FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- A couple of months ago, Bill Belichick couldn't bring himself to say the J word -- Jets. Recounting his long coaching history with former assistant Romeo Crennel, Belichick mentioned every team by name except when he got to the New York Jets. He referred to them as "another team."
That team is the team this week, which explains why Belichick has shifted into filibuster mode. You can't shut him up about the Jets, whom the New England Patriots face on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
When he faced the Boston media on Wednesday, Belichick's opening statement on the Jets was 523 words, according to the transcript released by the Patriots.