Belichick's statements are the hottest fashion

By Jim McCabe, Globe Staff, 2/5/2002

EW ORLEANS - Not long after Adam Vinatieri's winning field goal had split the uprights Sunday night to seal perhaps the most glorious chapter in New England sports history, Bill Belichick slipped out of his coach's garb and into suit and tie. Appropriate attire, he felt, for a postgame celebration.

Yesterday at 8:30 a.m., barely three hours after he had closed out his participation in that celebration, Belichick was in the same suit and tie to address a media thirsting to ask more questions about the improbable 20-17 victory over St. Louis in Super Bowl XXXVI. Oh, the fashion police would have noticed that the suit was slightly wrinkled, but even on just a few hours sleep there was no mistaking the man's demeanor. Every thread of it was perfectly in place, like a well-pressed shirt.

Inquiries had to wait, because first the Patriots coach wanted to dispel the notion that he pops into a phone booth to change into his work clothes. ''It's the most unselfish group of players and coaches that I've ever been around,'' he said. ''The credit needs to go to the players.''

When it was suggested that Belichick had outcoached the Rams' Mike Martz, some onlookers couldn't help but revive a memory of another time in Patriots history when this line of questioning caused an uproar, back in Tuna Time, when an unsuspecting young reporter was nearly eaten alive. But Belichick is not Bill Parcells, even if they are now, and forever will be, linked. Oh, they are both passionate and tireless when it comes to football, and they made a most wonderful team all those football seasons, but whereas Parcells has a dominating personality, Belichick has never seen a shadow in which he didn't mind standing.

After all, he can devise brilliant game plans there, too.

''I don't know about any coaching or anything,'' he said. ''We did what we thought was a game plan against St. Louis, but the players are the ones who executed it. They played hard and they were physical and took some things away from the Rams.''

The Patriots had lost 13 of the 18 games they had played under Belichick's leadership before something magical happened back in September. Call it fate or destiny, call it whatever you like, but the reality is that not even five months ago, Belichick was not being called a genius. He is now, just as he once was when he served as Parcells's defensive coordinator, and the word makes Charlie Weis laugh.

''I don't know about him being a genius,'' said Weis, Belichick's offensive coordinator and close friend. ''I'd have to check his IQ.''

From Belichick's perspective, that's a stale, silly topic of conversation. He coaches football and he subscribes to a theory that is as basic as the extra point - ''offense wins games, defense wins championships.''

And because he always has been and always will be a guy who loves defense, Belichick pays great attention to what his team does on that side of the ball. ''We want to be a defensive football team,'' he said. ''We don't want offenses to feel like they can just pound us. That's our game.''

He didn't say it was ''my'' game, because that is not Belichick's style. Credit went to ''our defensive coaches, to [defensive coordinator] Romeo Crennel, and the defensive players for playing within the team concept,'' but even on a few hours' sleep Belichick was alert enough to draw people's attention to this fact:

''St. Louis moved the ball well. They had some plays. There were a lot of things they hurt us with.''

Indeed, there had been 427 total yards by the Rams, so New England hadn't exactly stifled the overwhelming favorites. Belichick knew the Patriots wouldn't, either, so he reminded them of an old football adage, one that doesn't require genius IQ to comprehend: ''It wasn't how many yards they get, but keeping them off the board.''

Because the Patriots did that very well, they are Super Bowl champions, the mere thought still serving as a shot of Novocain two days later. Belichick sat casually next to NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, talking softly, while Tom Brady accepted his award for being the game's MVP. As Brady answered questions, Belichick listened, seemingly fighting off exhaustion. The party had dragged on until nearly daybreak and now he was paying the price, though it was a small price to pay for the greatest prize in his profession.

At one point in the press conference, Belichick was asked about the decision two years ago, the one in which he quit just one day after being named head coach of the New York Jets. There are those who would have erupted at such timing, but not Belichick. Dignity intact, he merely smiled. ''These Jets questions never die,'' he said, then politely explained how the timing had been bad and a number of other factors existed that he didn't care to share at this time. This was the team's time in the spotlight, so Belichick simply pronounced his appreciation that Patriots owner Bob Kraft ''gave me a chance to return to the Patriots.''

There was a return home last night and Belichick will be at today's parade. Most likely there will be fresh attire, but even if he were to show up in the wrinkled suit and tie, please forgive him.

He's here for the football, not the fashion.