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2008 stories
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What Is Bill Belichick Thinking?
21-Apr-2008, SI.com
"The Golden Rule in scouting is: Never begin with the end in mind. Belichick goes into every evaluation with an open mind. If you go into an evaluation with a predetermined prejudice of a player – good or bad – then you will collect data to support your already determined theory. This does not happen in New England. Belichick's evaluation technique falls along the same lines of another Boston icon, Red Auerbach. The legendary Celtics coach once said of scouting: 'I get my information from my eyes, not my ears.' Belichick is all eyes. Because of this approach, the Patriots' final evaluations will look completely different then many teams. When the Patriots selected the second round-graded Logan Mankins in the first round in the 2005 draft, many in the league snickered. But after the 2007 season, Mankins was selected to play in the Pro Bowl."
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Statement From the Patriots on NFL Agreement to Meet with Matt Walsh
23-Apr-2008, New England Patriots
"The New England Patriots are pleased to learn that Matt Walsh is finally willing to come forward to meet with the NFL. We are eagerly anticipating his honest disclosures to Commissioner Goodell next month and the return of all the materials he took during his time of employment. We fully expect this meeting to conclude the league's investigation into a damaging and false allegation that was originally levied against the team on the day before this year's Super Bowl. It is important to note that there has never been a confidentiality agreement restricting Matt Walsh and no legal protections were ever necessary for him to speak to the NFL, to media outlets or to anyone else regarding his employment with the Patriots. He demanded to be released from responsibility for his statements, and after a frustrating and lengthy negotiation period, a settlement has finally been reached. Walsh has been granted a significant number of privileges through this agreement, none of which the Patriots or the NFL were obligated to give. At all times, we cooperated fully with the league's investigation and stand by our initial public statement from Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008: 'The suggestion that the New England Patriots recorded the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough on the day before Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002 is absolutely false.' The Patriots' organizational focus at this time is on the NFL Draft and preparing for what we hope will be an exciting 2008 season. We will have no further comments regarding Matt Walsh at this time." |
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Patriots Transactions
07-Apr-2008, New England Patriots
"The New England Patriots signed free agent linebacker Victor Hobson today. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. 'Victor is a good young player with considerable playing experience,' said Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick. 'We are excited about his addition to our linebacker unit.' Hobson, 28, is a veteran of five NFL seasons all with the New York Jets (2003-2007)."
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Belichick Headlines Alabama Coaching Clinic
04-Apr-2008, Ledger-Enquirer
"Belichick and Alabama coach Nick Saban go back many years, and worked together with the NFL's Cleveland Browns in the early 1990s. 'I met Bill years and years ago, 1982 I think, when I worked with his dad,' Saban said Wednesday. 'He's a family friend as well as a coaching colleague and I certainly have a tremendous amount of respect for him and what he's been able to accomplish professionally. … And I really appreciate the fact that he would take the time to come here and be a part of our clinic and help us promote our game to the people that we're trying to create a positive experience for from a professional standpoint in terms of them being a part of our clinic. We really appreciate that.'"
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Pats Coach Joins Kraft In Act Of Contrition At Meeting
01-Apr-2008, SI.com
"Just hours after Bill Belichick's most expansive public comments yet on his role in the Patriots' Spygate controversy, both he and Patriots owner Robert Kraft stood before the entire collection of NFL owners and head coaches Tuesday morning to address the nearly seven-month issue and its negative impact on the league. … Kraft's words were met with resounding applause, and when he finished, Belichick rose and asked Goodell for permission to speak, as well. While falling short of offering an apology per se, Belichick gave a version of the same explanation for his team's actions that he had shared with reporters Tuesday morning at the AFC head coaches' media breakfast. Most of that centered on what he said was his erroneous interpretation of the league's rules against videotaping an opponent's signals, and how the Patriots have modified and reviewed their procedures organizationally, so as to not run afoul of the league's rules or expectations in any further way. His comments were also well received."
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It's Time To Move On: Spygate is over
01-Apr-2008, Sporting News
"Bill Belichick sounded like he was telling the truth Tuesday, not hiding it. Surrounded by reporters at the NFL league meetings, Belichick did not stammer or engage in double-speak when asked about Spygate. Belichick said he had never looked at another team's practice tapes. He said he had never instructed anyone to tape an opponent's practice. He did not sound worried about former Patriots employee Matt Walsh, amid allegations that Walsh may be in possession of illegal tapes, or other evidence of Patriots' cheating. … The Patriots' quest for a perfect season is over. But in my mind, until I see further evidence of cheating, Spygate is over, too."
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Belichick Meets the Press
01-Apr-2008, Reiss's Pieces
"'Want to talk about the forceout?' That was how a smiling Bill Belichick greeted reporters as he arrived at his table for the AFC breakfast here at the NFL annual meeting. The humorous question about a rule proposal to eliminate the forceout call set a light tone for what was to come over the next hour (7:15-8:15 a.m.), as Belichick – dressed in a short-sleeve Hawaiian gray shirt – answered questions from various reporters from around the country. There were seven seats for reporters, but with the demand for Belichick so high, others circled around the table to ask their questions – which ranged from the Matt Walsh issue, to the Super Bowl, to the draft, to team-related roster items."
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Belichick Addresses Walsh, Videotaping
31-Mar-2008, Boston.com
"With the Patriots' videotaping procedures remaining a topic of discussion at the NFL's annual meeting, coach Bill Belichick reiterated what he told the Globe in February regarding allegations that the club taped the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough before Super Bowl XXXVI. '[A reporter] asked a question before, and I said in my career I have never seen a tape of another practice, authorized one, or anything else,' Belichick said yesterday when approached as he left a meeting with all NFL coaches. 'So I don't know [why the issue still lingers]. Allegations have been out there, but there has really been nothing to substantiate it. Nobody has come forward with anything else that there is really to address.'"
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Patriots Transactions
20-Mar-2008, New England Patriots
"The New England Patriots signed free agent cornerback Fernando Bryant today. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. 'Adding a cornerback with Fernando's experience and production is a good opportunity for us,' said Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick. Bryant, 30, is a veteran of nine NFL seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars (1999-2003) and the Detroit Lions (2004-07)."
