Published: Sunday, February 3, 2008
Hall of Fame Awaits Belichick, Win or Not
By Mike Cobb
GLENDALE, Ariz. | Call New England coach Bill Belichick whatever you want.
<script language="JavaScript"> <!-- var articledate = window.location.href; var fullpath = window.location.href; var shortpath = fullpath.replace(/(.*?)(pbcs\.dll?)(.*)/, "$3"); var currdate = articledate.replace(/(.*?)(20\d\d\d\d\d\d)(.*)/, "$2"); var realdate = Number(currdate); var nowdate = 20071008; var invalidmessage = 'If the article you are looking for does not appear on this page, click here to view it in our archives. '; if (nowdate > realdate) ** document.write (invalidmessage); } else if (nowdate < realdate) ** } --> </script><!-- /* Javascript for setting cookie value */ --><script language="JavaScript"> exdate=new Date(); exdate.setDate(exdate.getDate()+1); var undefined; function Get_Cookie( name ) ** /* get current cookie value */ var start = document.cookie.indexOf( name + "=" ); var len = start + name.length + 1; if ( ( !start ) &&( name != document.cookie.substring( 0, name.length ) ) ) ** return null; } if ( start == -1 ) return null; var end = document.cookie.indexOf( ";", len ); if ( end == -1 ) end = document.cookie.length; return unescape( document.cookie.substring( len, end ) ); } /* Define current_cookie value */ var current_count = Get_Cookie('articlecount'); var current_count = parseInt(current_count); var userid = Get_Cookie('UserRegID'); var userid = parseInt(userid); /* Maximum articles to read */ var maximum_count = 3; if (current_count) ** number = current_count + 1; } else ** number = 1; } document.cookie="articlecount=" + number + ";expires=" + exdate; if (current_count > maximum_count) ** document.cookie="articlelimit=reached;expires=" + exdate; } </script><!-- /* Stylesheet for showing and hiding elements on the page. Move into global stylesheet if necessary */ --><style type="text/css"> .threshold_hidden {visibility:none;position:absolute;} .threshold_visible {visibility:block;} </style><!-- /* Regular article tag. */ -->Surly, organized, secretive, a genius, combative, innovative, sloppy dresser, master motivator, cheater. He's known by many labels.
There's something else you'll be able to call him one day.
Hall of Famer.
The man in the hoodie, who has set NFL sideline fashion back 50 years, has earned his spot in Canton.
It won't matter whether he wins tonight.
He's earned it because he's already won three Super Bowl rings as a head coach. He's won two more with the New York Giants as a defensive coordinator.
He's earned it with a 15-3 postseason record so far, and a 142-84 record as a head coach with the Patriots and the Browns. Those numbers include a 37-45 mark with the Browns in his first try at being a head coach.
He's earned it because he's had his current run during the salary-cap and free-agency era when it's almost impossible to keep a team together for runs like the Patriots have had.
That's not to take anything away from the records of coaches like Vince Lombardi, Don Shula, Tom Landry and Chuck Noll. They were all great coaches.
But they didn't have to worry about which players they'd lose in free agency and who they might have to cut because of their salaries.
What Belichick has implemented in New England is a system and a way of doing things that has worked regardless of who was wearing the uniform.
The team has been able to keep a core group together, starting with quarterback Tom Brady and defensive stalwarts like Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and Rodney Harrison.
But the offensive line has changed. Brady has a completely different set of receivers now from what he had in the 2001 season. He has different running backs.
Harrison has different teammates in the secondary.
Even the kicker is different. Adam Vinatieri, who made game-winning kicks in the Patriots' first two Super Bowl wins, is now with rival Indianapolis.
Belichick's coaching staff also has undergone a restructuring. Charlie Weis, his offensive coordinator, is now at Notre Dame. Romeo Crennel, his defensive coordinator, is now the Browns' head coach.
The one constant is Belichick, who is 105-39 as New England's head coach.
Even Belichick admits he never dreamed that what he started building in 2000 would soon be referred to with the worn-out phrase of "dynasty."
"In 2001, we were just trying to keep building our football team," he said. "We didn't have a very good year in 2000 and brought in a lot of free agents in 2001.
"We didn't really have much flexibility in the salary cap. We made the moves we felt were best for our football team at that point in time. I'm sure that's what every team in the league does," he said. "You go into the offseason and look at what your options are, what your opportunities are and try to make the most of them."
Their win in 2001 was a surprise, and they actually took a step back in 2002. By 2003 and 2004, they were clearly the top team in the league.
After coming up short in 2005 and 2006, tonight they'll try to cap off a season of perfection.
That would be the crowning achievement in Belichick's tenure with the Patriots, but it's not a necessary component for admission into Canton.
That ticket should already be punched.
[ Mike Cobb can be reached at mike.cobb@theledger.com or at 863-802-7552. ]
Hall of Fame Awaits Belichick, Win or Not
By Mike Cobb
GLENDALE, Ariz. | Call New England coach Bill Belichick whatever you want.
<script language="JavaScript"> <!-- var articledate = window.location.href; var fullpath = window.location.href; var shortpath = fullpath.replace(/(.*?)(pbcs\.dll?)(.*)/, "$3"); var currdate = articledate.replace(/(.*?)(20\d\d\d\d\d\d)(.*)/, "$2"); var realdate = Number(currdate); var nowdate = 20071008; var invalidmessage = 'If the article you are looking for does not appear on this page, click here to view it in our archives. '; if (nowdate > realdate) ** document.write (invalidmessage); } else if (nowdate < realdate) ** } --> </script><!-- /* Javascript for setting cookie value */ --><script language="JavaScript"> exdate=new Date(); exdate.setDate(exdate.getDate()+1); var undefined; function Get_Cookie( name ) ** /* get current cookie value */ var start = document.cookie.indexOf( name + "=" ); var len = start + name.length + 1; if ( ( !start ) &&( name != document.cookie.substring( 0, name.length ) ) ) ** return null; } if ( start == -1 ) return null; var end = document.cookie.indexOf( ";", len ); if ( end == -1 ) end = document.cookie.length; return unescape( document.cookie.substring( len, end ) ); } /* Define current_cookie value */ var current_count = Get_Cookie('articlecount'); var current_count = parseInt(current_count); var userid = Get_Cookie('UserRegID'); var userid = parseInt(userid); /* Maximum articles to read */ var maximum_count = 3; if (current_count) ** number = current_count + 1; } else ** number = 1; } document.cookie="articlecount=" + number + ";expires=" + exdate; if (current_count > maximum_count) ** document.cookie="articlelimit=reached;expires=" + exdate; } </script><!-- /* Stylesheet for showing and hiding elements on the page. Move into global stylesheet if necessary */ --><style type="text/css"> .threshold_hidden {visibility:none;position:absolute;} .threshold_visible {visibility:block;} </style><!-- /* Regular article tag. */ -->Surly, organized, secretive, a genius, combative, innovative, sloppy dresser, master motivator, cheater. He's known by many labels.
There's something else you'll be able to call him one day.
Hall of Famer.
The man in the hoodie, who has set NFL sideline fashion back 50 years, has earned his spot in Canton.
It won't matter whether he wins tonight.
He's earned it because he's already won three Super Bowl rings as a head coach. He's won two more with the New York Giants as a defensive coordinator.
He's earned it with a 15-3 postseason record so far, and a 142-84 record as a head coach with the Patriots and the Browns. Those numbers include a 37-45 mark with the Browns in his first try at being a head coach.
He's earned it because he's had his current run during the salary-cap and free-agency era when it's almost impossible to keep a team together for runs like the Patriots have had.
That's not to take anything away from the records of coaches like Vince Lombardi, Don Shula, Tom Landry and Chuck Noll. They were all great coaches.
But they didn't have to worry about which players they'd lose in free agency and who they might have to cut because of their salaries.
What Belichick has implemented in New England is a system and a way of doing things that has worked regardless of who was wearing the uniform.
The team has been able to keep a core group together, starting with quarterback Tom Brady and defensive stalwarts like Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and Rodney Harrison.
But the offensive line has changed. Brady has a completely different set of receivers now from what he had in the 2001 season. He has different running backs.
Harrison has different teammates in the secondary.
Even the kicker is different. Adam Vinatieri, who made game-winning kicks in the Patriots' first two Super Bowl wins, is now with rival Indianapolis.
Belichick's coaching staff also has undergone a restructuring. Charlie Weis, his offensive coordinator, is now at Notre Dame. Romeo Crennel, his defensive coordinator, is now the Browns' head coach.
The one constant is Belichick, who is 105-39 as New England's head coach.
Even Belichick admits he never dreamed that what he started building in 2000 would soon be referred to with the worn-out phrase of "dynasty."
"In 2001, we were just trying to keep building our football team," he said. "We didn't have a very good year in 2000 and brought in a lot of free agents in 2001.
"We didn't really have much flexibility in the salary cap. We made the moves we felt were best for our football team at that point in time. I'm sure that's what every team in the league does," he said. "You go into the offseason and look at what your options are, what your opportunities are and try to make the most of them."
Their win in 2001 was a surprise, and they actually took a step back in 2002. By 2003 and 2004, they were clearly the top team in the league.
After coming up short in 2005 and 2006, tonight they'll try to cap off a season of perfection.
That would be the crowning achievement in Belichick's tenure with the Patriots, but it's not a necessary component for admission into Canton.
That ticket should already be punched.
[ Mike Cobb can be reached at mike.cobb@theledger.com or at 863-802-7552. ]
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