2016 Belichick Thread: Cheater de Force

tims4wins

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This could go in the Collins thread, but I like it here better

Q: A move like the Jamie Collins trade often leaves fans wondering how the team is better today than it was prior to the move. What do you say that might help them understand the answer to that question?

BB: It's my professional judgement.
 

edmunddantes

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This could go in the Collins thread, but I like it here better

Q: A move like the Jamie Collins trade often leaves fans wondering how the team is better today than it was prior to the move. What do you say that might help them understand the answer to that question?

BB: It's my professional judgement.
insert mic drop gif here
 

SeoulSoxFan

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Tongue, meet cheek: http://thebiglead.com/2016/11/02/bill-belichick-should-be-fired-if-the-patriots-want-to-salvage-their-season/

"Has Belichick “lost his touch?” It’s unclear if he ever really had it. It’s obvious that the only way for the Patriots to keep moving forward is to fire Bill Belichick. Don’t let the best record in football, 15 consecutive winning seasons, five straight trips to the AFC Championship Game and 4 Super Bowl victories fool you. Belichick is a man whose only plan should be retirement."
 

InstaFace

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God, it's so easy to forget what a ridiculous string of accomplishment that is. FIVE straight trips to the AFCCG. And pretty damned good odds, on present evidence, of making it 6. Such a record may never be broken as long as the salary-cap era endures.
 

NortheasternPJ

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God, it's so easy to forget what a ridiculous string of accomplishment that is. FIVE straight trips to the AFCCG. And pretty damned good odds, on present evidence, of making it 6. Such a record may never be broken as long as the salary-cap era endures.
One of the guys from ESPN tweeted yesterday that he rather have the PFF staff running a team rather then Belichick. Stupidity knows no bounds.

 

joe dokes

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One of the guys from ESPN tweeted yesterday that he rather have the PFF staff running a team rather then Belichick. Stupidity knows no bounds.


Anyone who bills themselves as: "ESPN Fantasy Football Analyst and Projection guy" simply has no business commenting on building a "real" football team, since the two activities bear no relation to each other.
 

Mugsy's Jock

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So I know I'm biased as a Never-Trumper, but I'm really pissed that Bill wrote that note. He had to expect Trump would merchandise it, and had to know that would create a pretty significant diversion and opportunity for division in the clubhouse -- all tied to a non-football matter.

I feel that if a player had done this, BB would not be pleased. Unnecessary distraction.

EDIT: Apologies for the tangent -- I missed the other thread on the topic.
 
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Saints Rest

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So I know I'm biased as a Never-Trumper, but I'm really pissed that Bill wrote that note. He had to expect Trump would merchandise it, and had to know that would create a pretty significant diversion and opportunity for division in the clubhouse -- all tied to a non-football matter.

I feel that if a player had done this, BB would not be pleased. Unnecessary distraction.
Seattle.
 
So I know I'm biased as a Never-Trumper, but I'm really pissed that Bill wrote that note. He had to expect Trump would merchandise it, and had to know that would create a pretty significant diversion and opportunity for division in the clubhouse -- all tied to a non-football matter.

I feel that if a player had done this, BB would not be pleased. Unnecessary distraction.
People keep saying this but many Pats beat writers argue the opposite. Felger said Belichick never silenced players when it came to speaking out about politics or religion or whatever when he covered the team. Howe and Curran agreed with him. Earlier this year Bennett and McCourty did the raised fists thing during the national anthem and nothing came of it. As long as the players aren't talking about injuries, gameplans, or their opponent (or scandals - Deflategate/Spygate/Hernandez) he's supposedly fine with it. I can't think of any former player ever saying differently including Jerod Mayo who was asked about it earlier this week on CSN (I looked on their site but couldn't find a link).

If you want to say that BB created a distraction that's fine (I'd probably disagree, however). But to argue that he's being hypocritical because he doesn't want players speaking out, that's just not true but all accounts.

This made me laugh.
 

