New England Patriots
10:08 AM EST on Thursday, January 27, 2005
From a distance, arguably the greatest player in NFL history watches the
New England Patriots with a mixture of awe, pride and surprise.
AP file photo Jim Brown
Hall of Famer Jim Brown, the former Cleveland Browns running back and
longtime friend of head coach Bill Belichick was asked yesterday where
the Patriots fit in the conversation of the greatest teams ever.
"Here we are, on the eve of the Super Bowl and this team will have won
three out of four if they win," Brown said from his Los Angeles office
yesterday. "That really speaks for itself. And even if they don't win,
the statement has been made.
"Without avoiding the question, this is a great team, a great
organization in modern times with free agency and salary caps and
different types of coaches that has been able to dominate the league and
done it using intelligence, discipline, teamwork, the team concept. All
these things allowed other teams to be great in history. All those teams
had the same things in common and the litany of individuals who played
roles. This team is a marvel, even a greater example because of the time
at which the feat is being accomplished. Experts said dynasties were
done. Nobody could do it again. The great thing is the way this team
applies people and utilizes people and puts pieces together."
Belichick and Brown first struck a friendship when Belichick took over
the Cleveland Browns in 1991 and Brown was still very involved with his
former team. Their chemistry, Brown said, was rare. "I have friends I
speak to for 20 years who don't understand me. Bill understood in five
minutes."
Brown was troubled by the way things spun out of control on Belichick in
Cleveland.
"I remember the things he had to endure when the team left (for
Baltimore) so to see him rebound and maintain his dignity and character
and beliefs makes me so proud. I'm also very proud of (Patriots owner)
Robert Kraft. He went through similar things (after Bill Parcells left
and the Patriots went into mild decline) and he has really given me
great respect and helped my organization (Amer-I-Can). He was the one
owner that went when President Clinton had an open forum on diversity in
the NFL. They are both Cinderella stories to me, both men of character
and vision."
Brown concedes that Belichick's on-field vision is so great, the
Patriots have accomplished things even he didn't see coming.
"These last two wins have been unbelievable," said Brown. "I don't
understand how they could shut down Peyton Manning one week with one
defense then come back and beat Pittsburgh, passing and running on
offense and swarming the Bus (Jerome Bettis). You'd think Pittsburgh
would be able to throw all over the field with four or five players on
the Bus."
Brown has such great appreciation for the team concept the Patriots
espouse, it was interesting to hear his take on Terrell Owens. The
Eagles wide receiver hasn't played in either of Philadelphia's playoff
wins and is very iffy for the Super Bowl, yet he will gladly dominate
the pregame coverage of the Eagles. Isn't that a little out of whack,
Brown was asked.
"We're in an era of great technology, great journalism and great
reporting at a time when the country is at the height of football
mania," said Brown. "Come on. (The media) is competing in its
profession. (The speculation) is part of what the fans enjoy also. We
can't look at the hype and dispose of it because it is entertainment at
its highest level. And sometimes at its lowest. Terrell is a talent.
Yes, he hasn't participated and stories have been written but it would
seem strange if they weren't, wouldn't it?
"I don't like a lot of things the modern player does," Brown added. "But
1-on-1, I love the modern player. I've never met a player in person I
disliked. Never met a young man in football today that's not respectful
of me. They sound different. Take Corey Dillon, a great talent. If you
listen to his comments, they are very beautiful comments. In Cincinnati
he was a non-conformist. Knowing Bill, he found the way to bring him
out. Bill calls it like it is. He pretty much tells you what he has to
do, then does it. He's not hyping. He talks about things very simply.
And it makes makes me proud as a friend and as a former player."
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