Relaxed Belichick Meets the Press
He knew what the masses were massed for. So Bill Belichick opted to crack wise at the annual coaches breakfast at the NFL Owners Meetings here at The Breakers.
"Want to talk about the force-out rule," Belichick asked as he settled in for what ended up being an hour-long session with the media.
Not really. And Belichick knew it. Spygate and the Super Bowl were the prime topics for discussion and Belichick shrunk from neither. The third question he fielded was about former Pats employee Matt Walsh. Walsh has indicated he's got damning information about the Pats videotaping practices.
"I don't really know what he does have to say," Belichick said. "He made an allegation, or allegations made a couple months ago, and nothing has really materialized since then. I don't know what's holding it up, but that's not something I'm directly involved with. I'm sure the lawyers for the league and everybody, they're dealing with that.
"Allegations were made before the Super Bowl. I don't think there is any new information since then, not really any that I'm aware of. I don't think those allegations are true. We're moving on. I have a football team to coach and that's what we’re going to do.”
Asked about Walsh's motivations, Belichick replied, "I had almost no interaction with Matt Walsh while I was there. He was there several years before I got there, but I had almost no interaction with him (the allegations) came out of right field to me. I've never seen a tape of another team's practice, ever, in 34 years of coaching, and certainly not that one."
Belichick reiterated what his interpretation of the rule was.
"The way the rule is written, I interpreted it as you couldn't use it during the game, that current game, which was never done. I've never done that, never used any information from the game, in that current game. Whatever was used was used for future. Then the rule was restated or clarified by Ray Anderson in 2006, in September of 2006, and what I should have done is called the league and asked for a clarification of it. When I re-read that rule, I still interpreted it, obviously incorrectly, that as long as it wasn't used in that game, that it was OK. I paid a price for that mistake. It was my mistake. I'd say going forward, as difficult as dealing with some of this situation has been, we've taken it as a positive and done a lot of things in our organization to reorganize a number of things, in terms of making sure that everything is being done on a more efficient and more accountable basis, to make sure that a situation like this never comes up again. That was corrected in September. Like I said, we modified some of the other procedures organizationally. I think the good part of it – if there is a good part of it on our end – is we’ll be more efficient, more streamlined, and have a better organizational operation than we had in September. I think if that was the intent of the commissioner’s penalty, then, at least for the New England Patriots, that was certainly achieved."
Asked if he was upset that some have said the Patriots Super Bowl wins were tainted, Belichick said, "I know what the truth is. Everybody is entitled to an opinion. I can't control what everybody thinks. I'm not going to try to do that. I'm just going to do what I've done since September of last year, which is to do the best I can to coach our football team, preparing for the game, running an organization that is efficient and competitive with the other 31 teams in the league. That's what I'm going to continue to do.”
Asked how helpful the tapes were, Belichick said, "Relative to what the penalty was for it, not very helpful. I think you could take a look at the results of this season and that would confirm that."
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Drilling deeply into the mantle layer of America's Passion, NBCSports.com's Tom Curran offers up quick hits and insights on all things NFL.
This man is so full of garbage he should be named Manhattan.
This si the main reason why most people hate the media-how many different ways can Belichick say, "I interpreted the rule the wrong way" and "I've never seen tapes of anothe rteam's practice?" Are we waiting for him to try it falsetto, or in Swahili?
Stick a fork in this story, it's done-although clearly there are a lot of jealous people who would still love an excuse to tear down the most successful NFL franchise this decade.
Enough already! The Patriots deserve better then the media has given them. Like bulldogs they grabbed onto the story and still have not let go. Don't you fellas have anything better to do? I'm certain that if you really try hard you can find another story to sink your teeth into that will keep you all busy for the rest of the year.
The Patriots are one of the best teams ever to set foot on the grid-iron and you all know it. GET A LIFE AND LEAVE THE PAT"S ALONE!
How would you react if on the eve of your daughter's wedding, an unsubstantiated report appeared in the NY Times stating that you had a mistress, when, in fact you did not. And, then months later, even though no substantive proof had surfaced, you were still being asked if you had a mistress in a public forum.
As football writers, do you not understand the term piling on. How pathetic, small and petty you look in the light of day.