Bunt4aTriple

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Here's my justification:

Belichick is a student of history. Not just football, but also extending to US/military. I don't think this was a pep talk as much as a document that would one day be a part of the permanent record of the Trump (and possibly winning campaign).

Joke's on Bill though. That shit was used to wipe up a glob of Big Mac special sauce that Don spilled on his trousers.
 

Royal Reader

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So I know I'm biased as a Never-Trumper, but I'm really pissed that Bill wrote that note. He had to expect Trump would merchandise it, and had to know that would create a pretty significant diversion and opportunity for division in the clubhouse -- all tied to a non-football matter.

I feel that if a player had done this, BB would not be pleased. Unnecessary distraction.
What gets my goat is that Saban gave this kind of response - I don't feel qualified to voice an opinion, I hope whoever's elected does right by people, I care about football - and he gets called irresponsible and accused of thinking Bama football is more important than democracy.

It's just... ugh. But I don't really think any player is going to react even slightly differently to Belichick because of this.
 

cromulence

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What gets my goat is that Saban gave this kind of response - I don't feel qualified to voice an opinion, I hope whoever's elected does right by people, I care about football - and he gets called irresponsible and accused of thinking Bama football is more important than democracy.

It's just... ugh. But I don't really think any player is going to react even slightly differently to Belichick because of this.
Uh, I think Saban got ripped because he claimed he had no idea Tuesday was Election Day. That's either a lie or absolutely pathetic and deserving of ridicule in either case.
 

luckiestman

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Uh, I think Saban got ripped because he claimed he had no idea Tuesday was Election Day. That's either a lie or absolutely pathetic and deserving of ridicule in either case.

I'm not sure how rare that is. Joe Gibbs used to eliminate all distractions and in some ways it is understandable. I don't think less of them for it.

I think there is a story about Gibbs coming out to a press conference and asking, somewhat joking, if we were at war because he hadn't seen the news for weeks.
 

InstaFace

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Am I the only one surprised to see Belichick say that he sends "a hundred notes a month" to his various and sundry friends?

Maybe I shouldn't be - his private persona has always proven more human than his public persona - but that just sounded charmingly old-fashioned of him.
 
"Hundreds" might be overstated but Tom Curran said Belichick is a huge "note guy". Curran has received a few himself and said his writing style is dramatically different from his conversational tone. When Trenni Kusnierek said there was no way Belichick wrote that letter to Trump because it contained "beautifully" Curran told her that's exactly the word he would use when writing a note. He wrapped it up saying Belichick is a big exclamation point guy. LOVES exclamation points.
 
Apr 7, 2006
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"Hundreds" might be overstated but Tom Curran said Belichick is a huge "note guy". Curran has received a few himself and said his writing style is dramatically different from his conversational tone. When Trenni Kusnierek said there was no way Belichick wrote that letter to Trump because it contained "beautifully" Curran told her that's exactly the word he would use when writing a note. He wrapped it up saying Belichick is a big exclamation point guy. LOVES exclamation points.
Really interesting to know. I remain disappointed in how folks in the Patriots organization responded to this particular situation, but it's good to hear something that broadens the perspective. Thanks for posting.
 

riboflav

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The NBA (Van Gundy, Kerr, Pop, the King, and so on and so on) on the whole has been terrific in their response to America's election of a demagogue while the NFL has been... well... let's just say no one is surprised.
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

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By saying that Popovich "behaves like a man instead" are you saying that, in comparison, Belichick was behaving like a woman?
Are you trying to invent an issue that doesn't exist? He could have meant "boy" as his comparison. He could have just been using a really common phrase.

Cut the shit.
 

dcmissle

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I fail to see the point of this.

If the concern is that BB's kind note influenced voting behavior, then people are out of their fucking minds. Obama could not drive African Americans in sufficient numbers for Clinton. Joe Biden could not deliver Pennsylvania's gritty whites. Voters don't give a rat's ass what BB thinks.

