The Best of Belichick: Pick your Quintessential BB Moments

[MentalDisabldLst]

Taken from your nominations, here's a selection to vote on.  Pick up to 4 of the above.  Which of them best represent why Belichick is a great coach?  If you were telling a football fan why you thought he's awesome, what decisions, strategies or moments best sum it up to you?
 
I can only put up 20 options in a poll, so these ones didn't make the cut.  The hardest one to drop was Vrabel-Eligible.
 
GM Moves: Wrangling his way out of being HC of the NYJ, and into his role for the Patriots
GM Moves: Letting FAs walk rather than make an emotional reaction to keep them (Welker, Watson, Samuel, Woody)
GM Moves: The 2005 draft, with Logan Mankins at #32, plus Ellis Hobbs, Nick Kaczur, James Sanders & Matt Cassell
GM Moves: Low-risk, big-upside flyers (Haynesworth, Corey Dillon, Lawfirm)
Player Roles: Flexing Offensive Linemen (Wendell, Vollmer, Mankins, etc) between C/T/G
Player Roles: Mike Vrabel - Eligible.  Various moments 2002-2007
Game Scheme: Chipping Hines Ward to disrupt timing, 2001 AFCCG
Game Scheme: Demolishing McNabb-led Eagles team in Philly, Week 2, 2003
Game Scheme: Win at St Louis in 2004 - Brown at CB, Vinatieri TD, etc
Game Scheme: Intentionally losing vs Miami in week 17 of 2005, to play JAX rather than PIT in the WC
Game Scheme: Winning in Indy in the matchup of 8-0 teams, 2007
Game Scheme: Demolishing the Vikings on MNF in 2006; 0 points scored on offense, 4 INTs
In-Game Calls: F-You TDs (e.g. Vinatieri pass 2004, Washington in 2007, Troy Brown go-route vs Chicago 2010)
 
edited to add the most under-the-radar part of his Midas GM Touch in 2014.

 

[ifmanis5]

I'm so in the tank for Flutie and that was such a fun moment.

 

[lexrageorge]

"On a day when they could have had impact players David Terrell or Koren Robinson or the second-best tackle in the draft in Kenyatta Walker, they took Georgia defensive tackle Richard Seymour, who had 1 sack last season in the pass-happy SEC and is too tall to play tackle at 6-6 and too slow to play defensive end. This genius move was followed by trading out of a spot where they could have gotten the last decent receiver in Robert Ferguson and settled for tackle Matt Light, who will not help any time soon." - R. Borges, Hack Extraordinaire

 

[PeaceSignMoose]

Apparently you can vote for multiples.  Well, voted for bullseye on Faulk and Kosar's benching and releasing.  Why the second, you ask?  Because there wasn't a Terry Glenn option.  In 2001 Belichick, so determined to institute team rules, essentially benched their best receiver for the entire season.  In fact, he wanted him so far away from the team that he had the Krafts send Glenn his ring via USPS.  He then traded Glenn to the Packers for 2 4th round picks, once of which became Jarvis Green, a guy who played not insignificant roles in the winning of two Super Bowls.

 

[Van Everyman]

And almost a third had he wrapped up Eli.

Not that I'm bitter.

 

[MentalDisabldLst]

Apparently you can vote for multiples.

 
Yes, the poll instructions are "vote for up to 4... but five is okay if you really can't decide".  But it can be hard to see.  Anyway, I wanted to let people vote for a couple so that we can see the distribution of popularity of these various memories.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

Is there a more overrated moment than the Doug Flutie drop kick? I remember watching the game thinking "that was kind of cool" but seriously? 

 

[ifmanis5]

Is there a more overrated moment than the Doug Flutie drop kick? I remember watching the game thinking "that was kind of cool" but seriously? 

It's Bill at his football nerdiest and Flutie at his look-at-me-ist. They made a nothing game into something cool. When is the next time that play even happens?

 

[SamK]

Is there a more overrated moment than the Doug Flutie drop kick? I remember watching the game thinking "that was kind of cool" but seriously? 

There wasn't anything serious about it. That's what made it cool.
Did you see BB's face on the sideline? He was smiling like he was about 14 years old.
 
edit: infmanis5 beat me to it.

