{"id":11770,"date":"2017-06-05T05:00:16","date_gmt":"2017-06-05T09:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=11770"},"modified":"2017-06-05T21:17:23","modified_gmt":"2017-06-06T01:17:23","slug":"daily-notebook-monday-patriots-news-notes-65","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2017\/06\/05\/daily-notebook-monday-patriots-news-notes-65\/","title":{"rendered":"Daily Notebook: Monday Patriots News and Notes 6\/5"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the weekend now in the rear-view, here’s a look at today’s top stories.<\/p>\n

Mangini Hoping to Mend His Relationship With Belichick –\u00a0<\/strong>Eric Mangini saw his relationship with Bill Belichick evaporate thanks to SpyGate and it sounds like 10-years later, he’s still hoping that his mentor will somehow forgive him for\u00a0damaging the reputation of the coach who gave him his start in the NFL.<\/p>\n

Ask anyone outside of New England to even explain what SpyGate is and you’ll typically get the wrong information. \u00a0The event stemmed from the fact that the league had released a memo in 2006 regarding the use of video cameras, which prevented clubs from being able to record\u00a0video\u00a0from the sideline. \u00a0The biggest misconception is the fact that\u00a0videotaping opposing coaches wasn’t illegal (provided the video wasn’t “accessible to club staff members during the game”), but the fact the Patriots continued doing it from the sideline instead of another location was the thing the NFL took issue with after Mangini reported it.<\/p>\n

During the investigation by the NFL, Belichick didn’t deny the fact the Patriots did it and said he was under the impression that as long as the tapes weren’t used during the game, that the practice wasn’t illegal. \u00a0But at that point, it lead to the league levying a $500,000 fine against Belichick and $250,000 against the team, as well as docking the club a first-round draft choice.<\/p>\n

But the worst part about the entire thing is the fact that it sparked an erroneous report by the Boston Herald that ultimately became what the event has been labeled for. Then Patriots beat writer, John Tomase, reported that the team videotaped a walk-through prior to their Super Bowl meeting against the St. Louis Rams back in 2002, which ultimately turned out to be false. \u00a0The Herald later published a retraction and apology, but the damage had been done, with the story having become a\u00a0national headline the day before the Super Bowl in 2008. \u00a0Some even feel that it was enough of a distraction to derail the club’s unbeaten run and given the timing of the story, it’s hard not to believe it played some small role from that standpoint.<\/p>\n

However, the most irritating part of that entire sequence of events is that 10-years removed from when it happened, ask any opposing fan outside of New England about the team or SpyGate\u00a0and the taping of the walk-through is what they believe it\u00a0was all about. The worst part is,\u00a0they – including multiple news outlets since then – still take it as truth despite the fact it never happened.<\/p>\n

Either way, that event permanently damaged the relationship between the two coaches. \u00a0It drove a wedge between Mangini and the man who gave him\u00a0his start during their time together back when Belichick was coaching in Cleveland and even saw his mentor speak at his wedding.<\/p>\n

However,\u00a0according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the two haven’t spoken since and Mangini\u00a0admitted that the whole thing became far more than it needed to be.<\/p>\n

“It was never supposed to go the way that it went,” Mangini told Cimini recently<\/strong><\/a>. “It was more about, ‘Hey, don’t do this here.’ It wasn’t about reporting it. Sometimes things get out of hand and get rolling in one direction. It was never, ever supposed to go that way.”<\/p>\n

But it did, and after multiple coaching stints Mangini is now out of the league and has watched the man who brought him up through the coaching ranks win two titles in the last three seasons. \u00a0Mangini may be remorseful but he also leaves out the fact that the Jets\u00a0made another accusation while claiming the Patriots illegally placed a microphone on a defensive player, which the league also looked into and found it had no merit.<\/p>\n

While he may have left that part out, those are things that are likely etched in Belichick’s mind forever. \u00a0For now Mangini remains disappointed with how things have turned out and he admits that he hopes that the two can reconcile.<\/p>\n

“Look, Bill is a big part of my life. Bill gave me a tremendous opportunity, and I enjoyed that experience, and I respect him. It’s disappointing, the way it’s been. Hopefully, it can change at some point.”<\/p>\n

It’s funny hearing this yet again after Mangini had previously made similar statements\u00a0about a year ago,<\/strong><\/a> likely looking for some sort of absolution. \u00a0One would have to believe, given everything that has happened, he probably still won’t get his wish.<\/p>\n

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Flowers had a terrific year in 2016.<\/strong><\/font>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Flowers Putting 2016 in the Rear View –\u00a0<\/strong>Trey Flowers had an impressive season in 2016, finishing with seven sacks during the regular season as well as 2.5 during the playoffs. \u00a0He emerged as one of the bright spots for a Patriots defense that lead the league in fewest points allowed and became a Super Bowl Champion in his second season in the NFL. \u00a0Now he heads into his third season looking to build on a big year, although he recently\u00a0admitted that he’s turned the page and is only looking forward.<\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t look too highly on it because last year was last year,\u201d Flowers told Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald<\/strong><\/a>. \u201cThe last game was the last game. I could look at that game, and there\u2019s a lot of plays that I missed, a lot of opportunities that I missed that I should have had. That\u2019s just all about staying hungry. Having the Super Bowl that I had in the biggest game of my career, understand while watching the film, \u2018You did all right, but you could have done better.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got that mentality coming into the season. Any opportunity I\u2019ve got, I want to improve on being more productive. This will be my first time coming in and being able to produce at a high level. Being able to understand my role; I know my role now. Being able to live in that role, I\u2019m looking forward to it. I\u2019m going to stay hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n

After emerging as a defensive threat, Flowers said that he’ll likely register on the radar of opposing teams in the film room, which will now force him to have to work a little harder if he hopes to build on the success he had in 2016.<\/p>\n

\u201cComing off of last year, I know a lot of guys are going to start looking at me now,\u201d Flowers told the Herald. \u201cA year ago, they probably weren\u2019t paying much attention to me. They\u2019re going to start studying me, game-planning me, and I watch film trying to see how I can counter off a move that they might be expecting. You\u2019ve got to deal with it if they\u2019re going to game plan for you, if they\u2019re going to double team you. You\u2019ve still got to remain productive, and that\u2019s one of the reasons why I\u2019m hard on myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another Belichick to Join Coaching Staff –\u00a0<\/strong>With Bill Belichick heading into the back half of his NFL tenure, he’s already done a pretty good job of bringing his sons up through the ranks and it appears another one is set to break through.<\/p>\n

According to the Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe, Belichick’s youngest son, Brian, will reportedly be promoted from the scouting department to coaching assistant.<\/p>\n

It’s an impressive step for Brian, who graduated from Trinity College last year before becoming an addition to the scouting department. \u00a0Now he finds himself joining the coaching staff, although exactly what he’ll be doing has yet to be reported.<\/p>\n

His brother, Steve, moved up to safeties coach last season after spending four years as a coaching assistant. \u00a0His group had a solid year after being part of a Patriots’ defense that finished in the top-10 in total defense and allowed an NFL best 15.6 points per game.<\/p>\n

He joined his father and brother on the field at the Super Bowl back in February, with the two later enjoying the incredible moment of seeing the team win their fifth title of their father’s coaching tenure.<\/p>\n

\n

Bill Belichick speaks with sons Brian (far right) and Steven, and right-hand man Berj Najarian, on the field. pic.twitter.com\/wmrB3rvTIE<\/a><\/p>\n

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) September 11, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n