Watch CBS News

Top 10 Bill Belichick Quotes From Patriots Minicamp

BOSTON (CBS) -- It was not quite summer yet when the Patriots gathered this week for minicamp, but you'd never know it if you were listening to Bill Belichick, who's already in midseason form.

The New England head coach, known for his terse replies when asked questions which he doesn't want to answer, was pencil-point sharp in his dealings with the media this week.

Oh sure, there were times when Belichick spoke in great detail about the team's plans and goals for the practice sessions, or discussing individual players' journeys to this point, or what rookies hope to accomplish in their first full sessions with the team, and so on and so forth.

But still, there were plenty of classic Belichick moments this week, ones that no other coach in the NFL could really think of pulling off. Here's a look at some of the best.

10. If not you, then who?

Q: Are you impressed with where everybody is at this stage in the offseason?
BB: We have a long way to go. I don't know.

9. Masterfully turning a yes-or-no question into a gray area.

Q: Are you expecting 100 percent attendance?
BB:
We'll see. Hopefully.

8. Do your homework.

Q: How important is to get in pads even though it's June?
BB: Well, we can't do it.
Q: You're not doing pads?
BB: No, we can't. Of course not.

7. Don't hold your breath.

Q: When do you expect to see [Armond Armstead] on the field?
BB: We'll see how it goes.
Q: At this point with him whether he's out there or not, do you have any reservations about expecting him to be available at some point?
BB: If we have anything on that, you'll be the first to know.

6. Today is not the day for Bill to open up about his feelings.

Q: During this time of year between minicamp and training camp what are some of the stresses you have as a coach in terms of what the players may lose just by osmosis?
BB: I don't know. It's no different than the way it's been for the last 40 years.

5. Breaking character by giving an injury update. Just kidding, he's saying nothing.

Q: Do you expect to have Rob Gronkowski on the field today?
BB: We just keep going day to day. Every day, we'll just keep moving along day to day with everybody.

4. Practice is good. But not that good.

Q: Obviously with Ryan Mallett out, Jimmy Garoppolo has been able to get a lot of work out there. How beneficial have these two days been for him just getting some reps?
BB: He's gotten a lot of reps, so he should be good.
Q: What have you learned about him in this first month that maybe you didn't know before you drafted him?
BB: I don't know. All the rookies have a long way to go.

3. Not feeding the nonsense.

Q: I'm going to ask you about a story where Mike Pettine alleges the Patriots maybe had the Jets' playbook at some point. Did you ever have the Jets playbook?
BB: you'd have to talk to Mike about that

2. Philosophical Bill, not fretting about the future.

Q: Any plans for team activities or to cancel practice tomorrow?
BB: Whatever we decide to do tomorrow, we'll figure it out tomorrow.

1. There is a zero percent chance that you are getting an answer to this question.

Q: Is there a reason why Darrelle Revis wasn't out there at practice today?
BB: All the players that are out there practicing are practicing and the ones that aren't, aren't.

MORE PATRIOTS COVERAGE FROM CBS BOSTON

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.