 

[Ralphwiggum]

I don't get the votes for the Flutie play either, and I am a Flutie guy.  It was a nod to football history, but otherwise meaningless.  I guess the criteria is nebulous enough (quintessential BB moment) and we all know that BB is the ultimate football nerd.  But way more than that BB is all about doing "whatever he thinks is best for the team" to win games, and that play had nothing to do with winning.  So many of the other choices encapsulate his single-mindedness when it comes to building and coaching a winning football team, even in the face of intense media and fan pressure or conventional wisdom that is to the contrary.

 

[TheoShmeo]

MDL, You might want to edit your opening post to note that you can vote for 4 or 5.  I voted for one and it was more than difficult in that so many of those choices are deserving.
 
PS: I see now that you say it in the poll itself but I missed that and I would have been less likely to miss it in the OP.

 

[MentalDisabldLst]

MDL, You might want to edit your opening post to note that you can vote for 4 or 5.  I voted for one and it was more than difficult in that so many of those choices are deserving.
 
PS: I see now that you say it in the poll itself but I missed that and I would have been less likely to miss it in the OP.

 
Edited in.

 

[kenneycb]

I don't get the votes for the Flutie play either, and I am a Flutie guy.  It was a nod to football history, but otherwise meaningless.  I guess the criteria is nebulous enough (quintessential BB moment) and we all know that BB is the ultimate football nerd.  But way more than that BB is all about doing "whatever he thinks is best for the team" to win games, and that play had nothing to do with winning.  So many of the other choices encapsulate his single-mindedness when it comes to building and coaching a winning football team, even in the face of intense media and fan pressure or conventional wisdom that is to the contrary.

IIRC they were actively trying to not win the Flutie drop kick game because they got a better playoff matchup if they were a lower seed.

 

[crystalline]

I voted for the intentional safety - Belichick used this in a game, shocking the league (and people watching like me) and teams thought about it and realized it was a good idea, and now other teams use it when called for. That's the definition of an innovation.

My fifth would have been the 2TE hurry-up that was an offensive juggernaut. Since then we've realized it was a bit of a gimmick (no shame in that, the Wildcat was too but it bought Miami one huge win), and a bit about having the right personnel. That offense was really fun to watch and seemed almost unfair as it was so unstoppable. It seemed that they could score at will once they got the other team into an unfavorable sub defense.

I also voted for moving players a year early - in this salary cap era where winning teams are punished in the draft and in their schedule (such socialist behavior by American sports), player value is incredibly important. Belichick has managed value so well.

Edit: one more- though its not in the poll, Belichick's press conferences greatly increase my enjoyment of the team. He's educational and funny and I love watching him stone reporters who are trying to create drama- which would ultimately hurt the team. It's great fun to watch.

 

[reggiecleveland]

How can the answer in the poll be anything other than keeping, then starting Brady?

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

I voted one from each category: Cutting guys a year early rather than a year late, keeping and starting Brady, bullseye on Faulk, and going for it on 4th down.
 
In each case, I'm thinking both about the amount of importance each had as well as the likelihood of other coaches/GMs making the same decision. 

 

[Kevin Youkulele]

Thanks for doing this. Lots of good stuff. I had to vote for 5.

Something that isn't worthy of being on the list but that I got a kick out of was when he would go down to Spring Training and hang out with Francona for a game once a year. Since I've moved away from Boston and don't get NESN, I haven't kept track of whether he still does this with Farrell--does he? I wish there was a way to get a transcript of those coversations.

 

[Tito's Pullover]

If there were any conversations with Bobby Valentine, I'd love to get a transcript of those too, although for different reasons.

 

[OCST]

BB is doing a press conference, and it's hysterical. It's like interviewing a tree stump.

 

[ObstructedView]

BB is doing a press conference, and it's hysterical. It's like interviewing a tree stump.

I watched that at an airport cafe with no sound and closed captioning on, which made it even more sublime. 
 
"A lot of different strengths and different match-ups, and we have to execute [inaudible]...."

 

[Tony C]

BB channeling Eisenhower saying “In preparing for battle, I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable” -- totally awesome.

 

[PC Drunken Friar]

I think we have our answer...

 

[mascho]

I think we have our answer...

 
Yep. Lock this puppy up. Nothing will ever top that. 

 

[Pxer]

He took everything we were saying as plausible scenarios, ran tests, and put it pretty damn succinctly.

 

[Ed Hillel]

And he told everyone to fuck off regarding Spygate.

 

[TomTerrific]

I think that was my favorite moment of the whole goddamn PC

 

[singaporesoxfan]

Amazing stuff. Belichick yo self before you wreck yo self.

 

[DJnVa]

Amazing stuff. Belichick yo self before you wreck yo self.

 

 

[Gambler7]

I never thought I would fist pump and have adrenaline running during a press conference as much as I did during an AFC Title game. That accomplished it.

 

[LogansDad]

Yeah, I think we can close this thread, and also NOT bother opening a sister thread to the "Things Dumber then Brady's Interview Thread" titled "Things Better than Belichick's Press Conference".
 
Because there is nothing better.

 

[Granite Sox]

80,000 people saw the guy.

 

[simplyeric]

80,000 people saw the guy.

Seriously. Out of an entirely awesome performance, that was the best part.

Reporter: 'spygate'

BB: 'spygate? FUCK YOU'

 

[bradmahn]

I know we want to call the Saturday PC the winner, but, in the interest of due process, I'd like to nominate this other media interaction: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zOaGkPXn9LQ

He can open a jar of pb in a addition to a mean can of whoop ass.

 

[rodderick]

80,000 people saw the guy.

 
I love that he said that because it's an angle that doesn't get brought up enough. So apparently this was a super secret, complex operation that some people say included deciphering the signals and relaying them to Brady in real time, all the while keeping headset communications going on longer than usual so Belichick can pretty much tell him where to go with the ball. And this evil mastermind's plan hinges on people not noticing a guy standing there with a camera for everyone to see? I mean, what?
 
Oh, and bonus points for "other teams were doing the same thing". It's one thing for us fans to say it, but to hear it coming out of his mouth gives it a lot more weight.

 

[Al Zarilla]

80,000 people saw the guy.

What is this in reference to?

 

[Leather]

What is this in reference to?[/quote
A stadium full of people.

 

[Granite Sox]

What is this in reference to?

When Belichick received a question from the media about SpyGate, he contemptuously responded that if you want to call a guy giving defensive signals in front of 80,000 people "spying", knock yourself out. (I'm paraphrasing, but it was words to that effect.)

I highly recommend watching the PC. If you don't want to, but are specifically curious about this reference, it occurred during the brief Q&A at the end.

 

[Al Zarilla]

What is this in reference to?[/quote
A stadium full of people.

 

When Belichick received a question from the media about SpyGate, he contemptuously responded that if you want to call a guy giving defensive signals in front of 80,000 people "spying", knock yourself out. (I'm paraphrasing, but it was words to that effect.)

I highly recommend watching the PC. If you don't want to, but are specifically curious about this reference, it occurred during the brief Q&A at the end.

Thanks to da botenyou. I watched it but missed that part. I recorded it and have all intentions of watching it again. I made a reference in another post to college professors that make up exam questions that turn out to be impossible to solve, making you really squirm and worry when you're taking said exam. I wish I could somehow influence college deans to send a copy of this PC to all of their professors as an example of being thorough to the nth degree. 

 

[Toe Nash]

You can watch the whole thing on the Patriots site 
 
http://www.patriots.com/media-center/videos/Belichick-124-Followed-every-rule-to-the-letter/d607eb23-2f67-4da5-aedc-b8bfba8d4c11

 

[Super Nomario]

Some good Belichick stuff lately:
 
On Ross Tucker's Football Podcast yesterday, he said what Belichick does better than anyone else is identify the four or five specific things they need to do to win the game. The key word there is "specific": he said when they played Jacksonville one year, one of the keys was "We can't let Jimmy Smith beat us with crossing routes on third down."
 
A tid-bit from the Inside Belichick's Library piece linked in another thread. I feel like Belichick's philsophical ancestor in football is Paul Brown - he's not known for a scheme like Walsh, but rather a cohesive, integrated system of building an entire organization, one that allows for schematic flexibility. These are Brown's words, but they sound like Belichick's:
 

 

These basic technical aspects have always been a part of my football theory, and when I went to Great Lakes, I experimented with them as well as with anything else that intrigued me. For two seasons I worked in what amounted to a football laboratory. What emerged was a system of technical football that I then combined in Cleveland with my teaching philosophy, notebook and classroom work, the practice of grading films in the off-season and my never-changing belief in leaving as little to chance as possible. I suppose that all these elements combined are what people referred to as the so-called Paul Brown system
 
We made a point of not locking ourselves into running first and establishing a pass offense later, or vice versa. Our theory was: Move the ball, any old style.
 

 

John Canzano of the Oregonian has a cute piece on a bizarre encounter when Belichick was a Jets assistant and bought a football card from him to fill out his collection of cards of head coaches he'd served under. Canzano takes exception to some of Belichick's treatment of the media through the years, but there are a few interesting / human notes. My favorite:
 

 

So what's a job interview with Belichick like?
 
[Pat] Hill was the offensive coordinator at the University of Arizona in 1991. Belichick came to Tucson to work out an offensive tackle named Jon Fina, an eventual first-round draft pick who played 11 NFL seasons. Belichick liked Fina's fundamentals so much he hired Hill on the spot. Later, Belichick drafted another Hill disciple, Logan Mankins, who made six Pro Bowls with the Patriots.
 
"He wants guys that are teachers," Hill said.
 

To me, this is the most under-appreciated aspect of Belichick's coaching. People seem to think he's a mad scientist who can draw up genius X's and O's but has the people skills of a gnat, but the best game plans and tactics in the world are meaningless if you can't teach them to the players. Belichick is a teacher.

 

[wiffleballhero]

This is pretty solid:
 
"once, after the Pats missed a fourth-and-inches in a blowout win, Belichick griped to the players, "Fourth and the size of my d--- and we can't get the first down?""
 
Nothing like a self-deprecating dick joke wrapped up in a team dressing-down after an ass kicking.
  
 
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12250363/patriots-love-deflategate

 

[crystalline]

Best Belichick quote all week
 

When they were both asked what they'd like to establish early in the game, Belichick replied, "What I'd like to establish is the lead."

 

[Caspir]

I'm going with the Don't Tread on Me t-shirt he rocked into the stadium today as a spectacular fuck you to everyone. God I hope he fucking wins and wears that shirt on the podium after removing his Gatorade soaked hoodie instead of the SB garb.

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

right now, saying he had faith in his team to win.

 

[m0ckduck]

I kind of can't believe he didn't call timeout or instruct the D to let Seattle score to preserve clock. I mean.......................... I couldn't be more thrilled with the result, but............................ jesus. what a gamble at 2nd-and-goal from the 1 with half a minute left. 

 

[Hendu At The Wall]

He let his defense win the game when 97% of coaches would have let the offense try to get the field goal to tie and go to OT.

 

[tims4wins]

That time he won four Super Bowls

 

[Saints Rest]

He let his defense win the game when 97% of coaches would have let the offense try to get the field goal to tie and go to OT.

Odd because he was one of the first ones to do the opposite.

 

[Saints Rest]

This is pretty solid:
 
"once, after the Pats missed a fourth-and-inches in a blowout win, Belichick griped to the players, "Fourth and the size of my d--- and we can't get the first down?""
 
Nothing like a self-deprecating dick joke wrapped up in a team dressing-down after an ass kicking.
  
 
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12250363/patriots-love-deflategate

So considering the fact that he already had 5 Super Bowl rings (counting the two from his days as an assistant with the Giants), did he say "This one is for my dick."?

 

[cgori]

I'm going with the Don't Tread on Me t-shirt he rocked into the stadium today as a spectacular fuck you to everyone. God I hope he fucking wins and wears that shirt on the podium after removing his Gatorade soaked hoodie instead of the SB garb.

I was curious, here it is:
http://t.co/mCITuLBVSj