| | By John Clayton
ESPN.com
AKRON, Ohio -- Bill Belichick felt perhaps his players didn't understand what he meant by conditioning. After all, coming to camp in shape would be a good idea if you want to remain a New England Patriot.
Approximately a half dozen players showed up a few pounds overweight or were unable to complete the conditioning drills. Belichick publicly ripped them. They got the message.
|  | | Bill Belichick (center) is running a tight ship in Patriots camp unlike his predecessor, Pete Carroll. |
"Part of that is my fault," Belichick said. "Maybe I didn't get the message across to them as well as I needed to. I would say all those players have worked pretty hard to lose weight or get in shape."
Nobody was happier about Belichick's statement than the veterans. Strange as it sounds, players want instruction. They want to know who is in charge. That's one thing that is not miscommunicated in New England. There will be discipline and Belichick will be cracking the whip.
"He is very stern," defensive lineman Chad Eaton said of the Pats' new head coach. "For example, he goes all the way down to having a dress code and all the way down to what you can bring on a plane or who you can associate with. Across the board, we are definitely in an environment where discipline and direction is something we needed."
Former Patriots coach Pete Carroll wanted to be a friend to players. He played pickup basketball games with them. Players liked him, but they had too much freedom.
"He's been great," wide receiver Vincent Brisby said of Belichick. "Before, we had guys doing their own thing. They were not focusing on team things. Being more focused, we are not going to make bad decisions late in games. We are going to do what is needed to be done. I think we are going to be a smart team."
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“ |
We had a coach
who was treating us too much like adults. ... Now, you keep your mouth shut and play
really hard. ” |
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— Chad Eaton, Patriots defensive lineman |
One thing, for sure, Belichick will make points clear. Strange as it sounds, Carroll's problem was that he treated players like men. That doesn't always work.
"We had a coach who was treating us too much like adults," Eaton said. "You can't do that. If you pull the ropes back a little bit and take control, you are going to do all the right things. Now, you keep your mouth shut and play really hard."
Belichick is anxious to see what kind of team he has.
"We have two games in five days," Belichick said. "I think the players have worked hard. I feel like I've asked them to do the things that I think are important to have a good football team."
If he doesn't like what he sees, though, watch out. Things could get a little uncomfortable in Foxboro for the players.
John Clayton is the senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
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