PHOENIX — Bill Belichick is clearly a big Mike McCarthy fan.
After watching McCarthy's Green Bay Packers beat his New England Patriots in November, Belichick's post-game handshake with the Packers coach was longer than the usual midfield formality. Longtime Patriots observers were taking aback by how long the sometimes gruff head coach lingered.
It was so noticeable that McCarthy was asked about it in his post-game press conference and said Belichick had been "very gracious" without delving into their conversation further.
Then to start his own postgame Q&A with reporters after the Packers' 26-21 victory at Lambeau Field, Belichick deviated from his usual modus operandi and opened with more praise of the Packers and McCarthy, something he'd also done during the week leading up to the game.
And so, maybe it shouldn't have been surprising when the four-time Super Bowl champion head coach said what he did about McCarthy during Tuesday morning's AFC coaches breakfast at the annual NFL Meetings at the Arizona Biltmore hotel.
But it sure was attention-grabbing.
Belichick, who is entering his 16th season as the Patriots' head coach, was asked about the importance of being willing to change despite having success. McCarthy, who is entering his 10th season as the Packers' coach, revamped the team's entire weekly schedule last year and this year is giving up the offensive play-calling duties in the wake of the team's collapse in the NFC Championship Game.
"Well, I mean, first of all, I'd say Mike's one of the best coaches in the league, one of the best coaches I've ever gone up against," Belichick replied. "I'm sure whatever he's doing is the right thing. I have a lot of respect for him. I'm sure whatever decisions he's making for the Green Bay Packers are good ones and ones that he thinks are right. I personally wouldn't question anything he does."
To that point, Belichick — speaking in a low, deep monotone — hadn't given many expansive answers to reporters seated at his table, so his reply on McCarthy was noteworthy.
"I'm just telling you, that's what I think," Belichick continued. "And I'd say since I've been with the Patriots, even going back to Cleveland, there's been times where I've met daily with the offense, times where I've met daily with the defense, times that I meet with the quarterbacks, times that I meet with the special teams. It's not the same every year, it's not the same every week, so I do what I feel like is best for our football team.
"And I'm sure that's what Mike's doing — whatever that is. I don't even know. Whatever it is. That's the way I look at it."
Jason Wilde wrote: