Top 10 Bill Belichick-isms

Anthony Faccenda

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick may be a man of few words, but when he speaks people listen. And when Belichick does speak, chances are he’s uttering one his famous “Belichick-isms.”

Although the five-time Super Bowl winner (three as a head coach) has coined numerous comedic gems during his 14 seasons with the Patriots, there are some that particularly stand out. 

So without further adieu, here are the 10 Greatest Bill Belichick-isms.

10. Fortune Telling

“Whatever hasn’t happened hasn’t happened.”

Don’t ask Bill Belichick to predict the future. When asked how Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers would fare in his first-ever start against the Patriots, Belichick simply stated, “Whatever hasn’t happened hasn’t happened. I’m not really worried about it.”

For the record, Rodgers fared quite well throwing for 368 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 26-21 win over the Patriots in November.

9. Stats Shmats

“Stats are for losers”

Coach Belichick delivered this line in 2009 after Carolina Panthers' cornerbacks Chris Gamble and Chris Harris criticized former-Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss for catching just one pass in a Patriots victory.

"Everybody can't have high stats every week. It's impossible,” Belichick told Boston.com. The head coach went on to say, "Stats are for losers. The final score is for winners."

8. Valuable Insight

“They both wear #12”

As if Belichick’s “Whatever hasn’t happened hasn’t happened” response wasn’t indicative enough of the coach's mood, reporters asked him to shed some light on the similarities between Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers later in the same news conference. “They both wear #12,” Belichick responded before walking away from the podium.

7. Huh? 

“Third down starts on first and second down”

Speaking of the Patriots defense after a 41-28 win over the Houston Texans in January 2013, Belichick said:

“We had them in the third quarter in a couple long yardage situations before Rob’s [Ninkovich] interception let them off the hook. Third down starts on first and second down. It just comes down to team defense – good pass rush, good coverage and keeping the yardage longer by playing better on first and second down.

6. Is it Cold in Here?

"Next time you get a cold, I'll ask you exactly what date you'll be feeling better, how would you like that?" 

It’s no secret that coach Belichick is tight-lipped when it comes to disclosing injury reports. When asked in 2010 about his reluctance to discuss such information, Belichick joked, "Next time you get a cold, I'll ask you exactly what date you'll be feeling better, how would you like that?"

5. Stating the Obvious

"How do you think he got here? Parachuted in? We scouted him."

Stupid questions deserve sarcastic answers. When asked whether he had scouted former-Patriots running back Danny Woodhead prior to him joining the team in 2010, coach Belichick said, "How do you think he got here? Parachuted in? We scouted him.” 

Currently a member of the San Diego Chargers, the dependable Woodhead missed just three games during his three seasons in New England. 

4. Keeping it Simple

"He got open and caught some balls. Let's not make it too complicated."

After a Patriots win over the Baltimore Ravens in October 2010, Belichick kept it simple when analyzing former-Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch’s performance.

"He got open and caught some balls. Let's not make it too complicated,” said Belichick. Branch caught nine passes, including one TD in the 23-20 win over the Ravens. The game was also Branch’s first time back in a Patriots uniform since he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks four years prior.

3. Late Night Humor

“Nobody kept us abreast of that”

In a February 2004 appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, Letterman asked coach Belichick what he thought about Janet Jackson’s infamous wardrobe malfunction during Super Bowl XXXVIII’s halftime show.

“We didn’t see [it]. We were in the locker room…Nobody kept us abreast of that,” replied Belichick.

2. A Man of Few Words

“I got carried away”

Whether it’s talking to reporters or the President of the United States, Bill Belichick never says more than is necessary – a point that did not go unnoticed with President George W. Bush.

During a 2004 White House event honoring the Patriots, the former President said to Belichick: “I don’t know what it’s like in the locker room, but I remember when you were here… and you said you were going to say a few words and you said, like, four words.”

In true Belichick fashion, the head coach dryly replied, “I got carried away.”

1. Stopping to Smell the Roses

“We’re not going out there to visit the San Diego Zoo”

Prior to the Patriots match-up with the San Diego Chargers in October 2010, the head coach reassured the media that his team didn’t plan on partaking in any recreational activities while in San Diego.

“This is a business trip," said Belichick. "We’re not going out there to…you know…visit the San Diego Zoo.”

In true business-like fashion, the Patriots went on to defeat the Chargers 23-20. 

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