If the concern is that this could screw team chemistry, then anyone who has that concern has not been paying attention to Foxborough for the past 16 years.

So what is it? Role model? I'm from the Charles Barkley school. I don't care what my doctor thinks about football, and I don't care what my football coach thinks about medicine. Or politics. Those who do are looking for love in all the wrong places.

So now we know why Saban gave his preposterous answer to a misdirected question. It's no win. And the next step is some asshole like Felger thinking he and the public are entitled to know who the football coach voted for.

PC run amuck. Michael Jordan was right too.
 
Apr 7, 2006
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By saying that Popovich "behaves like a man instead" are you saying that, in comparison, Belichick was behaving like a woman?
Nope. Should've said grown up, to be more precise. My apologies. Your turn.

EDIT: To get us back on track and in the spirit of the thread...

Belichick activating Dion Lewis off PUP and onto the 53, but then not activating him tonight. Thoughts?
 

tims4wins

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Guys, we missed a huge development on Sunday. I thought I noticed this on TV, then just came across a picture. BB has added a new fashion item to his wardrobe. From the man who brought you the hoodie, then the cut-off hoodie, let me be the first to introduce to you, the cut-off winter hat

 

NortheasternPJ

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He actually wore that during the Seahawks game too. Maybe the elastic band in it was too tight? I'm guessing it was just an FU to the league.
 

tims4wins

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He actually wore that during the Seahawks game too. Maybe the elastic band in it was too tight? I'm guessing it was just an FU to the league.
Damn I missed it. Or he didn't like how the bottom rolls over. But in that case he should be wearing a beanie, not a pom hat.
 

dcdrew10

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The only hat I can find on the Patriots Pro Shop with that font in red on a navy background is a throwback hat, so he probably cut it so he didn't get shit from the league for wearing a throwback during a regular logo game.

I am not sure what is more stupid, that I looked for this hat or that it's a completely logical explanation that you can't wear an officially licensed hat without permission because it is a throwback item or that BB's solution is to bring out the scissors instead of getting another hat. At least he doesn't waste anything.
 

Mr Mulliner

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Couldn't it just be that he didn't want the extra layer between his headset and ear?

Probably no officially licensed beanies available.
 

Crazy Puppy

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The only hat I can find on the Patriots Pro Shop with that font in red on a navy background is a throwback hat, so he probably cut it so he didn't get shit from the league for wearing a throwback during a regular logo game.

I am not sure what is more stupid, that I looked for this hat or that it's a completely logical explanation that you can't wear an officially licensed hat without permission because it is a throwback item or that BB's solution is to bring out the scissors instead of getting another hat. At least he doesn't waste anything.
I have that hat and the back of it has the NFL shield. So he cut off the NFL logo.
 

JokersWildJIMED

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It's probably mentioned somewhere in this (or other threads) but I read the other day that Alex Kirby is publishing The Big Book of Belichick ...it may already be available
 

riboflav

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It's probably mentioned somewhere in this (or other threads) but I read the other day that Alex Kirby is publishing The Big Book of Belichick ...it may already be available
It is. Available now on Amazon both for Kindle and in paperback. I believe it's just a compilation of BB quotes on different football topics with a heavy emphasis on strategy over the years.
 

Norm loves Vera

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Real interesting write up about the interview process for Patriots coaching assistant positions as recalled by those who went thru it. We, as fans, are really are blessed to have Bill at the helm of the Patriot Battleship. A snippet about Matt Patricia getting hired was interesting:

"there was initial hesitation on Patricia's part. Had to consult his wife. The Patriots didn't like hesitation. They pulled the offer, according to Rohan, and only put it back on the table after a friend of Patricia's, former Patriots director of operations Nick Carparelli, convinced Belichick that Patricia badly wanted the job."

http://www.masslive.com/patriots/index.ssf/2016/12/bill_belichick_patriots_coachi.html#incart_river_mobileshort_home