cinderblock closet, really – but I probably learned more
football in that room than anyplace else I've ever been. It
was like a graduate course in football.'"
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Belichick, Colvin: Horseshoes in their
history
19-Jan-2007, Newsday
"Belichick, raised in Annapolis, was a Baltimore Colts
fan; he recalls watching Alan Ameche lunge over the goal
line against the Giants to cap 'The Greatest Game Ever
Played' and win the 1958 title. … 'The Colts, they were
awesome,' Belichick said. 'You had Unitas. You had Berry.
Orr. Lenny Moore, who was a great player for them.
Defensively, Marchetti and Braase, 'Big Daddy' Lipscomb,
Donovan, Shinnick, Pellington, Bobby Boyd, all of those
guys. Lee the punter. I could go down and give you the whole
team if you want them.' But the big star in young
Belichick's eye was the young head coach. 'You couldn't do
any better than Shula,' he said."
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Learning From The Master
19-Jan-2007, MetroWest Daily News
"'What he preaches he puts into practice. Have a plan
and stick with it. A lot of coaches won't give a player a
second or third chance, like Belichick does.' … San Diego's LaDainian
Tomlinson ripped the Patriots for their postgame celebration
(after their 24-21 AFC divisional round win) and laid the
blame at the feet of Belichick. But Settle recalls a time
with Cleveland when 'we made a big play and I was cheering
on the sideline. Bill looked at me with that stone face as
if to say stop being a cheerleader.'"
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Warren Works Hard To Become One Of
League's Best
19-Jan-2007, ESPN.com
"It is part of the beauty of what the Pats do, part of
the genius of coach Bill Belichick and vice president of
personnel Scott Pioli, that they located not just one, but
two defensive linemen like Seymour and Warren. Most scouts
projected Warren, who is 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds, as a
tackle in the 2003 draft. But he was the perfect fit for how
New England likes to play, and the Patriots snatched him
with the 13th overall selection. Over his past three seasons
as a starter, Warren has 200 tackles, which would lead all
interior linemen over that stretch. This season, his 84
tackles and 7½ sacks were the most in the NFL among 3-4 ends."
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Deep Focus: Coaching, discipline make
Pats hard to top in playoffs
18-Jan-2007, SI.com
"The Patriots are similarly frustrating – they, too, have an organizational knack for treating
reporters as though they are ancillary vermin whose
willingness to publicize their product (and, by extension,
facilitate their lifestyles) is of no value. This is what
it's like covering the Pats: While filing into the
exceptionally crowded visitors' locker room at Qualcomm, I
was standing next to a robust attendant employed by the team
who started railing against the notebook-carrying throng
blocking his path to the equipment strewn across the floor.
He looked like he had suffered the greatest affront in the
history of mankind. 'Hey,' I said, 'you won.' He was not
amused."
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Stepping Down On The Boogie
17-Jan-2007, Plain Dealer
"Said LaDainian Tomlinson, the Most Valuable Player
of the league this season, after New England celebrated its
astonishing victory over the clearly superior San Diego
Chargers: 'When you go to the middle of our field and start
doing the dance [teammate] Shawne Merriman is
known for, that's disrespectful to me. They showed no class
at all, absolutely no class, and maybe it comes from their
head coach.' Tomlinson was taking a shot at former Browns
coach Bill Belichick of New England. From the lack of
discipline and the prevalence of punkish penalties by the
Chargers, the shot should have been at former Browns coach
Marty Schottenheimer, who seemed to have smuggled Frank Minnifield onto his roster."
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In The Patriots' School of Etiquette, Class Is Finally Dismissed
16-Jan-2007, New York Times
"Apparently, they finally became tired of taking the high road. After New England beat San Diego, 24-21, in a second-round playoff game Sunday, the Patriots stormed to the middle of the field at Qualcomm Stadium, celebrating in a way that did not seem to fit them. They trampled the Chargers' logo at the 50-yard line. They pointed at the Chargers' sideline. They mimicked the sack dance made famous by Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman. They seemed to forget all their own rules of gridiron etiquette … becoming everything they had preached against."
