War Room by Michael Holley

Author:Michael Holley
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: HarperCollins US

What the public saw from the New England Patriots most of the time was a cardboard stiffness. Engaging them in a relaxed, on-the-record conversation was like trying to converse with the generic computer voice that repeated your four or five menu options. Belichick had convinced most of them that the media were a distraction, and despite their real personalities, they became men of steel when the cameras came on.

There were no cameras in Foxboro in the middle of January, so steel gave way to flesh, muscle fiber, and blood. The Patriots weren’t trying to “manage expectations” or “focus on the next game.” They were just a bunch of guys sad that they were losing two more three-time champions, Scott Pioli and Josh McDaniels. McDaniels was going to Denver, where at thirty-two years old he’d be the youngest coach in the league. It had been easy for him the night before, when Belichick had left him a message congratulating him on getting the job. The coach said he was happy for McDaniels and his wife, Laura, and their three kids. But then there was the next day, when McDaniels had to see Belichick.

He walked into Belichick’s office with every intention of speaking, but he couldn’t say anything. He was so appreciative of everything the coach had done for him, he couldn’t quite put it in a sentence or two to express his gratitude. Every time he tried to get out a word, his voice would start cracking and he’d have to quickly stop or everything was going to fall apart. Belichick put up his hands, told him not to worry about speaking, and gave him some advice.

“Things are about to change for you. They always do,” the coach said. “You’re not going to be playing a lot of golf, I can tell you that. But don’t let the important things change. Whatever you do, make sure Laura is okay with it. This is going to be a big change for her, too. Make sure you keep up a good relationship with your kids.”

Belichick also reminded him to bring young people into the system whom he could train, just as Belichick had done with McDaniels. Later, it was Laura McDaniels’s turn to cry. The couple was being driven to the airport when a call came in from Tom Brady. McDaniels put him on speaker and, within seconds, Laura’s makeup was running.

“You’re going to do a great job out there,” Brady said. “I’m going to miss you, man. I love you.”

There was a feeling in Foxboro that it was only a matter of time before McDaniels left. With Pioli, the instinctive reaction for people was not to give him a hug and say, “Congratulations.” It was more, “You’re kidding, right?” Even when permission was sought and granted, even when he went on lengthy interviews with the Browns and Chiefs, there was a belief that Pioli wasn’t going anywhere.

How could he leave? He was part of a unique NFL partnership with Belichick. They had talked drafts, salary caps, free agents, and trades hundreds of times.

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