Pats' million dollar Bill

I'm over it. Really.
I've accepted the fact that Bill Belichick is a better coach today than he was eight seasons ago, his final one with the Cleveland Browns.
I know, I'm probably going to lose some credibility with you more die-hard Browns fans, but, you know, we all have to grow.
And look at this way: not only did I commiserate while watching his mostly-lousy Cleveland teams, like the rest of you, I was covering the team at the same time, and had to listen to one inane answer after another.
For instance, the following exchange took place in a press conference on Dec. 17, 1995, following Cleveland's 26-10 win over the Bengals:
Bill, was it difficult to check your emotion, this being the last home game in Browns' history?
"We were just trying to win a game out there."
So, you didn't hear the fans chanting "Modell sucks"?
"No."
O-kay.
Live and learn
Belichick has admittedly learned from his mistakes in Cleveland; he's better in dealing with the media -- although, this week, when one talking head said "his face just glows" when asked about game plans, I had a real difficult time framing a mental picture of that -- and he's allowed more authority to his assistant coaches.
And really, be honest, you could care less that he gives us ink-stained wretches a hard time, right?
Patriots owner Bob Kraft sought the advice of many people around the NFL when he was considering Belichick for his coaching vacancy.
"Hire him to run your defense," was one response. "Don't hire him to run your team."
The inference being, Belichick's lot in professional football topped out as a defensive coordinator, not the man in charge.
But, what Kraft, and the rest of us, have learned, is that Belichick has evolved.
Cap expert
For one thing, he's a master of the salary cap. He has a unique ability to sign players who are on the verge of greatness and get the most out of them before they, oftentimes, sign elsewhere.
Former NFL quarterback and current television analyst Phil Simms described the 2001 Patriots squad that defeated the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI as a "waiver wire team."
It was half-admiration and half-derision, but a compliment to Belichick, who could amass all those parts from everyone else's scrap heap and mold them into a championship-caliber unit.
It was not unlike what Al Davis did for many years with the Raiders.
Belichick has also showed he's not afraid to make moves that will prove to be unpopular.
He showed that in 1993 when he released quarterback Bernie Kosar. Even now a topic sure to evoke emotion, it's hard to fathom a more clumsily-handled move. In retrospect, though, it's far easier to ridicule the public relations aspect than the move itself.
History repeated
Belichick repeated history earlier this season when he released safety Lawyer Milloy before the season opener. The move surely was open to ridicule when Milloy was immediately signed by division rival Buffalo, and when the Bills whipped the Patriots 31-0 a few days later.
But, as he did in 1994 in leading Cleveland to the playoffs with Vinny Testaverde at quarterback, Belichick righted New England's ship and has directed the Patriots to 14 straight wins, second-best in NFL history.
Such is the fickle wind of professional sports that the outcome of one game can determine a man's legacy.
Belichick has been hailed a "genius" by some in the media, but, should the Panthers spring an upset tonight, John Fox will supplant him as the "flavor of the month."
But, regardless of the outcome, there's no denying that, as a man and as a coach, Bill Belichick has grown these past 10 years.
XRob Todor is sports editor of The Vindicator. Write to him at todor@vindy.com.