Bill Belichick's Post Game Press Conference Transcript
Opening statement:
“Well it’s really nice to come down here and be able to sweep the Jets the season. It’s always a challenge, especially in a short week. I thought our players really deserve a lot of credit on this one for turning around so quickly. Coming off of last week’s game the preparation that we had this week was just really, I thought, outstanding by the players. They were very attentive in meetings, our walk-throughs, our films, even the walk through we had this morning. I mean it was just some of the best sessions we’ve had all year and time was really short. They really put a lot into it and I think it showed up out there today. It was an awesome job by the players. Once again, we got contributions from everybody. Another touchdown on special teams, turned the ball over on defense, and converted them on offense. Of course Shane [Vereen] got us started there with the big play early in the game. Overall I thought it was a good team effort. I’m proud of the team, I’m proud of the way they responded this week after the Indianapolis game. Like I said, it was a short week, it was a tough week, but they really dug down and brought their best in terms of concentration and effort in the classroom and walk-throughs and all that. Those results were evident on the field today. We’ll take a little break here, and get on to Miami.”
On if he’s concerned about Edelman’s injury at all:
“We’ll see.”
On the play of Steve Gregory:
“Yeah, I thought he made a real good play on the interception. He read the quarterback well, came over there and undercut the route. Of course the fumble was just a good scoop and score play. But Steve’s a heady player, a smart player, prepares well, and is very instinctive and anticipates well. He’s made a lot of those plays for us this year.”
On if he was playing a robber role on the interception or if it was a designed “trap” play:
“Like any good player he’s aware of the routes, reads the quarterback, was able to anticipate the play.”
On if he’s ever seen a streak where a team scored three touchdowns in 52 seconds:
“Well unfortunately, I was on the other end of that at the Pro bowl a couple of years ago and it was 42-0 in the middle of the second quarter on the same kind of plays. The touchdowns, the interception returns, the fumble returns and all that. Look, it doesn’t take a lot to score a lot of points in this league quickly. Turnovers, defensive returns, special teams returns, it can add up in a hurry both ways – getting ahead or also coming back. Nothing surprises me in the NFL. That’s why it’s a great game.”
On if he’s happy about the way his team’s played over the last two weeks:
“Each game is its own challenge. I thought we played well today and more importantly prepared well, had a real good week of preparation on a short week and to perform very competitively today… I thought we had good energy and made a lot of big plays, obviously and it was good to see us do those. The long play in the passing game, big play in the return game – it’s always good to score on special teams. That’s two touchdowns against the Jets in the kicking game this year, so that’s winning football.”
On if the way the guys responded speaks of the team’s toughness:
“Well I thought they had a good week. I mean, we’ll see about next week. Next week will be another challenge against Miami, but they did it this week.”
On the play of Vince Wilfork:
“Vince has been a solid player for us all year again, both in the running game and the passing game. Very unselfish. We play him at different positions usually where we feel like he may be the most needed. Not necessarily where it’s going to feature him or give him a great opportunity to make plays, but a lot of the times it is to eat up blockers or try to disrupt plays. He’s an explosive guy that’s got very good football instincts. He knows where the ball is, he knows what they’re trying to do. He really responded to a lot of the different challenges or positions that we put him in. Like I said he’s done it very unselfishly, and very productively. And he’s given us great leadership too, all year – he’s given us great leadership. He and Jerod [Mayo] and Devin [McCourty] on defense have really…those are the guys who have really been outstanding.”
On if Vollmer being inactive was precautionary, or a long-term thing:
“We’ll see. You know, he wasn’t able to play today, we’ll see how that goes going forward. We’ll just have to take it day by day.”
On his 200th win:
“Well, it’s been a privilege and a great opportunity to coach the players that won those games. I didn’t make a block, didn’t make a tackle, didn’t throw a pass, didn’t kick a ball. The players win them, but it’s an honor to coach the group of players to really go out there and make the plays to win those games and that’s the way it was today. The players went out there, they made the plays and they deserved to win. It’s a privilege to coach this team. For Mr. Kraft, the Kraft family, the Patriots organization and the players that are on it. It’s nice, but I think it’s really more a reflection of what the players have done. They win them.”