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Belichick Can Coach But Not Block,
Tackle
14-Jan-2007, San Diego Union-Tribune
"The first time I saw Belichick, I pegged him as a
look-alike for Kevin Costner, the actor. Is that just me? Do
you see the resemblance? Could I have been wrong? … His image is of a reserved individual
who is chary of sharing his thoughts, but in his news
conferences that I have attended, I have found his remarks
enlightening. He must be respected; the man knows how to
operate in the playoffs."
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Patriots' Backup Plan: Pioli and
Belichick's incredible ability to create depth
12-Jan-2007, SI.com
"The Pats differ from virtually every NFL team because
essentially only two people are involved in the player
acquisition. (Most clubs have four: the coach, personnel
executive, salary-cap guru and contract negotiator.) After
significant input from Pioli – who also manages the cap and negotiates contracts – Belichick has final say. 'We work very hard at finding
players who are right for our system,' said Pioli … 'But
no matter what we do, the bottom line is it still comes down
to the players being good enough and executing.'"
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Belichick Has 7-2 Record Against MVPs
09-Jan-2007, ESPN.com
"The Patriots under Belichick are 7-2 against Most
Valuable Players. In 2001, they avenged a regular-season
loss to Kurt Warner's Rams with an upset win in Super Bowl
XXXVI. In 2003, the Patriots defeated the Titans and Colts
and co-MVPs Steve McNair and Peyton Manning twice each. And
two years ago, they got the better of Manning in both the
regular season and the playoffs."
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Bill Belichick Radio Interview
08-Jan-2007, WEEI
Belichick: "If I could just interject then I'll
just cut out. After the game I...the incident that took
place after the game, I do feel bad about that." Smerlas:
"Which one?" Ordway: "With Jim Davis, the
photographer." Belichick: "I really didn't mean to
hit him up high there. I was trying to just push him out of
the way and get to Eric [Mangini]. It wasn't...it certainly
wasn't called for, so I...I wish that hadn't happened." Ordway: "It seemed like you said something to him, maybe
'Excuse me,' or 'Get out of the way,' or something." Belichick: "I was trying to get him out of the way, but
I hit him."
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Monday Morning QB: Coach of the Week
08-Jan-2007, SI.com
"Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator/quarterback
coach, New England. There been some brilliant gameplans in
the league this year – Sean
Payton's Saints strategy at Dallas, for one – but the multifaceted New England plan that put up
30 offensive points against the Jets is up there with the
best. I talked to Tom Brady about what a great job the Pats
did (26 first downs, 358 yards, 33:20 time of possession),
and he kept mentioning McDaniels and what a great job he and
Bill Belichick did in outfoxing a very smart Jets staff."
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Monday Morning QB: Learning From The
Master
08-Jan-2007, SI.com
"Here's the thing about the Belichick/Pioli team:
While other teams grouse about being ravaged by injuries,
the Patriots shut up, go 12-4 and win their fifth division
title in six years – despite
being in the top 10 in the league in games missed by
starters due to injury. They expect injuries to happen and
insulate themselves against panicking about them by focusing
intently on the 41st, 45th, and 50th guys on the rosters as
intently as they do the starters."
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The NFL's New Power Family:
Parcells-Belichick protégés' impact growing rapidly
08-Jan-2007, SI.com
"My message this morning is that the Bill Belichick
tree – or maybe more accurately
it's the Belichick branch of the Bill Parcells tree – is yielding some some great football people. And
more are coming. Consider: The Coach of the Year and
runner-up this season come from it. … Eric Mangini, the runner-up, owes his career to Belichick… Next in line? This offseason it should be New England vice
president of player personnel Scott Pioli's turn… Josh McDaniels is
another rising star in the Belichick ranks."
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Belichick's Wisdom Equals Victory
08-Jan-2007, New York Times
"The main lesson we can take from yesterday is that
Belichick has not won three of the past five Super Bowls by
accident. He has taught his players to take advantage of
whatever the opponent shows them – and to recognize the possibilities, like the one
yesterday when Rosevelt Colvin got his hand on a backward
pass by Chad Pennington and knocked the ball to the ground.
'It was clearly a lateral,' Belichick said later. 'Colvin
got his hand on it and Vince made the smart play, which we
always talk about – get on the ball and ask questions later.' Wilfork
acknowledged that he was not sure it was a live ball, but he
followed the coaching engrained in his head and he took off."
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