They were joined, one last time, in their secret society of coaches. Who called what? How often did Belichick, the mad scientist/football genius, impose his will upon his two coordinators? Was Weis really, truly the riverboat gambler on offense? How often was it Crennel, and not the defensive-first-last-and-always Belichick, who fashioned more looks out of that New England defense than a Parisian clothes designer could wring out of a bolt of burlap?
They hugged. They talked. They laughed. They left.
For good.
“I was thrilled to be able . . . for the three of us to be able to hug each other - we’ve been together for a long time, all the way back to the Giants,” said Belichick, dwelling on the moment one last time before leaving Alltel Stadium following the 24-21 win over the Eagles. “It was a good feeling.”
There it was again. One tiny opening, Belichick sounding for a second as if he might reveal his emotions, or wax sentimental over his longtime partners, and then he pulled it back. If ever he were to share what they meant to him, or how they all factored and functioned individually and together in the Patriots’ success, the 52-year-old Belichick wasn’t about to let it all out for the world’s media to dissect and discuss.
“It was very bittersweet,” said Weis, 48, referring to his parting feelings for Belichick, Crennel, and quarterback Tom Brady. “[Belichick] makes our job easier. He is such a good leader and he is so prepared. He’s got so much foresight and insight, where he always puts the coaching staff and the players and the whole organization in a position to be successful.”
Added the 57-year-old Crennel about the one last huddle on the sideline, “That kind of let you know that it was over, and the last time we were going to coach together - potentially the last time we were going to coach together. It felt kind of different, a little strange. But if you have to go out a winner at the Super Bowl, that’s a really special feeling.”
