Belichick bristled at the notion that the league could look into the matter further and have that type of play officiated differently, as Harbaugh suggested after the game.
"Like what?" Belichick said twice when asked how adjustments could be made in that regard.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about," he said. "I mean, that happens all the time. You come in on a punt team, ineligible guys report as eligible. They line up as guards and tackles on the punt team. The center, the center’s numbers in the NFL are eligible players that report ineligible. Then they cover punts. We’ve seen it on offense. We see it particularly a lot on special teams, the kicking game, punting game — not so much on the field goals because you have your linemen protecting there. But I’d say it happens every game on the punt team. You’re allowed to do that. I don’t really understand what the question is. If you want to talk about the rules, you should talk to the NFL rules people about that. They’ll tell you about it."
According to Belichick, it's a more common practice than it has been made out to be.
"Yeah. I think you see it every week," he said. "I’d venture to say I couldn’t remember a time that I haven’t seen that, having a receiver report as an ineligible player in the National Football League. I’d say that happens every week."
When asked if he had any comment on Harbaugh's comments from Saturday night, Belichick kept it brief.
"No."