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Rams Fans, Player Drop Suit vs. Patriots
11-Mar-2008, Associated Press
"Lawyers for a former St. Louis Rams player and three fans plan to withdraw a lawsuit that accuses the New England Patriots of cheating in the 2002 Super Bowl. … On Monday, they asked a federal judge in New Orleans to dismiss the case. … Patriots spokesman Stacey James said the suit had no 'factual or legal basis. Dismissal at this stage – before the complaint was even served – probably helps the plaintiffs' lawyers avoid being sanctioned. It was a publicity-driven, frivolous claim and I don't think anyone took it too seriously,' James said in a statement."
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Patriots Ex-Aide And Accuser Walsh Portrayed As Calculating, Bitter
10-Mar-2008, Boston Globe
"Angry that the team he loved fired him and offended that former colleagues he once considered his friends had since shunned him, Matt Walsh suddenly found himself in position to strike back. Shortly after the Patriots added Spygate to the American lexicon last September by violating NFL rules against videotaping an opponent's signals, Walsh, a video assistant dismissed by the team in 2003, reached out to one of the few former coworkers who would take his call. He left little doubt about his intentions. 'He sounded like a loose cannon,' said the coworker, who asked not to be identified to avoid entangling his new employer in the controversy. 'He was very bitter about how things ended with the Patriots and he seemed like he was keen on using whatever he had to get back at them by going public and really trying to damage the team.'"
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A Closer Look At NFL Coaches
10-Mar-2008, ESPN.com
Who's the best coach in the NFL and why? "New England's Bill Belichick prevails because it's tough to argue with results. Belichick is the only current head coach who has three Super Bowl victories. He owns as many playoff victories with his current team (14) as Tony Dungy and Mike Shanahan combined. He has led the Patriots to four Super Bowl appearances in eight seasons, which is double the rate of his nearest active challengers. Four other coaches have led their current teams to a Super Bowl victory. Of them, only the Colts' Dungy has enjoyed sustained success. Belichick and Dungy both benefit from having all-time great quarterbacks on their side. Tennessee's Jeff Fisher deserves consideration. He has lasted longer in his current position than any other current coach (edging Shanahan by several weeks). Fisher arguably has done more with less by having his team better prepared than its opponent; he coached the Titans to 56 wins over five seasons (1999-2003). But Belichick has those three Vince Lombardi Trophies on his side. They speak persuasively."
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Marshall Alum Troy Brown Gets 'Roasted'
07-Mar-2008, Herald-Dispatch
"Far more a celebration than roast, an across-the-board panel shared stories of the unlikely 5-foot-9 college standout who became New England's all-time leading receiver. Coaches from the Little League, high school, junior college, Marshall and NFL levels spoke in person or on video. … Patriots owner Bob Kraft said, 'I think my wife has pretty good taste in the men she chooses, and after our first season, he was my wife's favorite player.' Roast contributors included Brown's mother, his wife, Patriots coach Bill Belichick, former Patriots coach Bill Parcells, former Marshall coach Jim Donnan and former Herd teammates Phil Ratliff, Will Brown, William King and Mark Mason."
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Patriots Re-Sign Veteran Wide Receiver Jabar Gaffney
05-Mar-2008, New England Patriots
"Gaffney, 27, is a veteran of six NFL seasons with the Houston Texans (2002-05) and the Patriots (2006-07). He has played in 91 games with 63 starts and has caught 218 passes for 2,600 yards and 13 touchdowns. 'Jabar is a good fit for our offense,' said Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick. 'He has been a versatile and dependable player who steps up in whatever role is asked of him.'"
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Leyland Is A Belichick Fan
05-Mar-2008, Extra Bases
"[Jim] Leyland, considered by many to be the best manager in baseball, had a brief meeting with Bill Belichick last year when Belichick was visiting Tony LaRussa, but now he wants a more extensive one. … 'It would be an honor to meet him. He has to be special to do what he's done. I like the way he runs things. I don't think you ever hear it's the Belichick way. It's not his way, it's the right way. That's what I've tried to do bring here. I think that's the way Belichick does it.' … 'I think he's tremendous. I think people totally over-reacted to the Super Bowl (handshake) thing. He went over to shake his (Tom Coughlin) hand. What the (expletive) else do you want the guy to do? Everyone knew the game was over. That was silly. I don't know the ins and outs of the other stuff (Spygate). You only know what you read. I thought he handled (the handshake) totally professionally. He shook his hand – there was one second left – silly.'"
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Backing Sticks Is Not Unusual for Belichick
05-Mar-2008, PressBox
"'It's been a great friendship,' [Dave] Pietramala said. 'There's a lot more similarities than you might think. I think motivating is motivating. We went to a Patriots training camp and the coach is telling me, 'Yep, big night tonight. All of the special teams guys have no curfew.' He said that because none of the veteran guys want to be on special teams; you have to dangle a little carrot out there. We do that here. The guy that practices the hardest gets to pick the music the next day. We've learned to vary practice, change it up. It's amazing what we've learned from Coach Belichick and everyone up there.'"
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'Intangibles' Tipped It For Moss
05-Mar-2008, Boston Globe
"So what ultimately sparked the deal with the Patriots? 'In the long run, there are just certain intangibles,' [Moss' agent Tim] DiPiero responded. 'Often times, when people judge whether a contract is a success, they look at how much it's worth. But there is more to life than just pure money. In this case, Randy experienced some intangibles during the year, from his friendships, to his relationship with the coaching staff and others in the organization. Those intangibles had some value here.' … 'I think Randy and Coach Belichick developed a mutual respect that is kind of neat,' DiPiero said. 'I can't speak for Coach Belichick or Scott Pioli, but I think the organization was trying to send Randy a message of respect. It was showing they wanted to work on a multiyear deal that Randy would be happy with. We thought that was a positive sign.'"
