Patriots coach Bill Belichick doesn’t open up about too many topics, but get him talking about lacrosse, and he can go on and on.
Belichick did a video interview with Lacrosse Magazine, and other than his clear comfort with the game itself (he played at Weslyan University and his daughter coaches at Holy Cross), he’s also given some thought as to how his own players would translate.
While Brady is third on the all-time touchdown pass list, Belichick doesn’t think much of his offensive ability if he had to change sports.
“Put him in the goal,” Belichick said, via Boston.com. “He can’t run. I mean, he can’t run. He can’t dodge.”
Perhaps other players might have more success, such as tight end Rob Gronkowski.
“If I could teach him any stick work, I would put him at crease attack,” Belichick said. “Let him go out, clear out, and just let him go to the goal.”
(We’ll now pause while Gronkowski giggles to himself Beavis-style about “stick work” while wondering if he’d be allowed to wear uniform number 69 in lacrosse.)
Belichick also said he thought wide receiver Julian Edelman would make a “good midfielder,” but downplayed his own ability to continue to coach the sport.
“The game’s kind of passed me up a bit,” Belichick said. “I wouldn’t be naive enough to think that I would be able to keep up with all that.”
He also referenced limiting substitutions, which is interesting because his own defenses are an exercise in specialization. But mostly, it was just interesting to see him at length about something he’s clearly passionate about, since he seldom shows that side.