Bill Belichick Press Conference - 12/29/2008

[3:22] ..." in a little while I think. You know last two years with. AFC championship game two years ago. And and having a good coach the Pro Bowl on -- last year you know finish another season in February. That those -- very very long seasons for players. And for"...

[9:02] ..." do we need to do to of the highway and improve our football team going into the -- Cleveland's. Rival whatever you know whatever happens -- all those -- league rules and policies for all those"...

[3:22] ..." in a little while I think. You know last two years with. AFC championship game two years ago. And and having a good coach the Pro Bowl on -- last year you know finish another season in February. That those -- very very long seasons for players. And for"...

[11:47] ..." players that are released and you know guys that are in the National Football League could become available one where another so. That's all part of a continuing process -- yes."...

[0:04]" Predicted done. Good close. To court. Who -- credit for a moment."

[0:21]" Well. Scott follow what I said yesterday. And I couldn't be prouder of the team that's done in the last four weeks after the Pittsburgh game. I think that they've respondents every. Challenge and opportunity. It's been put in front of them and certainly yesterday's game at Buffalo's. From a distance standpoint that is challenging as as to possibly be so. You know it did what they can do and and I respect them forward it's sure wish that we were. Play another week we had no again to get ready for them to that's not the case and so. And the season has come to a conclusion and you know when you go it's something like we have since the end of July. You go from mom meetings to practice to. I'll watch and film to game plan and make him personnel decisions. Planning game. Wrapping it up on on to the next game. I -- just on that treadmill and it's it's moving pretty fast. It's always. You know -- happens every year you know it's always. Kind of sudden when it stops you know he's still got a little bit Agile I think that's kind of where we are. The you know season ended kind of abruptly yesterday and as a city you know I've been through a lot of them don't think you're ever quite ready for one and happens and so that's that's kind of where we're -- here today. I know that. You know that there are a lot of questions out there I'm sure you have a lot of a lot of questions about. The season and or the future are players are decisions over those kind of things and I would just say that what what we do -- go through very comprehensive. Analysis. And discussion. On all those things -- there's no decisions that are going to be made today. Or that have already been made right now we're just trying to. Wrap up although the things on the Buffalo game. And I kind of put. Put those bring those into closure and then you'll start our our off season process. With. All the evaluations that we do of our team our scheme. The way we practice. Our game plan everything you know -- just look at everything. And try to and try to find ways to improve it and and analyze it and you know do the best that we can't. Identified. What exactly -- situation is what we can do to make it better. And then start take some steps in and decisions on how we want to. How we want to address. So. That instead -- probably not going to be able to answer a lot of questions that you would have a better team not sure that I know the answers to and that. That's the that's a process that. Eagle on three and that'll start. You know and in a little while I think. You know last two years with. AFC championship game two years ago. And and having a good coach the Pro Bowl on -- last year you know finish another season in February. That those -- very very long seasons for players. And for staff. Not just the coaches but the entire entire sports staff they're very involved. And that's always the way you want to finish the season you you want to be playing in February. But at the same time I think those -- to offseason that we've had over. As condensed as they could be you know relative most of the other teams in the league and unfortunately we're. We're not playing in this week but. It will give us a little bit more time to do maybe a little more thorough -- analysis and -- a breakdown of everything that I just talked about. On them what we have in the past and I don't think one thing that we you know we only it and and probably deserve Roger's little bit rest. You know get a lot of our players went in the past couple years from the end of the season to. You know rehab and an injury to jump and in the offseason program to you know get back on a treadmill again and I think that's. You know maybe this year's us an opportunity for some of those guys to. Take it and had a little bit different pace and that would include the coaching staff as well that. Our guys around here work hard -- hours they're very dedicated and them. Something that maybe use a little break and if you can include Meehan."

[4:57]" That's. -- about what I can give you for right now."

[5:03]" Do you. Certain amount of confidence knowing the situation. -- getting back healthy and 1009 every -- and they are getting better and -- situation -- Madcast. "

[5:16]" And again -- I would just deferral that too that's something that we last week we spent all we get ready for Buffalo as a citizen one game season. And on and we thought about was how to go out there and play our best against Buffalo. And we were bringing that to closure today. And all the other things. As it -- the players' decisions roster. So -- scheme all that are things that will will deal with in due course and I haven't thought about it I don't know anymore and I know yesterday. Those things -- So common time."

[5:53]" You know some changes around you are you today it happens so fast and Aaron don't mean controlling your hands."