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Patriots Sign Free Agent Cornerback Jason Webster
04-Mar-2008, New England Patriots
"'Jason is an experienced veteran who will add good depth to our secondary,' said Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick. Webster, 30, is a veteran of eight NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers (2000-03), Atlanta Falcons (2004-06) and Buffalo Bills (2007). The 5-foot-9-inch, 187-pound cornerback has played in 87 career games with 74 starts and has recorded 393 tackles (324 solo), 11 interceptions for 228 yards and two touchdowns, 56 passes defensed, six forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He has also played in three career playoff games with two starts for San Francisco (2001) and Atlanta (2004)."
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Aiken Brings Special Touch
03-Mar-2008, Boston Globe
"Feeling it was a prime opportunity to boost their special teams units, the Patriots contacted Bills receiver Sam Aiken shortly after free agency began last Friday. Aiken was flattered by the early interest. 'Coach [Bill] Belichick reached out at around 11 that morning, and that was a big deal to him,' said Alvin Keels, Aiken's agent. 'That call made him feel like the Patriots really wanted him.' Yesterday, the sides finalized a two-year contract… 'He was intrigued to be part of the organization, and the way they went after him aggressively went a long way when some calls came in after that,' Keels said. "He pretty much had his mind made up.'"
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Patriots Transactions
03-Mar-2008, New England Patriots
"The New England Patriots re-signed wide receiver Randy Moss and signed unrestricted free agent wide receiver Sam Aiken today. Terms of the agreements were not disclosed." Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick on Randy Moss: "What Randy did for our team last year was outstanding. He is one of our most consistent, competitive and team-oriented players and it is undoubtedly a relationship we are excited to continue." Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick on Sam Aiken: "Competing against Sam many times over the years, we know firsthand what he brings to us. We're glad he is a Patriot."
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Entry Of A Spygate Clown Making Circus Look Like Child's Play
03-Mar-2008, CBSSports.com
"Recently, a new piece of information regarding accusations that the New England Patriots cheated their way to dynastic supremacy was published and it should cause a lot of people to finally shut the hell up. It won't, but it should. … If what Belichick did, portrayed by Patriots Haters and Belichick Bashers as the end of civilization as we know it, was so advantageous to them and despicable, why were coaches like Edwards mocking it? Why didn't he turn in Belichick, if what Belichick was doing was so significant and dastardly? The answer: Because it wasn't. The Daily News article, to me, is one of the more important pieces of this Patriots Spygate puzzle. It might not seem so but it is. … So when you haters and excuse makers want to continue to bash the Patriots and try to take away the significance of their titles, think of Edwards, clowning to the camera and handling the situation like a grown man and smart coach instead of a big fat baby."
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Four Years Before Scandal, Herm Edwards Waved To Bill Belichick's Camera
02-Mar-2008, New York Daily News
"Sources told the Daily News that early in a game against the Patriots four years ago, Edwards, in his fourth season as Jets coach, and [Donnie] Henderson, in his first year as the defensive coordinator, noticed a Patriots camera from the opposite sideline aimed at them to tape the defensive signals. Edwards had made the proper adjustments before the game to avoid Belichick stealing the defensive signals. They went into the game knowing this was a practice Belichick employed and when they saw the camera, they put on a show. That story has been making the rounds in the league the last few days."
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Jays Have Big Fan In Pats' Belichick
02-Mar-2008, Baltimore Sun
"[Y]es, that was New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick on the Johns Hopkins sideline yesterday at the Face-Off Classic, attempting to look anonymous in a black Blue Jays hoodie sweatshirt and a head warmer. Belichick, who grew up in Annapolis and is a big lacrosse fan, was a guest of Hopkins coach Dave Pietramala. The coaches have become friends in recent years, and Belichick pulled aside Blue Jays midfielder Paul Rabil last week for a pep talk on leadership. 'What can you say? The man is a winner and he's been a champion at the highest level,' Pietramala said. 'He's been awful nice to allow our staff to take a peek inside his house. He was here today as a friend, as a fan and as a supporter of lacrosse. When you're around [somebody] like that, you can't not draw from his experience. You hope if you touch him enough, maybe some of it will rub off on you.'"
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Law On Their Side Again? Former Patriot would welcome homecoming
02-Mar-2008, Boston Globe
"…[T]he conversation reflected how the Patriots still had a hold on [Ty] Law's heart. It also let him know bygones were bygones with his former coach, whom he had called a liar on his way out of town – a comment he later said he regretted making. So now, after two largely unfulfilling seasons in Kansas City, Law is wondering whether Belichick and vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli will be hitting redial. … 'No matter what, I'll always be a part of New England, the Patriots, and they'll always be a part of me,' Law said. 'I think the fans feel the same way. We both had ups and downs, but we shared more success than anything. If it could happen again, it would be like things coming full circle. We're both still standing.'"
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Best Talent Evaluators Take Risks, Make Hard Decisions
26-Feb-2008, ESPN.com
"These men all have great supporting casts that help make them the NFL's five best talent evaluators. … Each one of these guys has strengths in different areas. My five best evaluators (with their current teams), in alphabetical order, are: Bill Belichick, New England Patriots: Scott Pioli's name also should appear here, but I have known Bill forever and for that reason I know just how good he really is. These guys will outwit you, outsmart you and out-resource you. Bill and I started lining fields together and he is now arguably the best coach in the NFL. There is little that will go on in a football franchise that is foreign to him, and to top it off, he will outwork you on a daily basis."
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Mad At Pats For Spygate? Let's Sue Rams, Too
25-Feb-2008, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"Were the Rams cheated out of a victory in Super Bowl XXXVI? Sorry, Rams fans, but that's a stretch. If you buy that one, then we should have filed all kinds of lawsuits in the wake of the Rams' 20-17 loss… The Rams outgained the Patriots 427 yards to 267. But they turned the ball over three times, and the Patriots had no turnovers. The Rams didn't lose Super Bowl XXXVI because someone shot video of their walk-through. They lost because they walked through the game with poor strategy and execution. They repeatedly shot themselves."
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Spygate Ado About Nothing?
