A Silver & Black hoodie?
It was January of 1997, Bill Belichick was near the end of his one season as a Patriots assistant coach, and the Raiders were looking for a new head coach. Owner Al Davis was working off a short list, and Belichick was on it.
Eleven years later, Belichick was asked today to reflect on his thoughts from that time.
"It was a pretty interesting interview to be talking X’s and O’s with an owner," Belichick said before the Patriots' practice at San Jose State, where the team is preparing to face the Raiders on Sunday.
"Al’s had six decades in the NFL, so he has as much history and knowledge about the game, what he wants, and what’s going on in the game during that time as anybody. We talked a lot about strategic football, X’s and O’s, as well as overall organizational stuff, and personnel and philosophy."
Belichick seemed to enjoy the experience.
"It was great to sit down and talk with him," he said. "We shared some views and conversations on different aspects of technical football. It wasn’t a big social interview. It was much more detailed and specific to football."
Yet the Raiders never sized Belichick up for a silver and black hoodie.
Davis chose Joe Bugel to be the team's head coach.
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Davis: Nice to discuss X's and O's with you Bill. Let me ask, would you spend big money to retain proven number 1 cornerbacks or try to find value from the scrap heap with old washed up veterans like Dwayne Starks and Deltha O'Neil?
Belichick: I like value.
Davis: Hmmm....Oh look, I have another appointment to get to. We'll call you later.
Who the hell is Joe Bugel?!
Belichick's the best coach in the league, one of the top in history...this just proves that Al Davis is senile.
Davis: Would you rather win some championships in the present or live in the past?
Belichick: Ummm, win championships in the present.
Davis: Hmmm...oh look, I have another appointment to get to. We'll call you later.
Wow, your Pats knowledge is overwhelming TR. First off, it is Duane Starks, and Deltha O'Neal. Belichick is allowed a few mistakes. He has had way more success than failure in 8 seasons. He took chances on people named Brady, Vrabel, Harrison, Moss, etc., oh and some high school kid named Cassel.
Asante Samuel and his 3 Int's isn't exactly living up to his contract. The Pats were right not to give him that kind of deal, but they failed in not being able to sufficiently replace his performance at DB.
Al Davis may have been able to double his amount of Super Bowl rings had he named Belichick his head coach. It is a decision I am sure Mr. Davis looks back on with regret.
Was that a shot at Belichik, TR? Remember "scrap heap" guys like Mike Vrabel, Roman Phifer, Bobby Hamilton, Antoine Smith, Tyrone Poole, Joe Andruzzi, Russ Hochstein, etc? You win some, you lose some.
Davis: Would you rather talk all day and spend gazzilions of dollars on busts and unproven rookies, or win three SBs with modest, hard working, intelligent men (while ranking #30 in the league in team payroll)?
BB: I'd prefer the latter..
Davis: Hmmm... Oh look, I have another bizzare press conference to get to. C ya.
Don't forget Al David Fired Mike Shannon too, After Belichick, I respect Mike Shannon the most. What a offensive genius. Also, Al Davis trade John Gruden, for two First round picks. Everybody says, Al Davis knows X's and O's but how come he is loosing coachs who will be in HOF someday. ...
I would guess that Al Davis' rigid view of schemes and tactics would not fit with BB. BB is nothing if not a game planner, a schemer, someone who is not wedded to one system (ok, apart from the general basis of the 3-4) but who works on what is best for any given situation, or the players he has at his disposal. Davis is still aboslutely, ideologically wedded to the vertical passing game, man coverage, loyalty over ability and QBs with cannon arms. I cannot see how BB could have worked under those strictures.
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