Mike recorded an interview with Mangini before the show and it will be replayed at approx 1:25. You can listen in @ www.wfan.com
Mike: Reflect on your season... EM: so many firsts, seeing the guys work as hard as they have, consistently, thru their hard work.. Mike: Talking about Beli now.. makes sports interseting... EM: A great coaching staff... tough place to play... excited aboutthe opportunity
Mike talking about the Elmo thing... EM: great show and glad to do the show with Elmo... Mike: Good luck... EM: thanks milke. Sorry I picked up the show so late fellas. Didn't hear very much.
It's 1:40 and EM's off the air. If it started at 1:25, he was only on for 15 minutes. Great... because that's all the time he should be devoting to answering their questions. We've got better things to be doing.
Mike: Whats tougher? A press conference after a loss or doing the Elmo Thing. Eric: Definitely the press conference. I love elmo and I love Sesame Street. That only part about that I didn't like was when Bellichick jumped out of the garbage can with a big grumpy face.
Not much else said. He said he was proud of the entire rookie squad and how they transitioned. Also said that he will be prepared for anything that Belichick will come up with that isn't in the playbook of the past, and will address those on the sidelines.
The whole getting smart players to learn a different gameplan every week is vintage Belichick. This is the first time I have heard him in a press conference. I'll say this, he's copied the blueprint better than any of the Belichick disciples. I mean he is going verbatim. Not a bad thing for the Jets.
There wasn't all that much to hear. Mangini doesn't really say anything. Talked about how NE and NYJ were both chameleon-teams who change the gameplan for each week, and why they need smart players. Praised the players for working hard. Talked about how hard Chad works. Nothing new.
For those who didn't hear the interview, it will probably be put on the site later today or tomorrow.
No, I mean Belichick. Yes, to some extent, it starts with Parcells. But as Weis said in his introductory press conference at ND, "I learned a lot from Parcells, but Belichick took it to another level". I think Saban, Weis, Mangini, Pat Hill, Ferentz, these guys are more Belichick guys than Parcells. And so is Pioli, ironically.
I was going to say, anyone expecting very much will be disappointed. Mangini has coach-speak (coachese) down to a science. No information given, nothing to be learned. It drives fans nuts but he learned from Belichick how to protect your information. You could shove bamboo splinters up their fingernails and you won't learn a thing.
I agree with to a certain extant. He has the Belichick thing going when it comes to the media and press conferences. But he seems different behind the seems. Mangini has a really good relationship with his players and sems like a fun guy. His players talk about how he walked into the locker room like a penguin after Coles gave him that nickname. That he jokes around on the sideline and in practice. The whole Elmo thing. I am not a Pats fan so I am not sure what stories there are about Belicheck behinds the seens. But Mangini seems like a nice guy, who is close with his players. But is hard nosed at practices and keeps a tight lip with the press. Beli just seems like a prick all the time.
parcells wasnt a good x's and o's kind of guy. his thing is controlling the media and getting into players heads to make them work harder.
I agree that Mangini shows a lighter side to the press, where Belichick is god awful dry. But Belichick has another side that you don't see very often. He does a weekly radio show on WEEI (Boston's WFAN equivalent) where he jokes with Fred Smerlas, Steve Nelson and Steve DeOssie. He has personality. He's just all business when in front of cameras so you don't see it.
