Patriot Reign: Bill Belichick, the Coaches, and the Players Who Built a Champion Paperback – October 11, 2005

I am neither a Patriots fan nor a Bill Belichick fan. But, because of this book, I have an immense amount of respect for the organization and the man. My favorite parts of the book are when Michael Holley, the author, goes into detail about game plan and scouting strategy. Here's one example.When the Patriots played the Rams in the 2002 SuperBowl, they were expected to get steam-rolled, especially since the Rams had blown them out earlier in the season. As Holley explains, Belichick's strategy in the first game had been to do everything possible to pressure the Rams QB, Kurt Warner. It didn't work, and Warner picked the Patriots defense apart rather easily. Before the SuperBowl, Belichick began thinking that maybe the real key to containing the "greatest show on turf" was to disrupt Faulk, not Warner. So, instead of having his d-linemen and linebackers go all out after Warner, Belichick instructed them (over and over again) to first hit Faulk (if he was in the vicinity) in the backfield and then rush. Also, Belichick and his staff told them never to assume that Faulk was staying home to block--it was always a decoy. The Patriots were also taught that the Rams never run the same play out of the same formation. Even if it looks like the same play they saw 15 minutes ago, it's not. The strategy worked, and Belichick's defensive genius trumped the offensive genius of Mike Martz as the Pats won their first SuperBowl.Holley also does a good job of describing Belichick's desire and tendency to challenge commonly held (but not well though-out) football assumptions. During the 2002 post-Championship season, the Patriots were right around .500 and playing poorly. At one point, one of the Patriot players told a reporter that the team's problem was that they had lost their swagger. When Belichick read about this, he went berserk. In an intense, profanity-filled speech (common with Belichick) given during a team meeting, he let them know that the reason they won so much last season was not because of any swagger, but because they played smart, disciplined football, and did not deviate from the assignments they had been given. Belichick challenges the goofy cliches that you hear from the ESPN, Fox and CBS pre-game guys.One word of warning to unsuspecting dads or moms: I wouldn't let my kids read this because it is filled with profanity. It is difficult for Belichick (and many of his coaches and players) to get through a sentence without using the f-word, and Holley doesn't edit their words.With regard to the substance of the book, my only complaint is that I wish Holley had devoted even more time to specific plays, coverages, schemes, etc. But that's a minor gripe. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I suspect that anyone who is football fan will also find it to be an enlightening and entertaining read.

Holley's book is better, for my money, than the typical "In Week 5, this happened, and then in Week 6 that happened" blow-by-tedious-blow chronology. I enjoyed "Patriot Reign" and learned a few new insiders-only facts about my favorite team. The Patriots granted Holley special behind-the-scenes access, and he reveals some previously private details of the Patriots operation, so I definitely give his book a "thumbs up" for Patriots fans. However, I do have some criticisms of this book:First, I was bothered by the constant swearing. Of course NFL coaches swear a lot. We all know that. So that point could have been made more subtly. Instead, it seemed that every third quotation had a swear word in it. I appreciate and enjoy verbatim quotations, but why not use "[darn]" or something that makes clear that a swear word was used?Second, and far more serious than the swearing, is Holley's verbatim repeating of coaches' unvarnished analyses of particular Patriots players and his naming of those players. Again, we know that the Patriots coaching staff forces itself to evaluate each player objectively. Holley quotes Larry Cook saying "You've got to be cruel at times." That's great. We get the point. Sentimentality plays no role in player evaluations. Patriots coaches are brutally honest. But Holley didn't stop there. He gave details embarrassing to particular players and named those players. Holley repeats, word-for-word, some brutal statements on p. 142 about a particular player whom I won't name here. I was astounded after Holley's book's publication that that player said all the right things to the media. Holley's revelations might have torn a weaker organization apart. To the Patriots, however, this book's bombshells proved just another opportunity to display their astounding ability to overcome adversity. Nevertheless, Holley probably should not have printed the entire swear word when a coach said, "I can't stand the mother----." And naming that player was cruel. Why not simply call him "Player X"?Third, there's no index. It's possible that later editions have one, but my "first edition" does not.Fourth, Bill Belichick's Patriots are such a tremendous organization that I believe this book regrettably undershot its potential for extracting lessons of widespread relevance and applicability in businesses and organizations everywhere. This book's subject is so compelling and interesting that it could have been a truly "great" book, rather than the "good" to "very good" book I believe it is. (I am obviously biased, but I believe my book, "Management Secrets of the New England Patriots," achieves what Holley's book might have.)I generally agree with Holley's analysis and enjoy his insider insights. But I am disturbed by his failure to exercise journalistic discretion. He could have filtered his raw information to make his points without needlessly embarrassing particular individuals. Nevertheless, "Patriot Reign" is a very good book for Patriots fans.

Great book, especially if you were a fan of either man or the team during this time period.

Mostly about BB but offers insight to the Krafts and the front office. Sprinkled with some players experiences and anecdotes. Actually had some good snorts/laughs at some points. All in all a good short read for any Patriot football fan. Only three stars because a lot of time spent recapping games. I would rather more time spent on how they prepared and 'deconstructed' a team. I did not know Scott Pioli married Bill Parcells' daughter. Good stuff like that in here too. I would recommend this book to a casual reader Patriot fan.

This is really a great read. I flew through it. As a Patriot fan it's incredibly interesting to get such insight of Bill and the organization. It's fun to read about all of these coaches now and how the patriots own the coaching landscape with all coaches coming from Bills cabinet. It's also extremely interesting to read the player profiles and what the coaches and Bill thought of certain players. Some of the players they were so highly on are all time patriot greats. The book is a good look back on the early history of Krafts Patriots and the first two super bowls. As a patriots fan now, it was fun to read about some of the players that have become patriot legends that were merely just players who the patriots and Bill thought would become great. Bill is a great coach and Holley does a great job at actually bringing the patriot fan, or even just a football fan, even closer to what makes Bill so successful. An easy but really fun read. Before you know it I had finished the book and was left pleased and thankful for Bill and the success of the patriots. FREE BRADY

Gran libro que te transmite todo el trabajo para llegar al campeonato, pasando por los insights del equipo y conociendo más a fondo el background de Bill Belichick

Top

Loved it

A good book featuring one of the top NFL teams of the last 10 years (2000-2009). This book follows the New England Patriots through one season - wins and losses, coaching and dealing with players, plus Belichick and his library like knowledge and understanding for the game and the draft. A recommended read for any fans of the NFL (not just Patriots) as it lets you see Belichick in a totally different manner to the one seen on game day and might give clues in the salary cap era why they have the success and other teams do not...

You don't need to be a Patriot's fan to appreciate that great book about NFL football. A must for every NFL football fan.