[5:59]" Yeah you know long I would just say. Haven't been in coaching furlong time grown up going to coaching family. It's something and that. About. Unfortunately kind of part of really my whole life either in my family directly or. With friends or associates. Other teams it's kind of an annual. Annual thing. At the end of the year and that's part of a coach's wife and coaches. It's part of the job. And most of us have been there at least once. During the course of their career so. And you know I don't. I understand that's part of it. It's it's tough day I think for all coaches when those things happen because you know we've all been a part of those -- one way or another. And and you just. You know you don't like to see that happen to anybody but you know what's gonna happen and it happens every year -- it happens. You know quite have that -- some yours so. Looks like that's one of these years. So. There's nothing really we can do about that other than. Maybe there's something might affect us somewhere down the road but again for right now. You know we're just trying to get through our. Our situation here in the short term and then whatever the other things -- pounder -- deal with those in due course but it's. I don't think today's a great day for coaches period college professional anybody in the profession. It's just. You know the agency. What's happen happen. But it's inevitable. What's the scheduling for your players yeah. Automatically kind of -- I think -- have players are a lot of different situations some guys -- rehab and injuries other guys. Are you know going to have maybe things they were playing with their new year looked dead and decide what you know what to do about those. Some -- in this area that -- didn't play very much that. We'll start they're all season their rarity started you know there ready get ready for next year that haven't played that much. So you know I think good guys are different different situations or guys you know live further away they haven't been home for. Six months or whatever it's done so. -- guys kind of -- falls on the one of those categories somewhere. And some -- and so it's it's kind of -- mixture. Don't think there's any set formula for anybody."

[8:26]" And the guys yeah Pro Bowl stage and they stay here lord knows that you're not. It's it's up to them --"

[8:48]" Well that's something we've. You know we've had in previous years so whatever all the things that come up our. If and when they come up and will. We'll take him as they come and in the meantime -- integrate that with the our process of do we need to do to of the highway and improve our football team going into the -- Cleveland's. Rival whatever you know whatever happens -- all those -- league rules and policies for all those things. And whatever they are will comply womb and when we're out on my -- about somebody else's job or somebody else's situation so. Will will comply with the rules as there as we always do. It."

[9:31]" Yeah why can't be. More."

[9:40]" case yeah game. And you know our team sports knows everything and everybody -- me."

[9:47]" Well week you know comes here on a regular basis -- see him all the time I see our doctors and trainers all the time. So I'm -- need to go in a -- reporter. -- with somebody else a society we've those people are all here. We do on a regular basis. It well there's really mean there than it there's questions on everything and I'm sure you can ask a lot of great questions. John as he usually do. But as I said our focus has been on Buffalo we just got through planned. On the bills on. On Sunday and that's all I've been thinking about that last week so all the other questions that come up about. Scheme and players and personnel and coaches and what other teams are Dillon. All different things going on on the league and all the scenarios and so forth. Right now really are things that haven't been addressed and -- and on reporter amounts and not good questions and -- and it's a legitimate. The -- right now that's not where Iraq and sure at some point Tom will get all those things but for today we're we're. Wrapping up the end of our season or wrapping up the Buffalo game. And take little time to relax and kind of recharge and get refreshed a little bit deal something's come along as taken as they come and."

[11:18]" Go through our off season process. That that's what it is to process. You become more along the cars and --"

[11:27]" going -- Well we -- conned all -- that when our season's over when it whenever that is whether it's now or whether it was last year and February or whatever and you. You pick up the ending your season and part of its evaluation of your team and part of it's looking at new opportunities whether it's collegiate level or in the different free agency or you know players that are released and you know guys that are in the National Football League could become available one where another so. That's all part of a continuing process -- yes."

[11:58]" On you know -- news starting at 115 yeah. Enough to me laughing in his right -- and."

[12:05]" But they guys you know I don't make many predictions before the season so. We just take -- game to game we try to prepare for each game as it comes and do the best we cannon and every one of our competition so. That's really where focuses not what. You know -- of the teams that. A lot of the experts fixes to do different things this year. Some of them -- Not a picture now some on the nobody thought would be in the picture. That didn't have good records last year or. Division winners and and playoff teams this year so. I don't think look at -- think six months at a time this relate to productive. Try to take it day today."

[12:51]" Story -- How different was here and all these injuries."

[13:02]" Well -- said each -- its. Its own challenge whatever those challenges are that week Q you made in the face and I'm and that's what every team league does is -- When they come up you look at what what your options are what your opportunities are and look what your opponent doesn't. You feel like their strengths and weaknesses -- and and you put it all together and try to get ready for months on the you really don't sit around thinking about -- if we have this going to -- they had that god ever. This gondola if that's what it is and that's what it is and you just taking over the that's how the season's over -- take the most important thing right now is to look at next year and some of the players that maybe didn't play this year. Are expected to play next year and then you put those into year. Andy your plants in known that you need depth this as we know that every year we need depth all the way around on our team. And sometimes use that depth that you haven't sometimes. You don't let you know he's certainly at the -- for so. You know were right now we're thinking about next year that we are. What could have been last year although an analysis of last year's important move for not -- You know we're really want to do -- start put together -- team. Not just players. You know -- how how we do things scheme plays. Emphasis. Schedules and so forth. Four of the 2009 season so that's that's where the majority of our focus goes. Toward looking ahead but we can certainly learn a lot from what happened last year we have a lot of snaps a lot of plays and players that I went on film. And different different schemes to look at and so forth and so as part of build for 2009. You know look at a lot of the results came from 2000."

[14:51]" And so the -- your process."

[14:54]" Immediately start. Forward while simultaneously."

[14:58]" Bolivar -- just look at 2000 eyeballs fresh -- and and project that and it 2009. Going forward yeah. So. You know the play was good in 2008. I mean that's great -- make it better in 2000 and on the play wasn't so good in 2008. That a player we want to continue to work on hasn't worked -- time that we've invested in -- or shall we get rid of it and do some medals or. Here's that we need to do to improve it or. You know personnel with players scheme game plans -- all those things -- try to. You don't look at every area of our operations and see you know how -- it was how it can be improved. And if that was deficient what what we can duty either operated over. Maybe even eliminated at that sometimes that's a better than it is to -- you know investor time and energy and something that's more productive."

[15:56]" Tonight to have aren't just said something about that. It's the -- to. 24 hours completing less than that 24 hours after the game it's not not the time to make it. A lot of decisions and where I'm making it's a process for us a process. That I said it's a process -- look I'm not trying to. I I don't aren't aren't going to make any decisions. Players scheme plays we're going to run slip screens next year we could use more motion like I can't answer those questions. That those are all things we'll look into that all great questions. Between John and staying up late thinking of these things. You've got some good ones they're good questions it's just now's not the time I just -- those answers now now's not the time to deal."

[16:52]" win here -- okay I'm."

[16:59]" absolutely you know not absolutely you know in terms of funding you know. Well that's the way it is right now so you have to look at that is things didn't change -- it would be now thanks -- change so. Yet whatever the rules are for the the salary cap as far as you know how things are counted and and where you know we're different moneys are allocated what your budget is or winter captives every want to look at it. They absolutely have to look at that yes."

[17:28]" Though there -- a lot of and all. That's -- eleven violent these players how much of organizational successes and Houston's success more than just a few players -- hard work he."

[17:46]" Well I think that everybody that participated in the in this season anyway and five season has. You know a lot to me probably -- that includes all they both players the coaches. The organization's scouts. You know everybody I mean you. We feel good about a lot of things we accomplished this year unfortunately it it wasn't enough for us to keep playing next week and so we're disappointed with that but. -- what we did accomplish this year I think goes to you know hard work of a ball most people who are involved and you know we had some things that deal with we had. You know for west coast games we had you know somewhere other games and in the last five games of the year were. You know we're all played and in difficult weather situations -- I understand teams on a side of the field play in the same conditions I'm not. You know look for is -- but -- those challenges for teams to me whether it be rain wind snow. Or combination also fearing it right down a list there're there -- number things that. In that we dealt with this year and I think that in organizationally. Including the only operations people sudden of the trip on the west coast to the players to the coaches to. Our medical staff to everybody you know they worked hard and and -- a lot of positive things this year. I wish this could have been a little bit more but. It's. I think there's a lot of things that we did this and I'm proud of the way we didn't. The last -- runs. I think they did I think they had good production from. Top to bottom really even from the perspective to some of the players or drafted. Like benjarvis and Gary got guys like that that weren't trip to the contributed forced -- and some of those the picks in between and you know. As we always say you never know that a draft class. Don't figure couple years down the road and we've seen players. As rookies didn't contribute a whole lot that ended Europeans -- big contributors. Brady for example so based on his rookie year. So it's hard to measure how some of those players that went along on but we certainly got a lot of production out of our players this year and again it goes from. Some of the ones were drafted me some owns are draft and on some of the ones were drafted in later rounds or not draft at all so that's. You know that was good -- work some of those kids I thought they gave us some. An element -- Stewart team that was probably good force collectible. -- say overall it was it was hard working group to think a rookie class was mature. And and it worked hard and it was a group that we currently. Didn't have to get on very much terms of doing extra or. Or this is what you need to be doing for the most part once we said this is what we want than they've they've pretty much jumped in there and did it without a lot of and trotting over you know extra motivation was needed they've -- printed on the road so. -- don't think that was a real positive for that entire group wouldn't single anybody out but I think it was as a group they were they were very good that way. It."

[20:56]" You know last I miss playoff. Was there anything -- that no longer than usual offseason. And then you'll."

[21:12]" Well I think I haven't. Again and you you want to finish the year final last game of the season so. That's that's all. Our objectives. And collectively every team wants it. When it's not that way then you have little bit more time attorneys at times for a division can. How that'll turn out I mean I don't know but we'll we'll try to use the times productively as we can. Well I think part of that Russians just you know. Because -- in last season's just getting -- a little bit -- kind of get. Him off the only scorer. Quite quite on the ish like you know we kind of have them -- of -- Yeah I hope that -- time productively absolutely."

[21:58]" This team is better position. Non playoff team then you know."

[22:03]" Now I think -- as -- says that the beginning you look at some of the teams that. And in Miami -- one to fifteen last year in Atlanta and those teams errors on. Division winners teams that were you know when you're there one place the next year there there somewhere else and vice versa so. You guys have figured out by now that there's not meant much correlation from one year to the next and in I don't know what what it would take you know we've seen that time and time and time again so. What we do next year -- will be reflective of what we do next year novel we did last year goes through 31 teams do."

[22:47]" Okay apart from the have a good offseason."