But it became clear at various points of the season that he was very pleased with this team. After the win over the Eagles, for example, he stood there far longer than his norm taking questions, to the point where you half expected him to say, “C’mon, guys, ask me more questions so I can heap more praise on these guys.’’
Now you would think the way to earn your way into the coach’s heart never deviates. Work hard, keep your mouth shut, do your job. Your job, not the job of the guy next to you, but your job. We must surmise that it’s harder for some guys to pull this off than others. And, as always, raw talent is merely the jumping-off spot. Arrogant, me-first raw talents don’t last long with the Bill Belichicks of this world.
Belichick loves this team so much he even forgave it its little late-season foibles, such as falling behind by a combined 38-0 in the last two games against Miami and Buffalo. I’m sure the day-after film sessions weren’t 100 percent pleasant for the lads, but what the coach did for public consumption following those comeback triumphs was to accentuate the positive. The words “proud of’’ were in there somewhere. No matter what happened on the field this season, Belichick always made it clear that he was indeed proud to be associated with this team.
It turns out he’s not alone. A major team leader is right there with the boss. He, too, is very proud to be associated with this team.
“If Bill has said that, well, I feel the same way,’’ announces Vince Wilfork, who is a certified Big Man with the Patriots in more ways than one.
“I feel the same way toward this team, no matter how you slice it,’’ Wilfork says. “This is a together group, a special bunch, guys that love football. I cannot express how much the team means to me.’’
