Benjamin Watson tells story of Bill Belichick participating in Patriots' rookie team show

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Benjamin Watson had two stints with the Patriots -- one from 2004-09 and then again last season.

Watson observed a different Bill Belichick, as during his first stint the coach did not participate in the team's rookie show during training camp, but that changed when he was back with the team last season.

“…We divided into teams and Coach Belichick actually participated in a rookie team show,” Watson said on FS1's First Things First. “He was on the stage, telling jokes, making fun of other people, making fun of himself, having a great time. It doesn’t mean that he still doesn’t demand the utmost respect. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t hold the standard very, very high when it came to how we performed on the field. But there was a sense of humor there and kind of a let-your-hair-down-type deal that I really appreciated that I know wasn’t the case before. As we’ve seen, still successful, still the greatest all-time coach, still wins, still Super Bowls.”

He added: “…People change. But also, I would say that players have changed,” Watson said. “You know, we talk about different generations of players. Guys coming in now aren’t the same as the guys coming in when I first came into the league in 2004. So the great coaches are able to hold certain things true, certain standards must be held when it comes to performance. But also they’re able to adapt to the personalities of the players that are coming into their locker room."

Bill Belichick the comedian? --@BenjaminSWatson recalls the time Belichick told jokes on stage during the Patriots 'rookie' team show: pic.twitter.com/9X6DE3Di1t

— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) April 14, 2020

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