ESPN.com - NFL/TRAININGCAMP00 - Patriots: It's Belichick's team

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 Wednesday, August 16
Patriots: It's Belichick's team
 
 By Mark Cannizzaro
Special to ESPN.com

Like the Dolphins and Jets, the New England Patriots are breaking in a new head coach -- former Jets' defensive guru Bill Belichick. When Bill Parcells left New England after the 1996 season and was replaced by Pete Carroll, there were folks in New England who said the relaxed atmosphere would benefit the Patriots' players.

Now, with the easy-going Carroll having been booted in favor of Belichick, the same people are saying Belichick's discipline should bring the team back to Super Bowl contention. Go figure.

 
CAMP AT A GLANCE
 J.R. Redmond
The Patriots hope J.R. Redmond can help stabilize their running back situation.
  Locations: Foxboro Stadium (Foxboro, Mass.); Bryant College (Smithfield, R.I.) after July 23
Rookies report: July 12
Veterans report: July 16
Preseason schedule:
   July 31: San Francisco
   Aug. 4: at Detroit
   Aug. 11: at Washington
   Aug. 20: Tampa Bay
   Aug. 24: Carolina

Man in the spotlight
Clearly, it's Belichick. Patriots owner Bob Kraft, the meddling type, isn't easy to work for. However, Kraft has given Belichick complete autonomy over all football decisions in hopes he can reverse the Carroll trend, which included records of 10-6 to 9-7 to 8-8. The first step in the right direction for Belichick is the unwavering support he has from the players, most notably, quarterback Drew Bledsoe, the most important player on the team.

Bledsoe, too, is a man in the spotlight. In the Patriots' 6-2 start in '99, he threw 13 touchdowns and only four interceptions. In the Pats' disastrous 2-6, those numbers sank to six touchdowns and 17 interceptions. For those who are still stuck on criticizing Belichick for his downfall in his only other head coaching experience in Cleveland, you should know that that was an impossible situation that he learned from. He'll be better this time around.

Key position battle
Running back. As in, who's going to be the featured back? Since Curtis Martin left for the Jets, the Patriots have failed to find a replacement. Robert Edwards looked like he'd be the answer until he suffered that terrible, career-threatening knee injury in a rookie exhibition game at the Pro Bowl.

The Patriots drafted Arizona State running back J.R. Redmond, whom they badly want to become the starter. They, too, signed journeyman Raymont Harris as insurance since Terry Allen is gone.

Biggest adjustment
The Pats will need to get used to Belichick's no-nonsense style of coaching, a contrast to Carroll's style. Belichick made some tough early personnel decisions and he fired respected personnel man Bobby Grier in the offseason. It's his ball and they'll play the way he wants them to ... or else.

Belichick, too, is a much different communicator than Carroll was. Carroll's door was seemingly always open. Belichick is a more difficult person to get to know.

Rookie report
The key here is Redmond, a third-round pick. If he can become an effective starter, it will take a lot of pressure off Bledsoe. The second-round pick, Hawaii tackle Adrian Klemm, could compete for a starting job, but he looks more like a project.

New England Patriots
Signed Waived/released/lost
*S Lawyer Milloy
RB Raymont Harris
TE Eric Bjornson from Cowboys
*WR Troy Brown
WR-KR Aaron Bailey
*WR Sean Morey
*OT Ed Ellis
OT Grant Williams from Seahawks
LB Marc Megna
*LB Tedy Bruschi
*CB Kato Serwanga
OT Lance Scott from Giants
CB Antonio Langham from Browns
 
 
 
 
 
 

Acquired via trade

Retired

TE Ben Coates
WR Shawn Jefferson to Falcons
OT Bruce Armstrong
RB Terry Allen
RB Lamont Warren
DL Chris Sullivan to Steelers
OL Heath Irwin to Dolphins
LB Marty Moore to Browns
TE Lovett Purnell to TB
LB Ron Merkerson to NO
RB Jerry Ellison to Bucs
CB Corey Ivy
DB Terry Billups
OL Zefross Moss
LB Vernon Crawford
DT Bob Kuberski to Broncos
TE Mike Bartrum
DB Steve Israel to Saints
LB Jeff Kopp to Seahawks
RB Derrick Cullors
DB J'Juan Cherry
DE Jon Harris

Traded


 



ALSO SEE
Bills: It's Johnson's job, for now

Colts: Taking the next step

Dolphins: Diving into a new era

Jets: Plenty of room to Groh



AUDIO/VIDEO
video
 Merril Hoge explains the injury woes that are plaguing the Patriots.
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

audio
 Lawyer Milloy says the Patriots have a coach that will push them.
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 Ted Johnson says the Patriots have more structure under Belichick.
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 Drew Bledsoe previews the 2000 season.
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 Drew Bledsoe is hoping the running game will step up this season.
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 Drew Bledsoe is looking forward to playing against the Washington Redskins the season.
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 Ty Law comments on coach Bill Belichick's return.
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 Bill Belichick says coaches are judged by their accomplishments.
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 Ty Law says Bill Bilichick has brought a new attitude to New England.
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