New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick isn’t losing touch with his players, even at 67 years old. In fact, he may be trying to get closer than ever with his team as times change.
Tight end Ben Watson, for the most part, said that Belichick is the same man now that he was in 2009, when Watson finished his first stint with the team. But there seems to be one exception. Belichick has been participating in the rookie skits, a playful initiative where first-year players are forced to do silly theatrical performances (and, in turn, make fools of themselves) during training camp.
“I don’t know how long he’s been doing this, because it was new to me since this was my first year back after a decade, we divided into teams and Coach Belichick actually participated in a rookie team show,” Watson said during an appearance on FOX Sports. “He was on the stage, telling jokes, making fun of other people, making fun of himself, having a great time.
“It doesn’t mean that he still doesn’t demand the utmost respect. It doesn’t mean that doesn’t hold the standard very, very high when it came to how we performed on the field. But there was a sense of humor there and kind of a let-your-hair-down-type deal that I really appreciated that I know wasn’t the case before. As we’ve seen, still successful, still the greatest all-time coach, still wins, still Super Bowls.”
Bill Belichick the comedian? 🎤@BenjaminSWatson recalls the time Belichick told jokes on stage during the Patriots 'rookie' team show: pic.twitter.com/9X6DE3Di1t
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) April 14, 2020
Belichick is apparently trying to get with the times,
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