Bill Belichick Comments on Midseason Grades for Patriots

Imagine a reporter attempting to discuss the concept of midseason grades or awards with Bill Belichick. Now, picture in your head the exact response Belichick would give in that situation.

On Wednesday, the New England Patriots coach did not disappoint.

"That's great," Belichick said when a reporter informed him that Tom Brady would be the midseason MVP, per Tom E. Curran of CSN New England. "But honestly I don't think anybody is really focused on that. We're focused on the Giants. And some midseason report card, who cares? What difference does it make? Give me an F. Give me a C+. Right now we're focused on the Giants. That's all I really care about."

Brady, who began the season in danger of serving a four-game suspension, is indeed most analysts' MVP heading into Week 10. Thirty of ESPN.com's pool of 32 team reporters voted in favor of Brady in an article posted earlier Wednesday. An NFL.com panel posted a week earlier was also nearly unanimous in Brady's favor.

The two-time MVP has thrown for 2,709 yards and 22 touchdowns against two interceptions through New England's first eight games. He leads the NFL in touchdowns, trails only Drew Brees in yards per game and ranks first in Football Outsiders' DYAR (defense-adjusted yards above replacement) metric. Still, don't expect Belichick to begin heaping effusive praise on his quarterback. 

"I don't give grades," Belichick said. "I'm worried about the Giants. We're trying to beat the Giants. I don't really care about some midseason midterm grades. Give me whatever you want."

Of course, the future Hall of Fame coach has some reason to worry. As ESPN's Adam Schefter noted, the New York Giants are the only team New England has not defeated since the beginning of 2008. With his team embroiled in a battle with the Cincinnati Bengals for the AFC's top seed and halfway to a second perfect regular season, it's understandable that Belichick might have more important things on his mind.

 

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