23-Feb-2008, Denver Post
"Spygate? Yes, it broke a rule, [Gene] Upshaw said. Harsh punishment was levied. But otherwise, Upshaw believes the illicit taping – including reports the Patriots spied on the St. Louis Rams' walk-through before the Super Bowl in the 'tuck rule' postseason of 2001, an allegation NFL commissioner Roger Goodell continues to investigate – has been overblown. 'I don't care how many tapes (Patriots coach Bill) Belichick could have had, there's no way you could ever account for Eli Manning getting out of that sack and then throwing the ball and (David) Tyree catching the ball at the top of his helmet,' Upshaw said. 'There's nothing on a tape that's going to stop that from happening. It comes down to execution. I hear them talking about that St. Louis game. Kurt Warner fumbled the ball at the 1-yard line. Critics say, 'Well, (the Patriots) were in the right position.' Yeah, but he still fumbled the ball. My biggest concern when you start talking about these tapes, it's almost like the players' play doesn't count. It does.'"
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Jimmy Fesses Up … Again
23-Feb-2008, Dallas Cowboys Blog
"Right in the jaws of the Spygate controversy, ex-Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson has come out and defended the Patriots and his pal Bill Belichick. Again. Johnson was asked on a spot with WFAN yesterday whether New England's transgression troubled him. 'Oh please,' Johnson responded. 'I've said it on our show. Eighteen years ago a scout for the Chiefs told me what they did, and he said what you need to do is just take your camera and you go and zoom in on the signal caller and that way you can sync it up. The problem is that if they're not on the press box side you can't do it from the press box, you have to do it from the sideline. This was 18 years ago.' So he stole signals? 'Oh in a heartbeat, yeah. Yes I did,' Johnson said…"
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NFL Czars Say Spygate 'Yesterday's News'
22-Feb-2008, USA Today
"They stood behind a lectern, five members of the NFL's powerful competition committee, showing solidarity as much with their body language as with their words. After a four-hour meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday that began with a 90-minute briefing on the New England Patriots' 'Spygate' episode, the keepers and tweakers of NFL rules said they were satisfied. 'In my mind,' committee co-chairman Rich McKay said, 'it was yesterday's news.'"
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Red Wings 'Road to Perfection' Hits Major Speed Bump
21-Feb-2008, ESPN.com
"It's not a perfect comparison, but there are similarities between the season recently completed by football's New England Patriots and the one being experienced by the NHL's Detroit Red Wings. … Throw in the fact that Detroit coach Mike Babcock is a keen admirer of Bill Belichick and the Patriots' style of organization, and there are clearly parallels. Babcock, you should know, is a frequent visitor to Belichick's Web site and reads the New England coach's press conference remarks. He felt the impact of the Patriots' defeat to the Giants in a very personal way. 'I was hoping the Patriots would win,' Babcock said in a recent interview. 'I'm a big fan of their approach. But yeah, somebody can always beat you in the end.'"
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Patriots Staff Changes
21-Feb-2008, New England Patriots
"The New England Patriots have hired veteran coach Dom Capers as special assistant / secondary, appointed Nick Caserio director of player personnel and named Bill O'Brien wide receivers coach. Capers served as the Miami Dolphins' defensive coordinator in 2007, while Caserio served as New England's wide receivers coach and O'Brien was a Patriots coaching assistant." Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick on Dom Capers: "I have known Dom for a long time and respect him tremendously as a coach, particularly defensively. To add a coach of his caliber is an outstanding opportunity for us. I look forward to getting to work with Dom and Dean [Pees] immediately." Bill Belichick on Bill O'Brien: "In his first year, Bill made a very positive impact on our offensive staff. We are excited about him building on his experience in the system as he moves into his new role."
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NFL Auction: Bill Belichick Headset
20-Feb-2008, NFL Auctions
"The NFL and Motorola have teamed up with NFL Charities to unveil a first-time item: Bill Belichick's Super Bowl XLII commemorative Motorola headset worn during the New York Giants' 17-14 win over the New England Patriots on February 3, 2008. This Motorola headset was worn by Belichick the entire season. However, to commemorate the game, a Motorola logo was replaced with the Super Bowl XLII logo on Belichick's headset. Belichick wore a single-cup version of the Motorola headset, with the Super Bowl XLII logo on the right ear." Item sold for $3,009.00 on February 20, 2008
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Belichick Looks Back And Ahead
19-Feb-2008, Boston Globe
"In reviewing a 2007 season that was filled with unexpected twists and turns, Patriots coach Bill Belichick acknowledged that the pain still lingers from losing Super Bowl XLII. 'Sure,' he said. 'It's hard to think of 18-1 as being a disappointing season. It is. We had our chances, but in the end … We just needed to make one more play somewhere along the line and we just weren't able to do it.' … 'You get beat in the last 30 seconds, so anything could have made a difference anywhere along the line that any of us did – players, coaches,' he said. 'I think we all feel the same way. I wish we could have done one thing a little better and it might have changed it. But we didn't.'"
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Suit Against Patriots Only Reaffirms Obvious
19-Feb-2008, Philadelphia Daily News
"It has been against the rules forever, according to an NFL spokesman contacted the other day, but it seems that at least several teams were undeterred about sideline taping over the years – and, amazingly enough, both the sport and the republic survived. … But videotaping sideline signals is completely different from videotaping a team's walkthrough on the day before the Super Bowl. The former is illegal, but more in the realm of digital gamesmanship, and it has been going on with other NFL teams, or at least alleged, for years; no, decades."
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Belichick Breaks Silence On 'Spygate'
18-Feb-2008, Boston Globe
"The Patriots' videotaping of signals was deemed to cross the line, which Belichick apologized for yesterday. 'I respect the integrity of the game and always have and always will,' he said. 'I regret that any of this, or to whatever extent it has in any way brought that into question or discussion or debate. The decision was made by the commissioner, the practice was immediately stopped, and we're not doing it. Just going back over the whole taping incident, if I contacted the league and asked them about the practice, I'm sure they would have told me – as they have done – that it is not permissible. Then I could have avoided all of this. I take responsibility for it… Even though I felt there was a gray area in the rule and I misinterpreted the rule, that was my mistake and we've been penalized for it. I apologize to everybody that is involved – the league, the other teams, the fans, our team, for the amount of conversation and dialogue that it's caused."
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In the N.F.L, It's Not Cheating Until You Start Videotaping
17-Feb-2008, New York Times
"An N.F.L. team could place an army of lip readers on the sideline to try to steal messages from the opposing side. It could fill a row of seats behind the other team's bench with espionage experts to decipher all the sideline cues. It could have scouts in the press box aiming binoculars at every opposing coach, scribbling notes to match with game tape to glean what all the signals mean. All that is allowed, and maybe some of it is done. But videotaping the other sideline? Do not think about it. And therein lies one of the quirky twists to what may already be the biggest cheating scandal in the N.F.L.'s history, a chapter that began when the Patriots were caught taping the Jets' sideline last September. The issue is not stealing signals. That is allowed, 'and it is done quite widely,' Commissioner Roger Goodell said recently. The issue, rather, is the method of acquiring the signals."
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Adam's Role? It's Top Secret
03-Feb-2008, Boston Globe
"One of the most influential and unrecognizable difference-makers in New England sports, [Ernie] Adams is Belichick's best friend and most trusted adviser in football, the genius behind the gridiron genius, a mystery man whose fingerprints are all over the Patriots' mini-dynasty yet is all but unknown beyond Gillette Stadium. One of the most influential and unrecognizable difference-makers in New England sports, Adams is Belichick's best friend and most trusted adviser in football, the genius behind the gridiron genius, a mystery man whose fingerprints are all over the Patriots' mini-dynasty yet is all but unknown beyond Gillette Stadium."
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Belichick
03-Feb-2008, Boston Globe
"Who is Bill Belichick, the one so few of us see? In some ways, according to those who have spent time around the highly successful Patriots coach, he is precisely the guy in those oft-painful press conferences, when he says little, smiles less, and reveals next to nothing about his team, his thought process, or himself. That's the Bill Belichick who looks as if he followed his morning swig of cod liver oil with a Listerine chaser. But in other ways, the real Bill Belichick reflects nothing of the tight-mouthed, sweatshirt-tattered, dour curmudgeon seen standing at the podium or along the sideline."
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Remember When?
03-Feb-2008, Plain Dealer
"In the book 'The GM', [Ernie] Accorsi disclosed a phone conversation with Belichick in 2000 in which a suddenly humbled Belichick blurted out, 'I really screwed that thing up in Cleveland, Ernie.' Accorsi maintained then and now that Belichick did not fail. 'I told him when he came in that he needed to rebuild the team and I was not going to be there long. I left after one year,' Accorsi said. 'The year I was there, the team was competitive. And in '94, it was a damn good team. And then the next year, the team was moved and fans were rooting against them.'"
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Annapolis XOXO Bill Belichick
03-Feb-2008, The Capital
"[A]round Annapolis, locals are remembering a younger Bill Belichick. They remember him as a serious boy who loved lacrosse better than football and graduated from Annapolis High School in 1970. They remember him laughing at his friends' graduation parties and playing center for Annapolis High's stellar football team. And some remember that he took Debi Steed to the prom in 1969. 'We went as friends,' Debi recalled, looking through her senior yearbook this weekend. 'It was 1969, and the theme was 'Sitting on the Dock of the Bay,'' she said, remembering the song by Otis Redding."
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UF Coaches Will Root For Belichick
03-Feb-2008, Gainesville Sun
"The great ones understand. They share ideas and philosophies. They pick at brains and expose theirs to be picked. Continue to 2nd paragraph The great ones only keep secrets from the media. They stack up knowledge like firewood, a little of this and a little of that. The great ones get it. 'You try to gain knowledge from other people's experiences,' Billy Donovan said. 'I've been around guys who think they have it all figured out and they have some kind of secret formula.' Bill Belichick is not one of those guys, which is one reason his team is playing in the Super Bowl today. His relationships with Florida's two franchise coaches – Donovan and Urban Meyer – have resulted in an iconic triangle of respect."
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Statement From The New England Patriots
02-Feb-2008, New England Patriots
"The suggestion that the New England Patriots recorded the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough on the day before Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002 is absolutely false. Any suggestion to the contrary is untrue." |
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Pats Need More Motivation Like Brady Needs Another Dimple
02-Feb-2008, Associated Press
"It can't be coincidence that one of Bill Belichick's favorite movies is 'The Bourne Identity.' The spy thriller begins when Jason Bourne, played by Matt Damon, is found floating in the Mediterranean with two bullets in his back. He's rescued by fishermen on an Italian trawler and spends the rest of the movie trying to figure out who he is and why so many of the people he runs across – all dispatched by his former boss, a shadowy CIA chief named Conklin – are trying to kill him. Belichick expressed his admiration for the movie early on in Super Bowl week, along with the less revealing fact that his favorite late-night snack is 'anything with salt.'"
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Looking For a Ticket to Belichick Speech? Forget it.
01-Feb-2008, Salem News
"Bill Belichick's April 30 appearance at Salem State College … is sold out. In fact, it sold out in 36 hours. Tickets for Belichick's Salem State College Series speech went on sale last Thursday morning and were gone by noon on Friday. At first, he was booked for the 1,800-capacity basketball court, but the venue was quickly switched to the hockey rink, which holds 3,600. Selling out in 36 hours ties the record set by former President Bill Clinton, who spoke at Salem State in 2001 just weeks after leaving the White House."
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Patriots' Belichick Channels UCLA's John Wooden
31-Jan-2008, Bloomberg
"Smart men, Wooden and [Phil] Jackson. Wonderful teachers, too. No wonder they've both enjoyed such great success as coaches. And now they're joined, in my estimation, anyway, by Belichick, who ranks as the best coach in the National Football League. Hands down. Belichick understands that his players won't be passionate unless he's passionate. There can be no doubt. … You will never see…waffling from Belichick, who wouldn't allow his roster to doubt his desire. Or his will, drive and motivation, all of which are demanded of tired and hurting players at some point during the season. 'You always hear about burnout,' says former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms. 'Belichick hasn't tired of anything.'"
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Funny Business Going On: Belichick stuns us with his lighter side
29-Jan-2008, Boston Globe
"A guy who looks a lot like Belichick has been more than polite at the podium in his first two days of mandated media duty. There have been none of those icy stares or awkward moments, and we're still buzzing about his downright charming performance after the Patriots landed here Sunday. He was Belichuckle. Bill made a stab a humor. He teased a couple of Boston reporters, engaged in some friendly 'Marco, Polo,' and quoted Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. I expected him to wrap things up with, 'I'm here all week, try the veal.'"
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Connections That Go Far Beyond Wins
29-Jan-2008, New York Times
"If Bill Belichick can be judged by the company he keeps, then his relationships with Jim Brown, the legendary football player, and Bill Russell, the epitome of winning, provide an intriguing insight into a man few outsiders know. The tie that binds them is an initiative that Brown began two decades ago when he founded his Amer-I-can Foundation, which works with gangs and youth throughout the United States to end violence by boosting self esteem, providing jobs and promoting self-worth and personal responsibility. Belichick was an early and enthusiastic Amer-I-can supporter."
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Despite Appearances, There's No Mystery To Belichick's Winning Ways
28-Jan-2008, NFL.com
"You have to mention him the way you mention the names of the greatest coaches in the history of the game – Lombardi, Shula, Walsh, Noll – because Belichick is one of them. … The Patriots' run to perfection is a testament to Belichick's endless drive, to his brilliance when it comes to drawing up Xs and Os, and to his incredibly keen eye for both talent and personalities that not only mesh well together but fully embrace a program that puts the greatest emphasis on the team rather than the individual. It also is a testament to Belichick's thorough understanding of all aspects of the game. He might be the consummate defensive guy, but he understands offense and special teams as well as the coaches who concentrate on those areas."
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Belichick Turns To Unlikely Source For Coaching Advice
28-Jan-2008, NFL.com
"[H]is closest coaching confidante appears to be the University of Florida's Urban Meyer, a man with whom Belichick never has worked, but with whom he has nonetheless developed an extremely close relationship. They have watched each other's team practice. They have addressed each other's team in a meeting. They have exchanged strategies and philosophies. They trust each other's instincts. They are, in effect, a mutual admiration society. 'For him to watch us practice, watch me for a day or a day and a half, and to be able to say something as an outsider (is valuable),' Belichick said in a recent interview."
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Belichick Left The Giants, But They Haven't Left Him
28-Jan-2008, New York Times
"When the Giants had success in the past, Belichick would call the former Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi to congratulate him. 'There is still a lot of Giants in me,' he told Accorsi more than once. For one day, at least, the Giant in him will be subsumed. 'In some respects, I wish it were somebody else,' Belichick said in an interview last week. 'There are a lot of teams I don't have that much affection for. Giants Stadium, the locker room is on the left and I always feel like I should be turning left. And I've been turning right for a lot of seasons now. We all move on.'"
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Patriots Owner Opens Up His Playbook
27-Jan-2008, CNBC
"Belichick has fit brilliantly despite, or because of, a famously taciturn temperament – especially with the media. He agreed to sit down with CNBC to talk about the man who signs his checks. CNBC: What kind of boss is Bob Kraft? Belichick: My relationship with Mr. Kraft is more as a partner … you know, certainly he's the boss; he owns the team. But we work more as partners in terms of trying to do things together in the best interest of the football team and the organization."
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Belief In Himself Works For Wings' Babcock
26-Jan-2008, Detroit News
"'I read Bill Belichick's Web site every day,' [Mike] Babcock said, referring to the NFL coach whose Patriots will play for their fourth Super Bowl title in seven years next weekend. 'To me, he's the best coach in sports right now. He's got a machine there. And I think the Detroit Red Wings are the New England Patriots. That's how I want us to operate, from the top down."
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Bobby Fischer, Bill Belichick Share Something In Common
24-Jan-2008, ESPN Page 2
"He was, then and now, the greatest American chess player who ever lived; he eventually won the world championship in 1972, against a Russian named Boris Spassky, briefly propelling chess into mainstream culture. And yet his aloofness and acute paranoia, his weird single-minded insistence upon seeing everything in life through the veil of a game, ultimately obscured his legacy. If that sounds like a familiar story line, it should. We see it all the time these days in sports, if only on a less exaggerated scale. Barry Bonds: paranoid, aloof. Bill Belichick: paranoid, aloof."
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Changes Have Done Them Good: Patriots adjustments impressive to many
24-Jan-2008, Boston Globe
"Doug Flutie had watched from afar and was impressed. He appreciated how the Patriots had an uncanny ability to redefine themselves during games. Then Flutie joined the team for the 2005 season and the firsthand experience reinforced those feelings. 'You'd see it a number of times. It was a close ballgame for a while, then all of a sudden, they're doing different things and they're invincible the rest of the way,' Flutie said. 'Being there to see it, I think the thing that stood out to me was how Bill [Belichick] and the coaching staff, the guys upstairs, would make the right type of switch at just the right time.' In many ways, that knack for the quick switch has become a trademark of the Patriots under Belichick."
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Parcells' 1990 Coaching Staff Was Ultimate 'Super Group'
23-Jan-2008, NFL.com
"With the Giants, Parcells put together one of the very best coaching staffs ever assembled – if not the best, although that would be subject to debate among football historians. Two members of that 1990 staff, Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin, will square off in Super Bowl XLII. Belichick was in his sixth season as the Giants' defensive coordinator (he doubled as secondary coach in 1989 and '90). He would spend the next five years as head coach of the Cleveland Browns. After a four-year stint as an assistant with the Patriots and Jets, Belichick would return to New England to begin one of the greatest head-coaching careers in NFL history. He has led the Pats to three Super Bowl victories, and has them in the big game for the fourth time in seven seasons."
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Belichick Not A Tyrant, He's Just A Winner
23-Jan-2008, MSNBC
"'Hello, Steve, this is Bill Belichick,' said the voice on the other end of the phone. … While he spoke with the same monotone then that he has now, I never felt for a second that I was bothering him or taking up his time in an unwanted manner. I wouldn't say that I thought he was enjoying himself, but he was definitely cooperative. I understood what he was saying and if I had a question or didn't understand a particular point he explained it to me. The picture of Bill Belichick that has since been painted by the media as a single-minded tyrant was nothing like the man I talked to that August night."
