BB Presser 9/23/2013 w/ Albert Breer asking about injuries

PatsFaninAZ said:

I don't mind this in the slightest. It's BB's prerogative to answer the questions like he does, but it's similarly their prerogative to keep asking them.

I don't keep track on who the media guys are, so don't know Breer from a beer, but the only nit I have to pick with those questions -- all of which I'd really like to know the answer to, by the way -- is that when Belichick asked if he wanted percentage points, I would have pressed even further by saying, "yes please."

The way that Belichick answers questions, there's virtually never any reason to ask questions, unless all you want to ask is, "hey, please tell us one of those great stories when you were a whippersnapper and you were in Ted Marchibroda's closet looking at film." The NFL makes him do it. The press is entitled to do their part. I think Belichick asking, "what do you want percentage points" indicates it got under his skin a bit -- he actually broke from robot mode. That keeps the game afoot.

But, for the record, I would really like to know the answers to the questions. I am curious about when Gronk will be back. I am curious whether there was any thought of playing. I understand that our coach thinks it hurts the team to reveal information like that. He's the boss, so I live with it. But I sure don't mind him having to play the game.

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See, the thing is, when they're inactive they can't play and you can't see them playing.

The medias treatment of BB is disrectful and pathetic as far as I am concerned. As was pointed out earlier, they keep asking stupid questions and then try to almost browbeat the guy so they can laugh at him later. This is what these aholes think is "journalism" these days.

Clearly they are trying to elicit a controversial answer so that they can get ratings. They go on the talk shows and commiserate with their "buddies " either other writers or ex-players that have to play their game to get a paycheck.

They get frustrated when BB doesn't fall for their attempts and then they get pissed off at him. At that point, they turn around and try to sling mud, again, in a weak attempt to get ratings and somehow feel credible.

None of it works for me, I don't read their poison, I no longer listen to the talking head fools. As soon as they get away from real sports talk and begin to poke fun at ownership, coaching, players or their listeners - I'm gone. NFL radio is pretty good on satellite and believe it or not, old 1510 AM sports talk is actually good. Listening to music sure beats listening to what is masked as sports radio in this town these days.

I wish their was something we could do to voice my opinion or some way to get my point across to ownership & coaching, that we actually appreciate what this team has done over the past two decades (in particular sine BB arrived as head coach). I realize the record speaks for itself - evidently the writers do not).

These guys are cruel, disrespectful and downright mean with questionable ethics to go with a really hate driven agenda.

Am I in the minority here?

mcsully said:

Sorry you don't like my opinion and I'm fairly confident if someone treated you like this in a meeting you probably wouldn't put up with it..Just my opinion..

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I'd call the guy an ******* and after, I don't know, 7 years, would probably get the hint that the only way to get information out of him is to plumb the depths of his football knowledge. Because he sure as **** isn't going to make me privy to injury statuses beyond what the league forces him to reveal.

He's under no obligation to the media to be nice.

One need look no further than our rivals down in NY to see a coach who gives the media everything they want and then they use that as fodder to kill him. The media isn't Bill Belichick's friend - why should he be theirs?

fnordcircle said:

I'd call the guy an ******* and after, I don't know, 7 years, would probably get the hint that the only way to get information out of him is to plumb the depths of his football knowledge. Because he sure as **** isn't going to make me privy to injury statuses beyond what the league forces him to reveal.

He's under no obligation to the media to be nice.

One need look no further than our rivals down in NY to see a coach who gives the media everything they want and then they use that as fodder to kill him. The media isn't Bill Belichick's friend - why should he be theirs?

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Not saying be "nice".. be "professional"

The only way Bill knows how to answer questions is using the Parcells approach . I am not a fan either. Obviously love him as a coach.

mcsully said:

Not saying be "nice".. be "professional"

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So, in your opinion, being professional means giving away Gronk's status for the upcoming game?

I heard the interview on EEI. I think Holley peed his pants a bit. I really liked Holley with the players in the morning, but for my ride home, he has me missing Fred, Pinky, and the Big O.

mcsully said:

Not saying be "nice".. be "professional"

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BB is a professional head coach. That is all.

wizwor said:

I heard the interview on EEI. I think Holley peed his pants a bit. I really liked Holley with the players in the morning, but for my ride home, he has me missing Fred, Pinky, and the Big O.

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You mean Michael Holley who spent 18 months in Belichick's home? Going with him to visit dying cousins in North Carolina? Having dinners with him and his folks in his childhood home in Annapolis?

