Bill Belichick Question of the Day

Friday, January 8, 2010 ( Answered correctly by David D'Ambra )

Who are the top three NFL teams in postseason victories of the last decade?

New England Patriots 14, Pittsburgh Steelers 10, Philadelphia Eagles 10.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010 ( Answered correctly by Jean Bradley )

In what recently released book about Super Bowl history was Bill Belichick ranked third in the "Top Ten Coaches" list, putting him ahead of Vince Lombardi and Joe Gibbs?

On page 74 of "The Ultimate Super Bowl Book: A Complete Reference to the Stats, Stars, and Stories Behind Football's Biggest Game – and Why the Best Team Won," author Bob McGinn ranks the Top Ten Super Bowl Coaches: 1. Chuck Noll (4-0), 2. Bill Walsh (3-0), 3. Bill Belichick (3-1), 4. Weeb Ewbank (1-0), 5. Tom Coughlin (1-0), 6. Mike Shanahan (2-0), 7. George Seifert (2-0), 8. Tom Flores (2-0), 9. Vince Lombardi (2-0), 10. Joe Gibbs (3-1).

Monday, January 4, 2010 ( Answered correctly by Fran García )

How many of Bill Belichick's former assistants were head coaches in the NFL or college in 2009 and how many were NFL general managers?

Looking through the Bill Belichick coaching tree you'll find that eight were NFL or college head coaches: Kirk Ferentz (University of Iowa), Al Groh (University of Virginia), Pat Hill (Fresno State University), Eric Mangini (Cleveland Browns), Josh McDaniels (Denver Broncos), Nick Saban (University of Alabama), Jim Schwartz (Detroit Lions), Charlie Weis (University of Notre Dame); five were GMs: Thomas Dimitroff (Atlanta Falcons), George Kokinis (Cleveland Browns), Ozzie Newsome (Baltimore Ravens), Scott Pioli (Kansas City Chiefs), Mike Tannenbaum (New York Jets).

Friday, January 1, 2010 ( Answered correctly by DJ Sturtevant )

Name the rookie quarterbacks who have thrown touchdown passes for Bill Belichick (as head coach).

Matt Cassel and Eric Zeier.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009 ( Answered correctly by Nathan Crum )

In the new book by Steve Buckley, Wicked Good Year: How the Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics Turned the Hub of the Universe into the Capital of Sports, published on Nov. 3, 2009, who said the following about Bill Belichick? "The thing Bill loves about football, perhaps more than anything else, is the teaching of the game. I saw it with his sons, I saw it with players, I saw it with coaches. He cherishes the process of the passing-down of information and all the traditions. It's the same thing his father did with him. I played for coaches who just gave you information. Bill wanted to teach it to you. There's a difference.

Steve DeOssie, p. 147.

Monday, December 28, 2009 ( Answered correctly by Tim Caputo )

What is Bill Belichick's record as head coach in the Wild Card round of the playoffs?

Coach Belichick is 1-0 with the Cleveland Browns and 2-0 with the New England Patriots in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009 ( Answered correctly by Steve Sroczynski )

Bill Belichick coached the Pro Bowl twice during his career. Name all of the quarterbacks who played for him in those two games.

1997 Pro Bowl – John Elway, Vinny Testaverde and Doug Flutie. 2006 Pro Bowl – Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer and Vince Young.

Monday, December 21, 2009 ( Answered correctly by Rob Maccini )

How many sports did Bill Belichick letter in while in college and what were they?

Three – football, lacrosse and squash.

Friday, December 18, 2009 ( Answered correctly by Criss Stone )

This week, a reporter from Germany attended one of Bill Belichick's press conferences to ask about Patriots tackle Sebastian Vollmer. Who did Belichick say was the NFL's first German tackle?

Coach Belichick: "What do you call Dan Dierdorf? Is he not German or do they actually have a German citizenship? Well I am glad [Sebastian's] the first one, but I think Dierdorf would tell you that Vollmer's not the first German tackle."

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 ( Answered correctly by DJ Sturtevant )

During what NFL season did Coach Belichick first wear the gray Reebok NFL Equipment New England Patriots hoodie?

Coach Belichick was first photographed in his now-famous gray hoodie on July 24, 2003, during Patriots training camp.

Monday, December 14, 2009 ( Answered correctly by Tristan Laugher )

What is Bill Belichick's record as Patriots head coach against the division foe Buffalo Bills when Buffalo was coming off a win?

6–2

Friday, December 11, 2009 ( Answered correctly by Mike Cummings )

How many head coaches who are now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame did Coach Belichick face during his first year as head coach in Cleveland?

Two: Chuck Noll and Joe Gibbs.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009 ( Answered correctly by James Christensen )

During his 35 consecutive seasons in the NFL (1975-present), Bill Belichick has held a wide variety of positions. Name them.

Coach Belichick has held the following positions: special assistant to the head coach, special teams assistant, assistant special teams coach, special teams coach, offensive assistant, tight ends coach, receivers coach, defensive assistant, linebackers coach, secondary coach, assistant to the defensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, assistant head coach, head coach.

Monday, December 7, 2009 ( Answered correctly by John DiMatteo )

What song did Bill Belichick sing with Charlie Weis and Jon Bon Jovi at this year's Hannah & Friends benefit in New York City?

Wanted Dead Or Alive

Friday, December 4, 2009 ( Answered correctly by Alex Roupenian )

As a head coach, how many players has Coach Belichick drafted from a) the University of Florida and b) The University of Alabama?

Coach Belichick has drafted 3 players from Florida (2 in 2006 and 1 in 2004) and 1 player from Alabama (in 1994).

Thursday, December 3, 2009 ( Answered correctly by Craig MacDonell )

How many times has Bill Belichick lost two or more games in a row during his time as head coach of the New England Patriots (2000-present)?

The New England Patriots have lost two or more regular season games in a row just six times during Bill Belichick's ten seasons as head coach. They haven't lost two in a row since 2006. They lost four in a row and two in a row in 2002, lost two in a row in 2001, and lost four in a row twice in 2000.

Monday, November 30, 2009 ( Answered correctly by Shawn Reed )

What is Coach Belichick's all-time win-loss record on Monday Night Football?

He is 11–7 as a head coach, 11–15–1 as an assistant.

Friday, November 27, 2009 ( Answered correctly by Nathan Crum )

What is Coach Belichick's regular season win–loss record after Thanksgiving as an assistant coach/coordinator and as a head coach?

Coach Belichick is 49–35 as assistant/coordinator and 48–25 as head coach after Thanksgiving Day.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 ( Answered correctly by William Roeder )

What is Coach Belichick's win–loss record on Thanksgiving Day?

Coach Belichick is 2–2 as an assistant/coordinator and 1–1 as a head coach on Thanksgiving Day.

Monday, November 23, 2009 ( Answered correctly by Jason Uechi )

Which former Maryland governor, who later became Vice President of the United States, did Bill Belichick caddie for?

A young Bill Belichick caddied for Spiro Agnew.

Friday, November 20, 2009 ( Answered correctly by Tim Caputo )

What is Bill Belichick's career win–loss record in Conference Championship games? (As head coach, assistant coach and defensive coordinator)

Throughout his career (1975–present), Bill Belichick is 7–2 in conference championship games.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 ( Answered correctly by Carly Normandin )

In 1946, which football team drafted Bill Belichick's father Steve and at what position?

Steve Belichick was drafted by the All-America Football Conference New York Yankees to play fullback. More information may be found on p. 58 of The Education of a Coach by David Halberstam.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Since 1985, what is Bill Belichick's career win–loss record vs. Joe Montana? (As head coach, assistant coach or defensive coordinator; both regular season and postseason records.)

The answer to this question was shown during Sunday night's Patriots-Colts game on NBC. Regular season: Belichick 1, Montana 3. Post-season: Belichick 3, Montana 0.

Friday, November 13, 2009 ( Answered correctly by Sean Pierce )

How many honorary doctorates does Bill Belichick have and where are they from?

Coach Belichick has three honorary doctorates – from Wesleyan University, Boston University and the New England Institute of Technology.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009 ( Answered correctly by Todd Estes )

What was Bill Belichick's jersey number and position on the undefeated 1970 Phillips Academy football team?

Belichick wore #50 and played center.

BONUS QUESTION: What was Ernie Adams' jersey number and position on that same team? (Winner receives a personalized autographed photo from Ernie Adams.)
Answered correctly by Mike Dussault: #61, Right Guard

Friday, October 23, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Steve MacDoogal )

"[He] is one of the most accomplished entertainers of his time. But he is also a businessman and philanthropist who, by virtue of incredible vision, energy and intelligence, has bettered the lives of so many. There isn't a more loyal, hardworking, generous person."

Coach Belichick, when asked who would get his vote for the TIME 100, chose Jon Bon Jovi. This quote appeared in the May 12, 2008 issue of TIME.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Michael Salomone )

"I had a gracious coach in Bill Belichick. He stuck with me when he didn't have to."

This was said by K Matt Stover, in the Aug. 16, 2007 edition of the Baltimore Sun. Stover played for Belichick in Cleveland from 1991-1995. He then played for the Baltimore Ravens from 1996-2008 and is currently with the Indianapolis Colts.

Monday, October 19, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Bryan Ricard )

"You think I need a sofa or a dining room table? Who gives a s---?"

This quote appeared in the Feb. 11, 2002 issue of Sports Illustrated: "Not everything was hunky-dory for the Patriots, though, when Belichick met with his five captains on Tuesday. Living up to his name, strong safety Lawyer Milloy groused to his coach about the hotel room assignments that he and a handful of other veterans had received. 'Bill, what's up with our rooms?' Milloy asked. 'I think mine came with an oxygen tank, because it makes me so claustrophobic. A lot of the younger guys got suites, and some of us don't think it's fair.' So Belichick took one for the team, switching places with Milloy – from spacious room 692 at the Fairmont Hotel to the cramped quarters of room 533 – and persuaded several assistants to do the same for other players. 'You think I need a sofa or a dining room table? Who gives a s---?' Belichick said to a reporter, smiling, the day before the game. 'Then again, every time I see Lawyer, I ask, 'How's that nice, big room? Are you getting a good night's sleep?'"

Friday, October 16, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Tom McTiernan )

"Get on the ball and ask questions later."

From his Jan. 7, 2007 postgame press conference: "[Rosevelt] Colvin got his hand on it, and Vince [Wilfork] made the smart play, which we always talk about – get on the ball and ask questions later. I was disappointed to see him get rundown from behind there, but obviously that was a big turnover. Unfortunately we were only able to get three points out of it, but still, it was a big field-position swing, and it did give us a few more points there. It was a big play."

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Jerrold Weinstein )

"We were determined to make it a very physical game – knock the receivers around, to jam the receivers, to hit [Player X] coming out of the backfield. We really wanted to take away those inside routes and say, 'OK, if you're going to throw them, you're going to pay for them after you catch them.'"

This quote is from the Super Bowl XL Pregame Show on ABC, Feb. 5, 2006. Bill Belichick: "I think a good defensive game plan's very important. It comes down to a lot of little things, and one play, one call, one technique can make the difference in your season. … As a defensive coordinator in Super Bowl XXV, a lot of people were counting us out but I think we went into the game with a lot of confidence. We were determined to make it a very physical game – knock the receivers around, to jam the receivers, to hit Thurman Thomas coming out of the backfield. We really wanted to take away those inside routes and say, 'OK, if you're going to throw them, you're going to pay for them after you catch them.'"

Monday, October 12, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Eric Sun )

"I'll go with Tom Brady, Phil Simms, Bert Jones."

This quote is from Coach Belichick's Feb. 4, 2004 guest appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. Letterman asked Coach, "In a big game situation, Tom Brady or Joe Montana?"

Friday, October 2, 2009 ( No one correctly identified this quote. )

Bill Belichick's home library – a collection which at the time included over 500 football books – was featured on ESPN's Sports Center on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2003. In a segment called "Obsessed," Ann Kreider asked Belichick, "Is there any book that you found particularly inspirational?" What was Belichick's answer?

BB: "Educating Dexter. It talks about learning to read at 28. To be an All Pro football player in his early twenties with a lot of fame and fortune and not be able to read, when you think about it, it was a tough situation." [ Educating Dexter by Dexter Manley and Tom Friend: All-Pro defensive end Dexter Manley talks about football, fatherhood, cocaine addiction and learning to read at age 28. ]

Wednesday, September 30, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Karl Martinson )

"He knew that there were certain plays in the game that were the critical, pivotal plays. When you stood out there and you can stand there and say, 'OK, this is a big play in the game,' that's where he's going to have his best effort. And he had enough gas in his tank to be able to hit the accelerator. He really understood the game, really understood his position – about as good as anybody."

Coach Belichick was referring to Lawrence Taylor. It was said during the NFL Films show "In Their Own Words: Bill Belichick," Show #19, 2006.

Monday, September 28, 2009 ( No one correctly identified this quote. )

"The thing that has helped us win a lot of games has been the players' ability to execute and perform under pressure in critical situations."

The quote is from "In Their Own Words: Bill Belichick." NFL Films, Show #19, 2006.

Friday, September 25, 2009 ( Correctly identified by James Christensen )

"[K]ick situations are just as important as defensive situations to us. And, if they want to break, no problem. We've got other guys that play offense and defense. We're going to keep those guys on the special teams. Those are team jobs. And everybody does team jobs. Everybody blocks. Everybody tackles. Kickers, quarterbacks on interceptions, all defensive linemen, they all have to do it. There's no way around those things, because those are jobs that everybody does and everybody counts on to do them."

The quote is from Coach Belichick's keynote speech for the Frank McGuire Foundation High School Coaches Seminar at Madison Square Garden on May 3, 2006.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Casey King )

"It is better to be prepared and never have the opportunity than to have the opportunity and not be prepared."

Coach Belichick said Ted Marchibroda told him that a long time ago. Read what he had to say in the January 15, 2004 press conference transcript.

Monday, September 21, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Dave Fortin )

What question was Coach Belichick asked when he gave this answer? "I think I have a full understanding of how this is a week-to-week business. It doesn't really matter what you have done in the past. It won't have much effect on, or probably won't have any effect on this week's game. What we do this week won't have much effect on next week's game. That is the way it is. In 30 years of NFL coaching, I have picked that up. If you want to call it fleeting or week-to-week or 'last week doesn't mean anything,' or whatever perspective you want to put it into, I will buy into that 100 percent. I don't see it any other way."

The question was: "Are you mindful that the team that holds the record that you are within reach of, the Bears, are now 1-3, the second team in that string, the Dolphins, are 0-5, the third team is the Chargers, they are now 3-2. One year ago they were 4-12 and a couple of years ago they were 1-15. Is that to you a suggestion of how fleeting eminence in this league can be?" and can be found in Coach Belichick's October 15, 2004 press conference transcript.

Friday, September 18, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Gerry Miele )

"[Y]ou never get a fire-and-brimstone, Knute Rockne-type speech from Coach Belichick. He's a realist. People used to criticize him in Cleveland for not having character and being humdrum to the press. But he has always found it useless to explain football or his philosophy of the game to someone who doesn't really understand, doesn't really want to know, or is going to write what he wants to write anyway."

This quote is from the book Won For All by Patriots defensive line coach Pepper Johnson. 2009 is Johnson's 3rd season in the NFL, and his 10th season on Bill Belichick's coaching staff. He's been a part of five Super Bowl championship teams, two as a player with the New York Giants and three as a Patriots assistant coach. All five of his championship rings have been earned while teamed with Coach Belichick.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Kurt Spencer )

"I think the two words that describe him the best as a coach were tough but fair."

Coach Belichick was referring to his father, Steve Belichick. Read the full comments he made while on The Big Show on WEEI, Nov. 28, 2005.

Monday, September 14, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Dean MacDonell )

During the 2004 season, what did Coach Belichick say was the "key to improving"?

In his Sept. 20, 2004 press conference, Coach Belichick said: "As I've said many times, I don't know how you can possibly improve if you can't accept and take criticism. Otherwise, you're just going to go along with the same old point that you're doing every time, and if it's not good enough then you're never going to acknowledge that you've come up short and it's never going to get any better. I think being able to accept constructive criticism and then take action and do something about it, that's the key to improving. Without improvement you're really not going too far in this league."

Thursday, September 10, 2009 ( Correctly identified by William Roeder )

What did Coach Belichick say was "probably the premiere book on punting and punting techniques"?

Kicking the American Football by LeRoy Mills. He told this to Armen Keteyian during an interview about the Belichick book collection. The interview aired on The NFL Today on CBS on Nov. 27, 2005.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Phil Laugher )

"[I]f you were going to ask me to compare Belichick to a coaching legend, I'd pick Paul Brown, who is the father of the modern game. He was a teacher who introduced the classroom to pro football. Belichick has brought the corporate boardroom to football. He was an economics major and he knows that in today's NFL, if you don't master the salary cap you'll wear the dunce cap. And no team has managed their money better than the Patriots."

The quote is by Steve Sabol, president of NFL Films. Sabol compared Bill Belichick with Vince Lombardi for a show called "Write On" in 2005.

Friday, September 4, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Matt Labak )

"[My dad] took me into the locker room to meet [him]. I walked up to the coach and said,
'[C]ongratulations on your win today.' He reached into his pocket, pulled out a dollar bill and said 'I always give a dollar to the first person that tells me congratulations after a win.'"

