Tweet
Bill Belichick doesn't typically say much. If he happens to let a few mumbled words slide out of his scowl, that typically equates to a positive day for the New England media.
But when you hit on a topic that he cares about, the man can be absolutely fascinating. And it's even better when he lets his renegade side come out and says something that is sure to ruffle the league office.
One of those moments came Friday when Belichick was asked about the Hall of Fame. The Patriots coach could have just dismissed the question or even provided a generic answer, but he decided to take aim at Canton and let his displeasure with the Hall of Fame selection process be known.
"I don't know what Hall of Fame means,” Belichick said, before continuing on. “I don't really know what the criteria is. I don't know if it's ever been defined. I don't know if it's a popularity contest or if it's a political thing. I don't know what it is. It's hard for me to believe that, as great as this game is, that there are no punters and one kicker in the Hall of Fame.”
This was a particular sore spot for Belichick with Adam Vinatieri set to return to Gillette Stadium with the Colts. Considering what he meant to the Patriots at the beginning of the century, he would seem to be an easy pick for Canton. But given the current climate, Vinatieri may never end up being enshrined.
"We can argue that they only play ‘X' number of plays and everybody else plays a different number of plays but they're still significant players at their position,” Belichick said of the specialists. “I have no idea, other than the Hall of Fame and they're all, I'm not saying they're not deserving. I'm saying what one guy does, what another guy does, what their careers were relative to all of it, different things we've talked about, I don't see any consistency.
"Say, ‘OK, they met these three criteria. They need to meet three of the next six criteria.' Whatever it is, I don't know, but I don't see that. You have to talk to somebody who knows a lot more about that than I do. I don't understand it."
Neither do we now.
By Nick Underhill | CBSSports.com
But when you hit on a topic that he cares about, the man can be absolutely fascinating. And it's even better when he lets his renegade side come out and says something that is sure to ruffle the league office.
One of those moments came Friday when Belichick was asked about the Hall of Fame. The Patriots coach could have just dismissed the question or even provided a generic answer, but he decided to take aim at Canton and let his displeasure with the Hall of Fame selection process be known.
"I don't know what Hall of Fame means,” Belichick said, before continuing on. “I don't really know what the criteria is. I don't know if it's ever been defined. I don't know if it's a popularity contest or if it's a political thing. I don't know what it is. It's hard for me to believe that, as great as this game is, that there are no punters and one kicker in the Hall of Fame.”
This was a particular sore spot for Belichick with Adam Vinatieri set to return to Gillette Stadium with the Colts. Considering what he meant to the Patriots at the beginning of the century, he would seem to be an easy pick for Canton. But given the current climate, Vinatieri may never end up being enshrined.
"We can argue that they only play ‘X' number of plays and everybody else plays a different number of plays but they're still significant players at their position,” Belichick said of the specialists. “I have no idea, other than the Hall of Fame and they're all, I'm not saying they're not deserving. I'm saying what one guy does, what another guy does, what their careers were relative to all of it, different things we've talked about, I don't see any consistency.
"Say, ‘OK, they met these three criteria. They need to meet three of the next six criteria.' Whatever it is, I don't know, but I don't see that. You have to talk to somebody who knows a lot more about that than I do. I don't understand it."
Neither do we now.
By Nick Underhill | CBSSports.com