Belichick focuses on team, not just Collins
FOXBORO — Bill Belichick was asked several questions yesterday regarding the trade of Jamie Collins to the Browns, not the least of which was about his belief the team is better without the linebacker than it was before the deal.
“It’s my professional judgment,” Belichick said.
The Patriots coach didn’t have much else to say on the topic.
“I really don’t have much to add,” Belichick said. “I’ve already talked about it. (We did) what we feel like was best for the team.
“It’s a bottom-line decision. That’s what it was. I’m not going to talk about the 500 things that could be talked about relative to it. It’s too long, too cumbersome of a conversation.”
Belichick also was asked about the emotional fallout, considering coaches and players discussed Collins yesterday said nothing but positive things.
“Unfortunately, that’s part of this business,” Belichick said. “I’m sure a lot of you don’t want to take into consideration other moves that are made on the roster, but they affect everybody. It might be a guy who isn’t a big guy on your radar. But to a roommate or to a teammate who is very close to him, it is a big move to him.
“So I recognize that. I understand that. I appreciate that. But again, in the end, my responsibility is to the football team. It’s not to an individual player. So I make the decision that I make based on what I feel like is best for the team. It’s not a personal decision.
“I know you want to focus on the bigger names, if you will, which is fine,” Belichick said. “I understand that. But all the players on the team are important to me. They’re important to their teammates. They’re important to the organization. Anything that affects any individual on the team is important, not just to three or four that we want to single out because of whatever their star power is.”
Belichick faced a line of questions about former Patriots executive and current commentator Mike Lombardi’s aggressive criticism of Collins’ work ethic, inconsistent performance, moodiness and freelancing, none of which was backed up by defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, linebackers coach Brian Flores or other players yesterday.
“You should ask Mike about whatever Mike said,” Belichick said. “I’m sure everybody had something to say, so go talk to them.”
Lombardi worked for Belichick’s Browns in the 1990s and then in Foxboro for 2014 and 2015 before the sides parted ways.
“I expressed my feelings,” Belichick said when asked for his thoughts on the topic. “I think other coaches have expressed their feelings. I’m sure there’s a lot of people out there that have got opinions. Go talk to them.”
But Belichick later complimented Lombardi’s football knowledge.
“Mike is one of the smartest people that I know,” Belichick said. “He was a huge asset to me for the two years that he was here. So Mike is a smart guy, and he studies football, and he knows it very well, I would say on probably all teams.”