Belichick crafts new image

By Ed Duckworth, New England Sports Service

FOXBORO -- In Cleveland he was considered too gruff, sour and media-hostile to succeed.

In New York he was described as treacherous, two-faced, unsure of himself and conceivably a little mad.

But in the four months since Bill Belichick assumed his dream job in New England, the former head coach of the Browns has built a totally different image for myself.

Gone is the seemingly permanent frown, the condescending air, the impatience and the curt tounge that created enemies.

Belichick smiles, at least occasionally now, and his mood is as understanding as his speech is civil. He doesn't even to appear to question the motives of those who raise questions about his plans for the Patriots.

The impression the new Belichick leaves is that he has been devoting almost as much effort to showing he has grown as a person as well as a football tactician since his first flight as an NFL head coach crashed and burned in 1995.

"People change," a source in the Pats' front office observed the other day. "Smart people recognize when changes have to be made. And nobody ever accused Bill Belichick of not being smart."

For now, at least, the upbeat, media-friendly Belichick appears to have the old demons under control as he prepares for his next challenge in the team's initial mini-camps.

"Things have gone fairly well," he told a reporter the other night. "Overall, participation in our offseason conditioning program was pretty good."

But "pretty good" apparently isn't sufficient for the new head coach and de facto general manager, who in a conversation with another newsman indicated his displeasure over the failure of several players -- including, as usual, controversial wide receiver Terry Glenn -- to make a 100-percent commitment to the off-season program.

"When the conditioning program began, we emphasized the importance of team preparation from March through July," Belichick declared. "Most players understood that and acted appropriately. The fact others didn't disappoints me."

Belichick wouldn't name names, but Glenn spent most of the last few weeks working out near his home in Columbus, Ohio, instead of Foxboro Stadium. Cornerback Ty Law, whose offseason regimen has been written by track coach Bob Kersee the last few years, also drifted in and out of town. Veteran defensive tackle Henry Thomas was another no-show, opting to work out near his home in Houston.

Although he may never have the sort of theatrical command of things as his former boss, Bill Parcells, did, Belichick will not be nearly as standoffish or easy to please as his predecessor, Pete Carroll, at mini-camps or when the heavy work begins in July.

"I believe in making certain players know what techniques we're going to demand," he declared. "I feel that if something's worth doing, it's worth doing right. If that means we have to stop practice to correct a mistake, so be it. Whether you're talking offense or defense, you have to have 11 guys on the same page, not 9 or 10."

Belichick intends to concentrate his personal efforts on improving the Pats' defense at first, leaving offensive coordinator Charlie Weis in charge of the team's passing and running attacks.

"I have complete confidence in Charlie," said Belichick. "We've worked together before, both here and with the Jets. He knows what I want and expect. It's his responsibility to see that our players get it."

Much as he would like to sign another free agent or two -- defensive end Anthony Pleasant, who played for him in Cleveland and New York, and offensive tackle Mike Frederick of Tennessee often are mentioned -- Belichick may not have the salary-cap dollars to move at this point.

"We're about twenty bucks under the ($57-million cap) limit," he joked. "But I wouldn't say we aren't still interested in doing something. It's possible we might do a little tinkering here and there before (training) camp."

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