NFL teams
Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior Writer 9y

Bill Belichick: Focused on Seahawks

NFL, New England Patriots

CHANDLER, Ariz. -- New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick may have tried to leave the controversy about under-inflated footballs back in Massachusetts, but when the team arrived in Arizona Monday afternoon Belichick found the issue waiting for him.

After offering, in a news conference Saturday that "this is the end of this subject for me for a long time, OK? We have a huge game, a huge challenge for our football team and that's where that focus is going to go," Belichick was asked about the issue multiple times in his first formal media availability of Super Bowl week.

And with the traditional Super Bowl media day on deck for Tuesday to go with three more trips to the podium on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, respectively, it figures not to be the last.

However, just moments after Patriots owner Robert Kraft made an unscheduled trip to the podium at the resort hotel that will serve as the Patriots headquarters this week to throw his unwavering support behind Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady -- Kraft said he believed "unconditionally" the Patriots had done nothing wrong and the NFL should apologize both men if the investigation did not "definitely" reveal the two had tampered with the footballs -- Belichick tried his level best to close the matter for the week.

On the league's investigation and whether or not he expected an apology, Belichick said: "I appreciate the question, I've spent, as you know, quite a bit of time, I've had two lengthy press conferences about that, my attention is totally turned now and focused on Seattle Seahawks and our game Sunday and that's where it's going to stay for this week."

On whether or not any team employee was directed to doctor the footballs, Belichick said: "Again, I appreciate the questions, but I have covered everything I can cover the previous week and my attention is focused on the Seattle Seahawks. Our job is to get ready to play this game Sunday and that's where it's going to be from here on out."

On when he became aware today of a Fox Sports report that a locker room attendant was a person of interest in the investigation, Belichick said: "Right now the only thing I'm focused on is the Seattle Seahawks. That's what we're going to talk about. I've discussed everything else at length and they'll be another point in time for it, but this week it's all about Seattle."

And Belichick was asked about Kraft's strong words of support Monday and their relationship.

"I have a great relationship with Mr. Kraft, I really appreciate the opportunity every day to coach the New England Patriots," Belichick said. "Mr. Kraft gave up quite a bit in order to work out the trade, basically that's what it was, for me to be part of this organization after I resigned from the [New York] Jets. I'll always be indebted to him for that ... we have a great personal relationship and we have a great professional relationship."

Belichick said Saturday the Patriots "followed every rule" in preparing their footballs for last Sunday's AFC Championship Game, offering several potential reasons behind 11 footballs having been measured as under-inflated at halftime of the Patriots win over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship Game.

Also Saturday, Belichick detailed the organization's preparation process and offered weather conditions may have affected the air pressure in the footballs.

NFL rules state that footballs must have air pressure between 12.5 PSI and 13.5 PSI. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said Thursday he prefers the footballs to be at the minimum legal level, right at 12.5 PSI.

The NFL Players Association has advised the Patriots players not to speak on the on the NFL's current investigation.

In 2007, the Patriots had a first-round draft pick taken away and were fined $250,000 while Belichick was personally fined $500,000 for illegally taping the New York Jets' defensive signals during a September game that season.

^ Back to Top ^