Why Is Innovator Bill Belichick Inflexible About Flexibility?

[ChessToCheckers]

One of the great things about this board is the diversity of opinion on most subjects. So, in that spirit, I put the above question on the table. It is quite baffling to me.

We have often read about how BB is an innovator in many areas, is eager to learn from others, and is very adaptable to change. He is often a bellwether for the rest of the league. Yet, if we are to even partially believe the media (I know, that's a stretch!), it appears that he is hostile (or at least inflexible) when it comes to Alex Guerrero and the TB12 method of conditioning.

Medicine is rapidly changing; Sports Medicine as well. Brady swears by AG and his methods. That's hard to argue against, given that Tom's age, conditioning, and performance these past few years has been historic. Even Gronk had a healthy season last year and looked fresh throughout! I realize that the sample size is very small at this time, but doesn't the TB12 method look a bit promising?

Has BB thoroughly evaluated the TB12 methodology and concluded that it is horsesh*t? Why else hasn't he embraced it? Certainly, if he wanted to, he could find a way to integrate these ideas and methods into the Patriot system. Perhaps the "science" is too new to try? Maybe he just doesn't like AG?

Does anyone else here think that this situation is a bit odd?

 

[Kontradiction]

This should be a fun thread.

 

[The Brandon Five]

I think Bill said it best himself.

Bill Belichick: ‘I’m a football coach, I’m not a doctor’

"I’m a football coach, I’m not a doctor,” Belichick said. “The medical staff is the medical staff. I coach the team, the medical people handle the injuries. They don’t call plays, I don’t do surgery. We have a great deal there, it works out good.

 

[Ring 6]

One of the great things about this board is the diversity of opinion on most subjects. So, in that spirit, I put the above question on the table. It is quite baffling to me.

We have often read about how BB is an innovator in many areas, is eager to learn from others, and is very adaptable to change. He is often a bellwether for the rest of the league. Yet, if we are to even partially believe the media (I know, that's a stretch!), it appears that he is hostile (or at least inflexible) when it comes to Alex Guerrero and the TB12 method of conditioning.

Medicine is rapidly changing; Sports Medicine as well. Brady swears by AG and his methods. That's hard to argue against, given that Tom's age, conditioning, and performance these past few years has been historic. Even Gronk had a healthy season last year and looked fresh throughout! I realize that the sample size is very small at this time, but doesn't the TB12 method look a bit promising?

Has BB thoroughly evaluated the TB12 methodology and concluded that it is horsesh*t? Why else hasn't he embraced it? Certainly, if he wanted to, he could find a way to integrate these ideas and methods into the Patriot system. Perhaps the "science" is too new to try? Maybe he just doesn't like AG?

Does anyone else here think that this situation is a bit odd?

What works for a 41 year old health conscious QB who eats like a vegan is not likely to work with a 320 lb OL.
The majority of nfl players need strength and conditioning work, not pliability.

 

[jah]

I think Bill said it best himself.

Bill Belichick: ‘I’m a football coach, I’m not a doctor’

This. He has the mental toolbox to evaluate whether crazy football ideas will work. That doesn't extend to medical matters.

 

[Joey007]

One of the great things about this board is the diversity of opinion on most subjects.

Ha.

 

[The Brandon Five]

I think Bill said it best himself.

Bill Belichick: ‘I’m a football coach, I’m not a doctor’

It's not BB that Guerrero needs to convince. It's Cabrera, Hardy and Price.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I think Bill said it best himself.

Bill Belichick: ‘I’m a football coach, I’m not a doctor’

This needs to be qualified. When it comes to player health and what they need to do in order to perform, Bill has his beliefs and I'm sure when hiring trainers and signing off on new members of the medical staff there is a high-level of alignment of said beliefs with Bill's.

 

[Kontradiction]

What works for a 41 year old health conscious QB who eats like a vegan is not likely to work with a 320 lb OL.
The majority of nfl players need strength and conditioning work, not pliability.

Why can't they do both? Furthermore, is there any proof that Guerrero wouldn't recommend weight work and strength and conditioning work for OL and DL? The two are not mutually exclusive.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

What works for a 41 year old health conscious QB who eats like a vegan is not likely to work with a 320 lb OL.
The majority of nfl players need strength and conditioning work, not pliability.

Why not adopt a little of both?

 

[WinstonSmith]

Why Bill hasn't fully embraced a guy that can prevent concussions and cure cancer is beyond me.

 

[Sicilian]

This entire question is predicated on the idea that Belichick's problem with Guerrero (operating under the assumption that he has one), was specifically with WHAT he was telling guys to do. I imagine if there was a conflict, it was less about difference in training opinion, and more about Guerrero putting pressure on guys to train in a way that they didn't want to, but felt they had to because it's Brady's guy. It was more about not making young players have to choose between the QB and the training staff, rather than BB not believing in pliability under any circumstance, IMO.

 

[FCB02062]

You can't get big eating Brady's diet and working out with resistance bands. In the weightlifting community we have a saying - "eat big to get big"...and in most cases you have to be big and strong to play football well...

 

[Patstopia]

I don't think BB gives a crap about your diet of your out of camp regiments. I think he does care once you come in the building that you follow what the Patriots trainers are saying. If you have your trainer on the premises, he doesn't want him telling you or those around you to do it differently or to not do it at all.

In other words, follow the trainers instructions and mind you business when in the facility. If you can't do that then you are not welcome.

 

[Ring 6]

Why not adopt a little of both?

Who says they don’t?

 

[Vindicate]

My biggest question:

Why did/does Brady feel the need to have this guy attached to his hip? Why the hell can't he just do his own thing and keep it his own thing?

Why is this such a big problem lmao? I assume it's pretty rare to get the flexibility that Brady was afforded by Belichick, anywhere in the league.

Edit: For clarity

 

[tasmlab]

Armchair speculation: they may also want to minimize a possible conflict of interest since AG works for Tom and it could seem like Brady is gaining additional revenue from the Patriots organization that is not tracked in Brady's salary contract. The fact that Brady takes a salary discount would just make this seem worse.

 

[captain stone]

It's not BB that Guerrero needs to convince. It's Cabrera, Hardy and Price.

Like that's ever going to happen.

 

[maust]

Why not adopt a little of both?

Both? Don't you mean all 3?
Strength/conditioning
Pliability
Quickness/agility

 

[SammyBlueCat]

Who says they don’t?

I bet they do. I was responding to your post. You stated:

What works for a 41 year old health conscious QB who eats like a vegan is not likely to work with a 320 lb OL.
The majority of nfl players need strength and conditioning work, not pliability.