The Draftermath: Optimism in Foxboro
If you want to see Bill Belichick in a good mood, or get him going in front of the media, you ask him about Navy football, or lacrosse, or unique play formations, or great special teamers. Then sit back as he waxes poetic about games from 1927 or things not even Gil Brandt knows about the league, or punter Johnny Hekker. So when the New England Patriots played the Detroit Lions last season (a game they won 29-0), it came as a bit of a surprise when Belichick went on and on about one player on the Lions they had to prepare for: Chris Board.
Who?
Chris Board, a Lions reserve linebacker whom he called “a great, great player” and “the best special teams player we'll play against all year.” Ah, a special teamer Belichick is fawning over. Now it makes sense.
Once those words were uttered, lights went on and immediate research was done, every beat writer and blogger for the Lions and Pats boning up on Chris Board, a man who had started two games in four seasons with the Ravens before signing a one-year deal in Detroit last season.
So, it came as no surprise to any around these parts, and made life much easier for the New England media, when Belichick reached out to Board and signed him to a two-year deal worth up to $6.7 million. Board, who met the local media Tuesday in Foxboro for the first time, didn’t seem surprised, but was very flattered by the legendary coach’s interest.
“There was definitely an emphasis and priority to get me here, which I really appreciated”, explained the five-year veteran. “So, that kind of went into the whole process of me deciding to come here. I appreciate just the respect that I've had here so far.”
Board, who has seen some action at linebacker over the years but is a primary special teamer, said he was unaware that Belichcik said “there are really no weaknesses” to his game (if only a certain QB ever heard said praise), noting there were a lot of teams that contacted him in free agency. But, the flattery last season from the Pats coach meant quite a bit to him, leading him to come to New England and play under a legend.
“Coach Belichick knows ball,” Board said.
In addition to the verbal bouquets sent by his now head coach last fall, a FaceTime call from former teammate Matthew Judon helped convince him to come to New England. Which means unofficial assistant GM Judon finally nabbed his first player! A true win-win for all.
But when it comes down to games on the field and what kind of difference an elite special teamer like Board can make, especially on a team whose special teams play suffered the last two seasons, he offered a message of unity.
“To be a strong unit, I feel like everyone just has to play as one,” Board said. “...When you get that, all 11 playing on the same wavelength for that one play, there's nothing but good things that will come from that.”
After a season where special teams played below expectations and divides grew on and off the field, messages like this, from someone the coach already respects immensely, can only be seen as a good thing for the 2023 version of the Patriots.
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