Mangini talks a good game

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The handshake, perfunctory in nature, left a lot to be desired.

Where were the words of consolation? The words of congratulations? The words of greeting?

No, nothing like that was shared between Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Jets coach Eric Mangini, Belichick's former defensive coordinator, after New England's 24-17 win at Giants Stadium yesterday. A quick ``good game" was all that Mangini would allow passed between them. As to who actually uttered those words, Mangini advised the press corps to ``check the videotape."

Chilly, for a warm night in the Meadowlands.

``It's been made into something I think that's more important than it really needs to be," Mangini said, after shrugging off several questions about the coaches' relationship. ``I've said several times how I feel about Bill and I think Bill is an outstanding person and he's a good friend and he'll be a good friend for a long time. I've said that repeatedly and that's how I feel.

``I've got a lot of friends at the Patriots and at other teams and they'll be friends for a long time. This is about the work we've done and the opponent that you face and the opponent was New England. Our focus was on trying to win the game."

Though the Jets didn't win, the second half brought them closer than most observers would have thought possible. And then there was that handshake, less personal that most would have thought possible.

It was a reception that followed a week of questions and innuendo, an ``Are they or aren't they?" that might have been more appropriate for tabloid celebrity gossip. Friends or foes? That they were mentor and pupil once upon a time is undeniable. That they are friends stands on far shakier ground.

Especially after Belichick sounded less than complimentary throughout the week leading up to the game. It wasn't exactly the glowing review he gave Dolphins coach and friend Nick Saban before their first meeting as NFL coaches.

``I don't even know if it's really gamesmanship with Bill," said linebacker Matt Chatham, the former Patriot who joined Mangini on the Jets. ``I just think Bill is one of the most focused human beings on the planet. I just don't think he allows any kind of outside distraction. I don't think it has any real reflection on how they'll be like when the season ends.

``I just think at this time of day, he doesn't care about his dry cleaning, he doesn't care about his friends, he doesn't care about anything but football and whatever agenda he has with the Patriots. That's just how he is and how he's always going to be. It doesn't always come off very friendly and it rubs people the wrong way a lot of times, but you've got to respect him because he is consistent."

At least Mangini picked up that consistency from Belichick. Both before and after the game the words were the same. No thought was given to New England, other than the on-the-field plays. No thought was given to the opposing coach. No thought was given to the storylines and questions.

``Not at all," linebacker Jonathan Vilma said. ``He stayed exactly the same as last week. He approached the game the same way. He prepared us the same way. No change at all."

Or, as Mangini put it: ``This game, to me, was all about the Jets and the Patriots. That's what I'm focused on, is the New York Jets, and our opponent, the Patriots. That's the important thing about this, it's a division game against a good opponent and we didn't win. That's what we're focused on. That's what I'm focused on. That's really it."

That's it? Really?

OK, so spill this, is the unwillingness to play along -- to throw out some compliments, or some insight, or some anything -- a desire to emulate Belichick? Does Mangini want to, at least, hang on to that part of Foxborough?

``He doesn't want to be Bill, but he does understand the principles that Bill has and that's that his relationship is very much secondary, third, whatever, to what we're doing on the field," Chatham said. ``He's probably just so much more disappointed about the way we performed today that those little things are secondary in nature."