Belichick praises DeBartolo
Patriots coach details his respect for former owner of 49ers
SANTA CLARA — Bill Belichick said Wednesday his respect for 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. couldn’t be “put into words.” Preceding that disclaimer, however, was a 361-word soliloquy praising DeBartolo’s influence on Belichick and the NFL.
“I’ve sought his advice many times,” Belichick said on a conference call with Bay Area media. “He’s always been very candid, open, and helpful. I just couldn’t say enough great things about Eddie.”
The 49ers will honor DeBartolo at halftime and present him with his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring.
“I wish that I had the opportunity to work with him,” Belichick added. “Although I had a great experience with the Giants (as an assistant in 1979-90) — I mean I don’t regret anything that happened, I’m not saying that. But he is truly one of the great owners that the league has had, the things he and Coach (Bill) Walsh did organizationally were just so far ahead of their time. Just, I mean, they were tremendous.”
Belichick detailed his family’s two-generationsdeep connection with DeBartolo’s family in suburban Ohio, and he recalled “monster” games against DeBartolo’s 49ers as a Giants assistant.
“I have so much respect for Eddie, the organization that he built with the 49ers,” Belichick said. “His selection to the Hall of Fame is long overdue. But glad he received the recognition that I certainly feel he deserved. I regret that I wasn’t able to be at the induction myself this year.”
n While it’s no secret Belichick and 49ers coach Chip Kelly have been friends and consulted with each other for years, 49ers general manager Trent Baalke and Belichick both worked for the New York Jets in 1998-99, Baalke as a scout and Belichick as Bill Parcells’ assistant head coach.
“Obviously he’s added a lot of talented players,” Belichick said of Baalke’s current role. “He’s drafted some big, fast guys; defensive linemen, offensive linemen last year. He’s taken some developmental-type players, like (Tank) Carradine, an injury-type guy.
“There’s a lot of the guys he’s drafted and put on his team, I think probably every team in the league would like to have some of those players.”
n A shoulder injury kept Torrey Smith out of practice a second straight day and limited him to individual conditioning on a side field. He has played in every game possible his six-year career.
n Sunday’s weather forecast calls for a 90 percent chance of rain and temperatures in the low 60s. To prepare for the slick conditions, 49ers special teams coaches squirted water on the ball as long snapper Kyle Nelson worked with punter Bradley Pinion in practice.
Cold, rainy conditions greeted the 49ers and Patriots the last time they met, in 2012 at New England, where the 49ers won 34-31.
n Limited in 49ers practice were cornerbacks Tramaine Brock (hamstring) and Rashard Robinson (knee); outside linebackers Aaron Lynch (ankle) and Eli Harold (toe); defensive tackles Quinton Dial (knee, neck) and Glenn Dorsey (knee); and center Daniel Kilgore (hamstring, calf).
Patriots tight end Rob n Gronkowski (chest) did not practice. Limited were tight end Martellus Bennett (ankle), defensive tackle Alan Branch (back) and wide receivers Julian Edelman (foot) and Chris Hogan (back).
Players must pay a n season-high $227 per ticket for premium seats this week. “Especially with New England, they want to jack it up,” one 49ers player said anonymously. Each player is given two complimentary tickets, and according to the league’s collective bargaining agreement, they must pay the same seasonticket variable rate as fans, with $188 tickets also available, the team said.
Terrell Owens and n Roger Craig are among 26 modern-era semifinalists for next year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame class. This is Owens’ second straight year to reach that stage and Craig’s ninth overall. Another semifinalist, for a third time, is wide receiver Isaac Bruce, who closed his career with the 49ers in 2008-09.