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- Jan 22, 2005
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Bill Belichick:
John Harbaugh:
Gonzalez played in 14 Pro Bowls – he loved playing when it was in Hawaii. Things were always so relaxing there, so fun. One year, Belichick was his coach . . .
On the opening kickoff, Gonzalez was out on special teams . . . and he went through the motions and didn’t block anybody. Gonzalez jogged happily to the sidelines.
“Why don’t you (bleeping) block somebody Gonzalez,” Belichick grumbled as Gonzalez jogged by. . . .
Gonzalez felt himself fuming. This was how the great Bill Belichick treated people? They were at the Pro Bowl, for crying out loud. This was Hawaii, for crying out loud. . . . And this was what he gets? To have the game’s most famous coach swear at him for not blocking on special teams in an exhibition game?
Oh, yes, he was mad – who did this guy think he was? Gonzalez played football the right way. He didn’t deserve this. He stewed on the sideline, furious. And then it was time to go back on the field for another kickoff, another special teams moment, and the ball was kicked. Gonzalez locked in on a guy running down the field. “Why don’t you (bleeping) block somebody?” Sure, he heard it again. OK coach, fine, check out this block.
And Gonzalez absolutely mashed the defender, took him completely out of the play.
Then Gonzalez walked over to the sideline, and you better believe he walked right by Belichick, wanted to see the grimace wiped right off the man’s face. But Belichick showed no signs of even noticing him. He was looking out on the field, seemingly oblivious to Gonzalez’s presence. So Gonzalez kept walking. And as he was a few steps away, he heard Bill Belichick say this:
“Nice block, Gonzalez.”
He looked back, and there was no hint of a smile on Belichick’s face. Bill Belichick just kept looking at the field, and in that moment Tony Gonzalez understood. The man had coached him into blocking on special teams in the Pro Bowl.
John Harbaugh: