Book Review: War Room - The Legacy of Bill Belichick/Art of Building Perfect Team

[OnTheWarpath15]

I know some of you are really interested in hearing more about this book, and I promised to read it and report - so here goes. I decided I'd post as I read, instead of making you wait for the whole thing.

First post? A few quotes from Chapters 1 and 2, which focus on the Browns era, how the relationship between BB/Pioli/Dimitroff started and grew, and the move to NE through the 1st SB season.

Nothing earth shattering yet, but this is what stood out to me.

I truly believe you have to put pressure on professional athletes to get the most out of them. You have to threaten them with their jobs. Especially certain guys who get contracts and get comfortable - and add to that a coach who enables them - and they forget to work.

- Tedy Bruschi, the enabling coach he's speaking of is Pete Carroll

I'm going to paraphrase the beginning because it's long in the book.

I'll tell you this story, but it's mean, but it's the brutality of the NFL. Drew (Bledsoe) is one of my best friends, but I was talking to my brother on the phone on the way home from the stadium and told him, "No wonder Drew got the crap knocked out of him, he's been holding the ball too long all year."

Direct Quote: "That's the frustration I was having with Drew at the time...that's just the way football is. It's either you're helping us win, or you're not."

- Tedy Bruschi

Referencing Belichick, minutes after beating the Rams in the SB:

He then went on to say, with all respect, that the team that had just won the Super Bowl had a lot of work to do to reach the ideal of consistent championship contender. It meant that the front office, coaches and scouts, were going to have to get back to work soon. And the team on the field shouldn't get too comfortable. He was asked how many players on the Super Bowl Champs would have to be replaced before he could call them perennial championship threats. He didn't hesitate"

"About twenty."

More later tonight if I have the time.