In this week's edition of the NFL Notebook, we look at which Patriot has put in the most time working with kids at football camps this summer, what sort of timeframe might appeal to the Patriots if they want to go after one of the free agents still on the open market, and maybe the only good thing (from a New England media perspective) about no joint practices this summer. But first, we get some candid comments from Pro Football Hall of Famer and Fox analyst Howie Long on the state of the Patriots, how Bill Belichick operates, and what makes playing in New England different from anywhere else.
1. Howie Long laughs when you ask him for his thoughts about the Patriots, Bill Belichick and where they are when it comes to their overall philosophy. What's the attraction of playing in New England? After all, some say it's not that much fun there.
“If you’re going there for a pat on the back or long walks on the beach, it’s not the place for you. If you’re going there to get paid, it’s not the place for you. If you’re going there to have fun, it’s not the place for you,” Long said of what it’s like to play for Belichick in New England. “If you’re going there for an opportunity to contend for the Super Bowl, it’s the place for you. It’s a remarkable place. I’ve had the opportunity to see it up close. When Bill asked me to come out to practice and watch them and see how efficient they were and the attention to detail when it comes to preparation ... I don’t know of anyone who does it like that.”
We interviewed Long for part of our “New England Roots” series, and while we’ll have a ton of stories about his childhood days along soon, he had no problem expanding on the Patriots, Belichick, and the coaches’ place in NFL history.
“I’m not sure people can fully appreciate Bill Belichick,” he said. “I mean, I’m sure they appreciate it a great deal locally there in New England, but I’m not sure people truly understand how great he is as a coach," Long said. "And I mean, at everything. Every aspect of the organization. Every aspect of the team — offense, defense, special teams, all aspects of situational football. The personnel decisions, the trades, the cap. He has the people in place, and he’s involved in absolutely every aspect of what they do. That’s amazing.”
