Perfect example of Belichick savagery

[Ed Monix]

Sorry if this is common knowledge but I just came across an old clip of Bill Belichick that exemplifies how savage he can be in the pursuit of winning.

I believe it was from a 2012 [correction 2009] game against the Philadelphia Eagles and Bill was mic’d up so he would have know everything he said is public domain.

One of his co-ordinators informed him that Wes Walker was a late scratch from the game saying Wes didn’t feel right after warming up. Julian Edelman (who was a rookie that season) filled in for Wes at punt returner and returned a punt 70 yards for a TD. After the play Bill asks Ernie Adams “who was the guy that played before Lou Gehrig?” He then walks up to Welker on the side line who was still clapping the play and says “Have you ever heard of Wally Pipp?” A confused Welker says no, Belichick replies “Well he played first base before Lou Gehrig then Lou Gehrig started 2200 straight games...that might be our punt return story.” A bemused Welker replied “The little man?(Edelman), he can have it” A p---ed off Belichick barks back “way to compete” as he gets back to the game.

[Jiri Welsch]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YFeZsWj9WFs

[Donoghus]

I'm with Wes here. 

Punt returner is a great way to get killed.

[Ed Monix]

I'm with Wes here. 

Punt returner is a great way to get killed.

If I remember Wes left for Denver after that season and Edelman took his job at punt returner and slot receiver.

[Donoghus]

I'm with Wes here. 

Punt returner is a great way to get killed.

If I remember Wes left for Denver after that season and Edelman took his job at punt returner and slot receiver.

If it was Edelman's rookie year, it would've been '09 and not '12.

[Ed Monix]

I'm with Wes here. 

Punt returner is a great way to get killed.

If I remember Wes left for Denver after that season and Edelman took his job at punt returner and slot receiver.

If it was Edelman's rookie year, it would've been '09 and not '12.

My apologies you’re right it was 2009.

[GreenCoffeeBean]

I don’t see anything savage about this. These are athletes. They compete.

[bdm860]

Belichick's tone as I imagined it in the description of the event I just read and Belichick's tone in the video I just watched do not match.

[Ogaju]

That is a tough coach!!

[Ed Monix]

I don’t see anything savage about this. These are athletes. They compete.

Remember this was when Wes Welker was the Patriots main receiver, Welker had just come from a Pro Bowl appearance, a 2 x Second Team All-Pro and in 2007 led the league in receptions. For a HC to talk to a star player like that is savage, especially mic'd up. No coach in the league would have the balls to say something like that publicly, but I think like Gregg Popovich Bill's philosophy is he treats players equally (positively or negatively).

Watching that clip I also think it speaks to how Robert Kraft runs his organisation, that Bilichick has complete team autonomy because most sports team owners would have received a call from the star players agent saying either trade my client or get rid of the coach but Bill can operate his team the way he believe best suits winning without fear of meddling or being sacked.