Sports: N.E.'s Belichick now flexible

N.E.'s Belichick now flexible

By ERNEST HOOPER

Maybe you have heard new New England coach Bill Belichick is a new man.

Maybe you heard the man who built his reputation as the wildly driven workaholic of the Cleveland Browns from 1991-95 has changed his approach in his second stint as a coach. Perhaps you picked up on the talk that Belichick is a kinder, gentler soul.

To a degree, it's all true. Just don't tell his players.

"I would not say he's a mellow guy by any stretch of the imagination," Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe said. "The way that he approaches the game and the way that he approaches his job as a head coach, I don't think mellow would be a word that describes him very well."

Belichick has approached the job differently in some ways. He has a personal assistant to handle the various minute details of being a head coach. He also has a greater concern for time management and a desire to be fresh instead of constantly putting in 14- to 16-hour work days.

"I don't feel like it's been a real dramatic change," Belichick said. "I've tried to budget my time probably a little bit more efficiently, and delegate things to people that maybe I wasn't as quick to delegate as I was in Cleveland."

Belichick also has soften, ever so slightly, in his dealings with the media. For his coach's television show, Belichick did a chalkboard session during which he went into great detail about what the Patriots would face Sunday against Tampa Bay. The producers raved.

Afterward, Belichick admitted he never would have been as open during his Cleveland days. But he is more astute about the value of image and the proper handling of off-field activities.

Smarter and wiser the second time around? Yes. Warm and fuzzy? Not a chance.

"I think his public persona may have changed, but . . . I think he's a very intense guy that demands the same from his players," Bledsoe said.

Example A of Belichick's demands came on the first day of training camp. Thirteen players showed up overweight, but after Belichick's reaction, there is little chance that many will show up out of shape next season. All 13 were fined, four were banned from practicing and one was waived.

Even with that auspicious start, team officials said Belichick has given more attention to understanding the life of a player away from the training facility. Cornerback Antonio Langham, who also played for Belichick in Cleveland, said he's noticed a difference.

"He smiles a lot more now than he did then," Langham told the Providence Journal. "In Cleveland, he might have smiled, but if you weren't looking when he did, you missed it. Here he smiles more."

Still, Belichick will not stand for less than a complete effort. The son of Steve Belichick, a former Detroit Lions fullback and Naval Academy football coach, the younger Belichick has a reverence for the game reflected in his collection of 200 football books.

Belichick insists there can be no success without discipline, preparation and work, and he believes every player and coach, including himself, has to conform to those tenets if the Patriots are going to rebound from last season's disappointing 8-8 finish.

Bucs receiver Keyshawn Johnson is familiar with Belichick's philosophy. He played as a part-time safety for Belichick when he was catching passes for the Jets and Belichick was the defensive coordinator under Bill Parcells. Johnson said Belichick won't scream to get his point across, but there is a penalty if you don't listen.

"He says some things to you and if you don't get it . . . I've seen guys who didn't get it, and the next day they were gone," Johnson said. "He's very detailed-oriented. He's probably got film broken down from every game (Bucs offensive coordinator) Les Steckel probably has ever been a coordinator in. I wouldn't be surprised if he has all that tape broken down.

"When he put me on defense the little time he was playing me on defense, I was meeting for four plays. Thirty minutes for four plays. I was like, "Dude, can I go now? It's time to go, I know what they're going to do.' But he wants things to be perfect."

While a perfectionist when it comes to football, there is a less-publicized side of Belichick. Some might be surprised to learn Johnson and Belichick attended a Mets game together at Shea Stadium, and then crossed over to catch some U.S. Open tennis action.

It also might surprise observers that the Patriots are welcoming Belichick's philosophies, even if it means more intense practices and an added detail. In three seasons under coach Pete Carroll, New England lost some of its dedication.

"I think in the past three years, guys took advantage of the freedom and the responsibility that Pete Carroll gave us," Bledsoe said. "I think in some situations, guys just tried to see how much they could get away with. Now, with Belichick, you can't get away with anything. He's going to be right there, he's going to embarrass you in front of the team."

Said linebacker Chris Slade: "Pete asked the veteran players to maintain discipline. Bill does it himself."

Belichick also maintains a sharp mind for defensive football. Many call him the best in the business after watching his defenses contribute to two Super Bowl titles, three conference championships and five division crowns.

"What I've tried to do since I've been with the Giants and Cleveland and a couple of other stops is have a flexible defense so that you can utilize the skills of the players in the system," Belichick said.

The approach to his new job is exactly the same. He's trying to be flexible so he can utilize his best skills.

- Researcher John Martin contributed to this report.