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Whatever It Takes, Patriots Will Win
21-Jan-2008, ESPN.com
"'The Patriots of old,' is how linebacker Mike Vrabel described it. 'This is what we consider Patriots football,' linebacker Tedy Bruschi said. … Patriots football is what coach Bill Belichick said to Bruschi when they hugged just moments after the game. 'Great job in the red area,' Belichick said. Not, 'We're going to the Super Bowl!' Not, '18-0, baby!' But, 'Great job in the red area.' This is Belichick in a nutshell. This is the Patriots' celebrated culture in a nutshell. There is no "I" in New England. The Pats somehow have conditioned themselves to suppress their feelings about their football legacy."
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Yes, Belichick Really Is A Genius
21-Jan-2008, New York Times
"With all due respect to Paul Brown, Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry and Bill Walsh, Bill Belichick is the genius coach of all time. His New England Patriots have taken on all comers and triumphed over all styles. In this salary-cap era, when players move from team to team, Belichick has managed to stay one step ahead of the competition. On Sunday, for the 18th time this season, Belichick entered the interview room and gave a monologue about another game his team had won. The victories have come in all shapes and sizes: late-game runaways, out-and-out routs, flaw-ridden nail-biters. Yesterday, New England tripped, stumbled and willed itself to its fourth American Football Conference championship under Belichick."
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Belichick Wins Fourth Conference Championship As Head Coach
20-Jan-2008, New England Patriots
"Bill Belichick has won his fourth conference championship as a head coach and is the eighth head coach in NFL history to lead his team to four Super Bowls. Only Don Shula (6) and Tom Landry (5) have directed their teams to more Super Bowls. Belichick has won three Super Bowl titles as a head coach and is one of four head coaches to win three or more Super Bowls, joining Chuck Noll (4), Bill Walsh (3) and Joe Gibbs (3). The Patriots' victory over the Chargers in the AFC Championship Game was Belichick's 15th career playoff victory, a total that ranks fifth all-time. Belichick's career playoff record of 15-3 (.833) is the second-best in NFL history, trailing only Vince Lombardi (9-1, .900)."
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Moss's Blessing, And Curse
20-Jan-2008, Boston Globe
"'This world is full of 'incidents,'' said [Dennis] Green. 'I'll stick with the guy who gave me everything he had.' [Lou] Holtz said he offered Moss a scholarship after watching him interact with his mother, Maxine, who made her son attend church weekly, forbade swearing, and worked two jobs to raise him on her own. 'The day I went to his house for my visit, there were only two soft chairs in the living room,' Holtz said. 'I sat in one, and Randy's mom sat in the other. Randy sat on the arm, right next to his mother. Throughout the recruiting process, he showed her the utmost respect. I'll never forget that.'"
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In Wake Of 'Spygate,' Belichick Steamrolled The Competition
15-Jan-2008, Pro Football Weekly
"The Patriots disposed of their adversary in each successive game, winning all but four by at least a 10-point buffer, en route to the NFL's first 16-0 regular season. It was just the fourth unblemished campaign in league history, and the first since Don Shula's Dolphins went 14-0 in 1972. In a league that prides itself on fostering competitive balance, the Patriots had overthrown the establishment. And as far as Pro Football Weekly and the Pro Football Writers of America are concerned, Belichick's accomplishment was far too impressive to bestow Coach of the Year honors on anybody else. It's the second time he has won the award, with his first coming in 2003."
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Made In America: Why you shouldn't hate Bill Belichick
11-Jan-2008, ESPN The Magazine
"…There are stories of Belichick's singing among friends while on vacation; of his taking time out of his hectic NFL week to write long, supportive e-mails to a friend's kid; of his showing up at Ivy League games to cheer on a former Patriots ball boy playing college football. But Belichick refuses to flesh out these anecdotes for public consumption. Which is fine, because his reluctance to shape his image says something significant about the man: There's only one game he thinks he must win to get respect."
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Dr. Z's All-Pros: Closer look at players who merit recognition in 2007
10-Jan-2008, SI.com
"Special Awards: Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year offer no surprises, Belichick has to be our coach. Too often do you see some guy who raised a team from 2-14 to playoff level get the honor, only to exit quickly in the postseason while the Super Bowl winner gets to be determined after the award is given. Finally a special award: Assistant Coach of the Year: If you wonder why Brady has so much time to pass, please give some credit to the guy who has turned the O-line into such a beautifully synchronized unit, and that's Dante Scarnecchia."
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Belichick Among The Best-Ever Coaches
10-Jan-2008, USA Today
"'The thing he is, there's not an ounce of phoniness with him,' says former New York Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi. 'He's always direct and sometimes that's harsh. But this is a harsh business. I think he has to be listed with the all-time greats. From George Halas to Paul Brown; Tom Landry, Chuck Noll, Vince Lombardi and Bill Walsh. You have to include him.' Accorsi makes a closing point, noting that only one Patriot, quarterback Tom Brady, is a sure Hall of Fame player. Maybe Richard Seymour, the defensive lineman, could make it if he stays healthy. Maybe Randy Moss, the flamboyant receiver, if he stays with Belichick. 'Who else?' asked Accorsi, noting that the great Pittsburgh teams of the '70s had nine Hall of Famers and the once-dominant Oakland Raiders had a dozen."
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In Patriots' Season To Remember, A Teammate Is Not Forgotten
10-Jan-2008, New York Times
"In one of their last telephone conversations, Marquise Hill confided in his mother, Sherry. Back in his native Louisiana for a weeklong visit before the New England Patriots' June minicamp, Hill, a 24-year-old reserve defensive lineman, said: 'Momma, guess what. I feel like we're going to be unstoppable.' Sherry Hill's voice cracked as she recounted the conversation. 'All I can say,' she said tearfully, 'is Marquise was right.'"
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Seau, Patriots Guided By Singular, Super Ambition
09-Jan-2008, USA Today
"What a unique culture Belichick has created. The Patriots locker room is a study in focus. Most prominent among the 53 players are 14 respected veterans in their 30s, including Seau, fellow linebackers Tedy Bruschi, 34, Mike Vrabel, 32, and Adalius Thomas, 30. There is also Seau's former Chargers teammate, safety Rodney Harrison, and tight end Kyle Brady, both 35. Quarterback Tom Brady and wide receiver Randy Moss are both 30. 'It stems from the top,' Seau says, referring to owner Robert Kraft, Belichick and vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli. 'They do a great job here of recruiting character guys. Whenever you have character guys, unselfishness and respect comes into play. Being humble is a big factor when you come into this locker room.'"
