- Joined
- Feb 23, 2005
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So I had the audio (Cds) book which was great except I can't refer to anything specifically especially quotes or which chapter something was discussed. As a book, it was well structured and captured the man and his influences.
Anyway, in general, my impressions:
1. Surprised me only occasionally with stories from the 2+ decades. Some stories are what I had heard/read prior while others were used in a way to reinforce points about culture, etc.
2. He didn't discuss the Butler Super Bowl drama.
3. He never mentioned the name, Kraft, that I can recall, just ghosted them. But then again only mentioned his coaching sons in context of family not football. His father, Steve, however, was mentioned repeatedly as the main influencer of his love for the game and how he approached as coach.
4. He named or related all the players from across the 20+ years that inspired him or he felt understood what he was trying to do. Never named any negative player story. He gushed about legends and jags and everyone in between. He also shared his time with other coaches from other sports and their success.
5. He owned several of his own mistakes when it was just about himself but not where any player or coach or scout made a poor decision. He owned those scenarios as his fault in general. Yeah, he says not drafting Lamar Jackson was on him. He does not defend or go in to the last 2 years of his employment with the Pats.
6. He occasionally merged his football world with the business world and what he took from business leaders to create his own philosophies on leadership.
7. The respect he has for players is about as deep as the respect he has for the military.
8. Cleveland's fans are not to be toyed with.
9. He loves New Orleans and Pat O'Briens' Hurricanes.
10. He talks about "leaks" and their effect on the team and players.
11. I wonder if Gronk and Edelman realized how much he appreciated them and their work effort in practices and games. Brady is the constant obviously with Bruschi getting a chunk of one chapter.
12. Doesn't get into the Goodell or any of the League manufactured scandals. Mentions Modell and his moving the franchise to Baltimore and uses it show that the game of football are the players and the fans not the team owners and minions. Polian comes off as the other bad guy. Using his position on the Rules Committee to try and weaken his biggest opponent by manufacturing rules changes.
Conclusion: I'm about 90% satisfied with regards to what was behind the curtain that I knew or presumed but he has taken the high road in almost every scenario. After all, the book is about what worked for him in the game from his take on players, coaches, executives, business leaders and opponents.
Epilogue: If anyone would like the audio book (cds), message me and your address and I'll send it.
Anyway, in general, my impressions:
1. Surprised me only occasionally with stories from the 2+ decades. Some stories are what I had heard/read prior while others were used in a way to reinforce points about culture, etc.
2. He didn't discuss the Butler Super Bowl drama.
3. He never mentioned the name, Kraft, that I can recall, just ghosted them. But then again only mentioned his coaching sons in context of family not football. His father, Steve, however, was mentioned repeatedly as the main influencer of his love for the game and how he approached as coach.
4. He named or related all the players from across the 20+ years that inspired him or he felt understood what he was trying to do. Never named any negative player story. He gushed about legends and jags and everyone in between. He also shared his time with other coaches from other sports and their success.
5. He owned several of his own mistakes when it was just about himself but not where any player or coach or scout made a poor decision. He owned those scenarios as his fault in general. Yeah, he says not drafting Lamar Jackson was on him. He does not defend or go in to the last 2 years of his employment with the Pats.
6. He occasionally merged his football world with the business world and what he took from business leaders to create his own philosophies on leadership.
7. The respect he has for players is about as deep as the respect he has for the military.
8. Cleveland's fans are not to be toyed with.
9. He loves New Orleans and Pat O'Briens' Hurricanes.
10. He talks about "leaks" and their effect on the team and players.
11. I wonder if Gronk and Edelman realized how much he appreciated them and their work effort in practices and games. Brady is the constant obviously with Bruschi getting a chunk of one chapter.
12. Doesn't get into the Goodell or any of the League manufactured scandals. Mentions Modell and his moving the franchise to Baltimore and uses it show that the game of football are the players and the fans not the team owners and minions. Polian comes off as the other bad guy. Using his position on the Rules Committee to try and weaken his biggest opponent by manufacturing rules changes.
Conclusion: I'm about 90% satisfied with regards to what was behind the curtain that I knew or presumed but he has taken the high road in almost every scenario. After all, the book is about what worked for him in the game from his take on players, coaches, executives, business leaders and opponents.
Epilogue: If anyone would like the audio book (cds), message me and your address and I'll send it.
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