Coach Belichick was referring to George Halas. Read the full story by Jim Nantz.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Craig MacDonell )

"Even today, with X's and O's software on every coach's computer, Belichick makes his entry-level guys diagram plays by hand, just the way he does. That's why they like him as a boss. He makes his own copies. He maintains that he assistants work with him, not for him. He doesn't do small talk, but always says hello in the hallway. 'He doesn't think he's above anyone.'..."

This quote appears in the current issue of ESPN The Magazine in the Seth Wickersham story "It Takes a Genius" about the Belichick coaching tree). The last line of the quote was said by Scott Pioli.

Monday, August 31, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Tristan Laugher )

"He went by what he saw and what he knew, not by reputation or by stats or what some other public opinion was. He went by what he saw and what the tape said and what he knew the player or the team's abilities were. It was good to kind of sort that out and not be swayed by it, because in a lot of cases there were guys that had big reputations that may be a little overrated, and vice versa – that had had no reputation and that were really pretty good players."

Coach Belichick was referring to the scouting lessons he learned from his father, Steve Belichick, during his Nov. 28, 2005 appearance on The Big Show on WEEI.

Friday, August 28, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Michael P. Marshall )

"[He] did not coach through fear and intimidation, but through a certain optimism. He would tell his players what they needed to do and add that they could do it, that all they had to do was remember what they had been taught. He was not an emotional coach, and his pregame speeches did not seem to vary much..."

This quote is from p. 64 of The Education of a Coach by David Halberstam. Halberstam was referring to Bill Edwards, whom Bill Belichick was named after. On p. 61, Halberstam writes "No outsider was ever more important in the Belichick family than Bill Edwards."

Wednesday, August 26, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Patrick Salmon )

"I've always looked at football as kind of a three quarters game. Through the first, second and third quarter you can, for the most part, usually stick to your gameplan, or adjust your gameplan if your opponents are doing something a little bit different. But the fourth quarter's really dictated more by situation. Whether you're ahead or you're behind, or how many possessions you have left and kind of what's transpired over the first three quarters, now kind of dictates what you feel like you need to do in the last two or three possessions that you have, or that they have. I think that fourth quarter is very much a situational game, whereas the first three quarters are probably more reliant on your actual gameplan."

Coach Belichick said this during this week's edition of Patriots Monday on WEEI.

Monday, August 24, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Andy Boucher )

"My biggest memories of Wesleyan are the people that I went there with – many people in this room and other friends. Those have been life-long friendships that have really never changed. What they were in '71 to '75 when I was there, they're really the same today. And to me, that's the biggest foundation of Wesleyan. It's the people. It's a great family we have here. I'm proud to be part of it."

The question was, What did Coach Belichick say was his biggest memory of his alma mater, Wesleyan University? He said it was the biggest foundation of Wesleyan. The answer was the people. This was said during a sold out benefit for student financial aid in Cambridge, MA on March 31, 2009.

Friday, August 21, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Mike Dussault )

"I remember after one of those games, we were maybe 0–4, 0–5, something like that, and Ray stood up in front of the team with his normal stern demeanor, and said, 'How many of you guys yesterday had fun playing out there?' We had just gotten beat by two or three touchdowns. I remember [he] was the only person who put his hand up. He said, 'I did. I love to play football.' And I remember Perkins saying, 'Damn it, that's the way everybody should feel. I mean, sometimes you can't do anything about the score or the situation, but you should love to play the game and play hard and put your heart into it. Kind of all of you need more of an attitude like that.'"

The "he" Coach Belichick was referring to was retired New York Giants linebacker Harry Carson. He said this during Carson's Hall of Fame Press Conference on July 18, 2006.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009 ( Correctly identified by T.J. Jean )

"I think we have a lot of tough guys in that locker room, guys that are tough that will compete right to the end even when things are tough. I'd go to war with them any time."

Coach Belichick, during his postgame press conference following the Patriots win over the Miami Dolphins in overtime on December 29, 2002.

Monday, August 17, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Nirav Shah )

"His knowledge of X's and O's is beyond the knowledge of even former players like us… He's bringing in players higher on the scale of football evolution. They're smarter and better behaved. But that's only half the story. He's in charge. He's set the parameters for coaching this team. Football players are aggressive guys with a lot of bravado. They'll eat a coach for lunch and take over the team if the coach lets them. Needless to say, that won't happen here."

This was said by Fred Smerlas in the Dec. 31, 2004 edition of the Boston Globe.

Friday, August 14, 2009 ( Answered correctly by David D'Ambra )

"[He] was very experienced in the NFL, very experienced in the Colts defensive system. Even though he hadn't been coaching long he'd been playing a long time and so I learned a lot from his 20 years of experience my first year. From Day One he gave me a lot of responsibility, certainly more than I deserved that first year, and I think there was a point in the year where we really gained a lot of confidence in each other. It was really a great break for me that [he] was so generous with the opportunities that he gave me."

Coach Belichick was referring to Maxie Baughan, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers coach for the Baltimore Colts in 1975. This quote appeared on p. 16 of the Jun. 30, 2004 issue of Patriots Football Weekly, in the article "Roots of Success: The Bill Belichick Coaching Tree, Part 1 of 2."

Wednesday, August 12, 2009 ( Answered correctly by Jody Richards )

"I think that is one of the toughest positions to play. There are very few situations in football where you just take two guys and try to just beat up one."

Coach Belichick is referring to the gunner. Read more of what he had to say about this position during his Aug. 2, 2006 press conference.

Monday, August 10, 2009 ( Answered correctly by Jay Dunkerly )

"[H]e has a dry sense of humor that is quite comical. You have to understand that dry sarcasm or you wouldn't know he's being funny."

Charlie Weis, referring to Bill Belichick, Sporting News, Sept. 1, 2008

Friday, August 7, 2009 ( Answered correctly by Nick Stewart )

"I don't know if you'll get much candy out there."

Coach Belichick told that to Eddie White, who said he'd be dressing up as Belichick for Halloween, ESPN Radio, Oct. 31, 2008.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009 ( Correctly identified by John DiMatteo )

"He would have been just as happy coaching in high school or at some small college, his close friends thought; he would have worked just as maniacally if there were no giant stadium filled with fifty or sixty thousand people, not to mention dozens of television cameras broadcasting the games to an audience of millions more. The great reward of winning the Super Bowl was neither the money nor the fame that followed, but the fact that his team had beaten the best; it was not that the rewards were greater, but that the challenge was greater. His personal challenge, each week, was to see if he could do it all one more time: study the opposition like a pathologist using a powerful microscope and pick up on the one or two little telltale signs that would give his team the one or two extra bits of information that represented the fateful edge."

David Halberstam on Bill Belichick, in The Education of a Coach.

Monday, August 3, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Eileen Sullivan )

"He just loved being with his dad. He's really special. I've always been a Bill Belichick person, even back then. He's got great roots. He's got an aura about him. He's got the fire you want to see, but he always gives other people credit and I bet that's something he got from his father, too."

Roger Staubach on Bill Belichick, Washington Post, Jan. 28, 2005

Friday, July 31, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Adam Hughes )

"When we prepare for the annual NFL draft, we look at each player's speed and his quickness. This book provides the best discussion of the difference between the two that I've seen."

Bill Belichick in his Foreword to the book Football Physics by Timothy Gay, Ph.D.

Thursday, July 30, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Jason Uechi )

"Guys, I'm very proud of you. You gave me everything. I'm proud of the season that you've had. I love you guys and I have a lot of respect for you."

Coach Belichick's comments to the team after Super Bowl XLII, as told by Rodney Harrison on Costas Now, Dec. 17, 2008.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Brian DelaBarrera )

"I go talk to him when I have a problem. At least he will listen. You know, some cats won't even listen."

Anthony Pleasant on Bill Belichick, Patriot Reign by Michael Holley, p. 184

Tuesday, July 28, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Ernest Clark )

"He's trained probably as well as any player, and I think that speaks to the longevity of his career."

Bill Belichick on Joey Galloway, Coffee With The Coach on WEEI, March 19, 2009

Monday, July 27, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Sean Crowe )

"The players rely on him because they know what he's all about – he's giving them a consistent message."

Jim Schwartz on Bill Belichick, Pro Football Weekly, Dec. 22, 2003 issue

Sunday, July 26, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Jason Uechi )

"Even though it wasn't production in his column, it was team production that he had a lot to do with."

Coach Belichick explained how Randy Moss was probably the most dominant player in the game, on Coffee With the Coach, on WEEI, Nov. 14, 2008

Saturday, July 25, 2009 ( Correctly identified by Sean Crowe )

"We don't wait till halftime. By the second series in the game, certainly by the end of the first quarter, [unless it's a very unusual game,] the game is declared."

Bill Belichick, "The Brain" by Peter Richmond, GQ, January 2005

Friday, July 24, 2009

"They're not what we are. They can't be what we are. We are what we are."

Bill Belichick in his pregame speech for Super Bowl XXXVIII, Patriot Reign by Michael Holley, p. 222