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Belichick Nominated For Motorola Coach of The Year
09-Jan-2008, NFL.com
"In 2007, Belichick became the first coach to lead a team to an undefeated regular season in 35 years since Don Shula and the 1972 Dolphins ended with a 14-00 regular-season record. Belichick coached the most dominating offense in the NFL, a team that ranked first in points, total yards and passing yards. Under Belichick's direction, quarterback Tom Brady led the NFL with a quarterback rating of 117.2, 4,806 passing yards, and 300.4 yards per game. Brady also threw 50 touchdowns, setting the single-season record in the same game he delivered the Patriots' final win to bring them to 16-0. In addition to Brady, Belichick frequently utilized WR Randy Moss, whose 23 receiving touchdowns set the NFL single-season record. The Patriots defense ranked fourth in the NFL, allowing only 288.3 yards per game and only 274 total points (17.1 per game). Belichick was nominated for four Motorola NFL Coach of the Week awards, winning twice."
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FieldTurf & Howie Long Announce 2007 Football Awards
08-Jan-2008, FieldTurf
"FieldTurf and Howie Long announced the winners of its inaugural Football Awards for the 2007 season today during the American Football Coaches Convention in Anaheim. Award winners were named in 11 different categories, with FieldTurf announcing 2 of the award categories on its own. … The NFL Coach of the Year award and the NFL Team of the Year award were announced solely by FieldTurf. This year's winners are: BILL BELICHICK, New England Patriots (NFL Coach of the Year) … [and] NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, (NFL Team of the Year)."
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Unsung Bruschi Epitomizes Great Linebacker Play
07-Jan-2008, CBS Sports
"Bruschi said he's typical of a Bill Belichick linebacker. 'Bill wants smart, tough, low-to-the-ground linebackers,' he said. 'It's a philosophical tree – from Bill Parcells to Bill Belichick to Romeo Crennel. My coach, Pepper Johnson, has us look at film of the Giants' linebackers – Lawrence Taylor, Harry Carson, Carl Banks, and Pep. Coach Belichick wants it done the same way.' He even said – are you sitting down? – Belichick is funny. 'You should hear him in the meetings,' said Bruschi. 'He'll say something kind of quietly, and it may take a second to get it, but then you burst out laughing.'"
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Rick Gosselin's NFL Awards
06-Jan-2008, Dallas Morning News
"Coach of the year: Bill Belichick, New England. Belichick put together the finest season in NFL history in 2007, posting the first 16-0 season and first perfect regular season in 35 years. He also put together the NFL's best regular-season winning streak at 19 games, dating to 2006. There is no better coach in the NFL today – maybe ever."
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Tom Brady Named NFL's Most Valuable Player
05-Jan-2008, New England Patriots
"Today, Associated Press announced that Tom Brady has been named the National Football League's Most Valuable Player. It is the first MVP honor of Brady's career and the first NFL MVP earned by a New England Patriot." Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick: "He deserves it. I have thought for a long time that there is no past or present quarterback I'd rather coach than Tom Brady and I am more certain of that every year he plays."
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Belichick Voted Week 17 Motorola NFL Coach of the Week
04-Jan-2008, NFL.com
"Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots is the Motorola NFL Coach of the Week for games played on December 29-30, the NFL announced today. Belichick led the Patriots to a 38-35 win over the New York Giants at the Meadowlands last Saturday night to complete an undefeated regular season at 16-0. Under Belichick's direction, QB Tom Brady completed 32 of 42 passes and passed for 356 yards and two touchdowns. WR Randy Moss caught both of Brady's touchdowns, the second of which set the NFL single-season record for touchdown passes by Brady (50) and the single-season mark for touchdown receptions by Moss (23). The Patriots also set the NFL single-season record for points scored (589) on Brady's 4-yard touchdown pass to Moss in the second quarter, breaking the 1998 Moss-led Minnesota Vikings' mark of 556. The Patriots gained 390 total net yards and controlled the ball for 36:18."
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Bell Tolls: Award season honors NFL's past, present
04-Jan-2008, USA Today
"The Bill Walsh Award: For coaching with a purpose, Bill Belichick. Spygate, flygate. The Patriots are the first team to go undefeated in a 16-game regular season, and on any given week you'll find Belichick engaged – like huddling with the linebackers or talking it up with a player who gaffed. Cleveland's Romeo Crennel, Jacksonville's Jack Del Rio and Green Bay's Mike McCarthy would be good choices, too. But Belichick is not to be denied. He said he was on a 'crusade' for good football. What's next, 95 thesis?"
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Perfect Season Lifts Belichick To Second AP Coach Of Year Honor
03-Jan-2008, Associated Press
"New England's undefeated season now includes yet another achievement: Bill Belichick is The Associated Press 2007 NFL Coach of the Year. … 'This is definitely a team recognition, but one that I appreciate very much on a personal level,' Belichick said in a statement issued by the club. He also won the award in 2003. 'If anyone is deserving of such an award it really is Bill,' Patriots owner Robert Kraft said. 'I know the energy and effort and planning and time (he puts in). He's had his foot on the pedal all year, just working so hard and always doing everything he can to put the team in a position to win first.'"
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Parsing the Patriots Paradox
03-Jan-2008, Time Magazine
"Outside of New England, fans are howling about Belichick and his team. For a healthy dose of anti-Pats vitriol, just visit the I Hate New England Patriots and Evil Patriots blogs on the Web. Belichick is asked if this venom gets under his shredded collar. He cites The Best and the Brightest, the late David Halberstam's classic analysis of Vietnam-era leaders who were more obsessed with winning the public-relations battle than the actual fight on the ground. 'I think David's book is a good example of how not to do it,' Belichick tells TIME. 'Run a war based on public opinion. Not that we're running a war. We get judged on our performance. And that's what drives our decisions. Performance.'"
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