Holley is not awed at Belichick. He's quite familiar with him. BB and he probably had a good laugh about it after the show.

mcsully said:

Not saying be "nice".. be "professional"

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How was he not professional?

BTW, I can see why he got annoyed at Holley's naive questioning about does he ever prepare his team for an opponent NOT playing up to its potential.

BB actually was funny saying he cannot fathom ANY coach ever doing that and then asking Holley "Why in the world would you ever prepare for an adversary NOT playing up to its potential?".

I really like Holley, but let's face it, that was some pretty silly questioning.

shmessy said:

You mean Michael Holley who spent 18 months in Belichick's home? Going with him to visit dying cousins in North Carolina? Having dinners with him and his folks in his childhood home in Annapolis?

Holley is not awed at Belichick. He's quite familiar with him. BB and he probably had a good laugh about it after the show.

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He still sucks for my drive home. And I am seriously beginning to doubt the familiarity be boasts of. He definitely peed himself and BB probably laughed about that after the show.

fgssand said:

The medias treatment of BB is disrectful and pathetic as far as I am concerned. As was pointed out earlier, they keep asking stupid questions and then try to almost browbeat the guy so they can laugh at him later. This is what these aholes think is "journalism" these days.

Clearly they are trying to elicit a controversial answer so that they can get ratings. They go on the talk shows and commiserate with their "buddies " either other writers or ex-players that have to play their game to get a paycheck.

They get frustrated when BB doesn't fall for their attempts and then they get pissed off at him. At that point, they turn around and try to sling mud, again, in a weak attempt to get ratings and somehow feel credible.

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Someone like Breer can play his little game (as was noted earlier, he did something similar with Gronkowski practicing) then go on social media and congratulate himself for getting into a "scrap" at the press conference.

It's a win-win for him and his ilk. If Belichick doesn't play ball, he can claim to have asked tough questions and paint the coach as the bad guy for not being pleasant with the media. And if Belichick snaps, well then, shine up the Pulitzer.

On a semi-related note, Did anyone read Easterbrook's piece in Globe Sunday magazine where he claims the sports media helped make Belichick a millionaire? I have no idea how he comes to that conclusion, but it's symptomatic of the problem with some of the media - They think they are part of the story.

There definitely are a lot people doing quality in the media, but there are some who think they are as important as the coaches and players or who try some attention getting schtick at press conferences.

Mark. said:

I love his press conferences. Nobody can talk longer and say less than Bill. I'm sick of football being a soap opera and everyone looking for something where there's nothing.

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BB is the bizzaro Abe Lincoln.

mcsully said:

Be a refresher if he treated the local media like when he talks to Pat Kirwan on SIRIUS.. Much different attitude, very responsive and polite..Thats the BB I enjoy..

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The vast majority of the local sports media are a bunch of turds and DBs who deserve to be treated exactly the way BB treats them.

He treats people like Kirwan better because they aren't total jerkwad DBs like the clowns here in Boston are.

mcsully said:

Not saying be "nice".. be "professional"

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Precisely how does a smart coach respond to those questions appropriately? He was healthy but inactive, and will play next week? He was 60-40 for playing today, but only a 20% chance of that?

The Pats listed Gronk as questionable. By definition there was a 50% possibility of playing. These injury reports are offered weekly, and any further definition helps next week's opponent.

BB talks football happily with those who ask legitimate football questions, local media included (see the weekly program the Pats do for his happier interviews). He does not offer advance scouting on his team, and that is all these questions represent. He could pull the Parcells "That's a stupid question" response, but that is not his style. Give me the head coach who would respond with a legitimate answer to those questions, and I will give you the head coach of a lousy team. Repeating the same question in different forms does not merit a respectful response.

"Well he's either going to play or he isn't so I'd say about 50/50."

The media gets more information than they seem to know. Gronkowski was listed as "questionable" on the Friday injury report, which means that he was 50% - 50% to play. How much more precise do they want Belichick to be? How much more precise could he possibly be?

Obviously, the percentage went to 0% on game day, because he was on the inactive list. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that, according to league rules, a player on the inactive list is not allowed to play. Hence, there would have been no thought of putting him in the game. He wasn't even dressed.

It's like us asking Churchill how he's going to invade Normandy. Not gonna happen. BB hates the media cuz he knows any slip up will be on TMZ tomorrow. F' the mediots.