(Hey Everyone, just letting you know I'll be writing on the blog now, mainly about the Patriots and Celtics with some Red Sox coverage and a little Bruins in there. You will also be able to listen to myself and co-host Jamey Thrasher at Charles River Radio at sportsmedicineradio.com. Enjoy!)
When Randy Moss was traded to the New England Patriots on Day 2 of the 2007 NFL Draft, he was dealt to a team rich in recent history. Moss, a wide receiver who was perceived as a troublemaker in many circles around the NFL, was ecstatic to leave the low depths of the NFL, also known as the Oakland Raiders. When Moss attended mini-camp in '07, something he was not required to do, he spoke with reporters. He was asked about Coach Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and the other players in New England and how it differed from his time spent in Minnesota and Oakland. Moss responded by saying:
“Taking their job seriously. Coach Belichick is, as you know, he's straight faced and doesn't really joke around a lot. I think that when he comes out with his coaching style, you can see that he really means business and Brady is the same way. That's something that you can appreciate, knowing that you have a bunch of guys, and Coach Belichick has to lead all of us. That's just something that's unique about him, that everybody is on the same page, even in mini-camp and that's something that you can hang your hat on.”
Moss like many others, came to New England for a reason: to win a championship. Under the tutelage of Belichick, Moss was instructed to the workings of what many have come to now know as “The Patriot Way.” With the blessing of the Kraft ownership family, Belichick worked with his staff on the philosophy and with the addition of great gameplans, were able to claim 7 AFC East crowns, 4 AFC Championships, and 3 Super Bowls since 2001. Moss like others, was thrust into an organization with presence after presence in a locker room with faces like Brady, Troy Brown, Rodney Harrison, Mike Vrabel, and Tedy Bruschi. These players all contributed to the hardware and photographs on display throughout the Gillette Stadium complex. Until last week.
Always known for being a master motivator, Belichick was at it again, taking down every picture on the walls of Gillette Stadium that reminded players of times past. With a new wave of players, Belichick made another move to motivate his team. The coach is relying on vets like Brady and Moss, but also center Dan Koppen, and WR Wes Welker to make the offense play to its' potential, while he's focusing on Jerod Mayo, Vince Wilfork, and Brandon Meriweather to lead what was once of the most respected and feared defenses in the league. The person who broke the news was a Patriot legend, WR Troy Brown. Brown said,
“From what I understand, they're gutting out the whole place," Brown said in Curran's piece. "There's no pictures of Troy Brown, there's no pictures of Tedy Bruschi, no pictures of Rodney Harrison in the building. It's all wiped off. It's (saying), 'Get your own identity. Get a name for yourselves and don't worry about what Troy Brown did or Rodney Harrison did for this football team'.”
Belichick, who once buried a crud covered anchor to say the team was burying all of the dead weight that it was carrying, used what is probably his most reckless, but strongest motivational tactic yet. With New England being looked at as the second best team in the division behind the New York Jets, Belichick is hoping that everyone from coaches to veterans to rookies step up and answer the challenge. If players respond, Belichick will have done it again, making “The Patriot Way” stronger than ever.
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