New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick addresses the media during his on-field interview on Friday, August 15, 2008 at Gillette Stadium.
BB: As you know we put Barry [Stokes] on IR [injured reserve] and signed John [Lynch] so it keeps our roster at 80. I am excited to have John on the team. He is a guy I have admired for a long time - his playing style and his production. He has been a great player with different organizations and with nine Pro Bowls. I had the opportunity to coach him in Hawaii a couple years ago. I have a lot of respect for John, the way he plays and the way he prepares. So we wrap things up here today relative to Tampa Bay [Buccaneers] with a short walkthrough tomorrow. As I said, we are looking forward to this game. I think it will be a great learning experience for us down there on a lot of levels both individually and collectively as a team for us. They are a good football team and like I said, I am sure we will learn a lot there. That is kind of where we are at today.
Q: Are guys like Mike Vrabel and Ellis Hobbs coming off of PUP [physically unable to perform], at a level where they could play?
BB: We will make that decision between now and when we leave tomorrow. I want to let them go through a week of practice and see how it goes. It is possible. If they are practicing, then it is possible.
Q: Is it unfair at this point to put John Lynch out on the field?
BB: Well, we will talk about that and see how it went today. We will look at the film, talk to him, see how he feels and see how we feel.
Q: John [Lynch] was released a couple of weeks ago. What led to the timing of signing him now?
BB: It just worked out that way. That is the way that it came together. I can't even give you a reason.
Q: What do you remember about four years ago when you pursued him? How far did you get with him?
BB: He came up, we talked to him and went through some other stuff. He ended up going to Denver [Broncos], which that is the way it is with a lot of other guys. Some we sign, some we don't.
Q: What are your thoughts on the rookie haircuts? Is that something you ever had to go through?
BB: Yes, two weeks ago. I needed one bad. For some of them it is an improvement.
Q: Did you ever have to do that [haircut], maybe in high school or in college?
BB: I don't remember the haircut but there was plenty of other stuff.
Q: Do you envision him [John Lynch] in a big nickel sort of role like Tank [Williams]?
BB: I don't know. He's only been here one day. We have a long way to go, we will see how it goes.