Belichick says he's never seen the tapes, just like Roger Clemens says he's never taken roids either.
Put Belichick up against congress, and lets see if he's willing to lie.
Remeber Clinton said "I never had sexual relation with that woman"
Belichick fess up admit you taped the RAMS RED ZONE offense the night before.
How can a team like the RAMS had that year have been so off in the RED ZONE.
It was like the PATS D knew exactly what play was going to be called, and where to be.
I recall 1 ram player saying after the game.
Well now we know why I hope the Patriots get what's comming to them.
CHEATERS
You saw what happens when the Patriots don't get the chance to cheat this past superbowl.
THEY LOSE
Hell I say look into all their Superbowl victories
As Diana above said "The Patriots are one of the best teams ever to set foot on the grid-iron and you all know it. GET A LIFE AND LEAVE THE PAT"S ALONE"
I agree the Patriots are the best CHEATER'S to ever set foot on the gridiron and we all know it.
RAM,
I think you may be confused. The PATS were charged with taping opponent's DEFENSIVE signals, not their offense. Your entire point is based upon the inability of the RAMS to get into the end-zone. Those would be OFFENSIVE plays - not DEFENSIVE. I know those two can be confusing for some folks.
Honestly, I hope that the media keeps on about Spygate all through next season. Say what you want, but one of the reasons the Pats did as well as they did was because of the "us against them" mentality in the lockerroom. Eventually they lost the Superbowl, true, but I think that was due to overconfidence. Goliath took his eye off David and got hit in the head with a rock. David won't get away with that trick twice.
So, media-folks and jealous fans of losing teams, keep talking. Next season we'll run the tables on you again - and this time, we'll finish the job.
Lhoner.
Lhoner
Yes that's what the Pats were charged with against the JETS, against the RAMS they are alleged to have taped MARTZ's RED ZONE offense.
You would know this if it was your team they cheated against, but alas it's your team who's being targeted, so you turn a blind eye. (TYPICAL PATRIOT)
You say the PATS lost because of Overconfidence overconfidence. "Goliath took his eye off David and got hit in the head with a rock"
The real reason yes you got outplayed by the Giants, and alas you didn't get a chance to view their plays 24 hrs prioR to kickoff of the SUPERBOWL.
Good luck running the tables on teams when you can't tape their plays.
Fuck your proceedure for getting Comments printed!
And what reason does the NFL have for giving the Giants an easy schedule?
Used to be the Superbowl teams got toughest schedules, but, of course, that was before sports was sucked up by the money of the entertainment world and games are scheduled like TV programs in prime time!
Why is an article on the Pats dated April 1, 2008 being recycled now? Nothing new in the "sports" world?
Speaking of easy schedule, the Patsies get to face the Chiefs, Jets, Dolphins and 49ers right out of the gate. Sheesh! And later in the year they face the Raiders and the Rams. When you count the second matchups with their division rivals, the Jets and Dolphins, the free wheeln' Patriots get a half a season worth of games against poor teams. If that's not a free invitation to the playoffs, I don't know what is. Like Bob said, "Used to be the Superbowl teams got toughest schedules,..." Not when it comes to the Patriots. They get the free cake walk to the playoffs.
The Giants are in arguably the toughest division in football, playing 6 games against teams such as Dallas, Washington, and Philly. The NFC-based giants are playing their inter-conference, AFC games against the the tough AFC North (Pit, Cle, Cin, Bal).
In contrast, the Patriots are in an easy division, with 6 games against Miami, NY Jets, and Buffalo. The AFC-based Patriots are playing their inter-conference, NFC games against the weak NFC West (including games against San Francisco and Arizona). They also have some games against the weak AFC West (playing against Oakland, Denver, Kansas City, Denver).
It would seem that the Patriots are only playing games against the weakest divisions in football, in both conferences! While the Giants are playing games against some of the toughest divisions in football.
What you say makes sense, Dee, but I still want to know why we are reading recycled crap from April 1. It was an old enough story then, let alone now (I mean the endless drivel about Belichik and the fact that he never smiles and wears a hood and is a cheat). Incidentally, some of the guys seem to have evidence that Pats taped Rams prior to Superbowl! I'd love to see it! Wonder why it is not public knowledge. I would be careful: Never know when Kraft will start sueing for slander!