Not even a matchup with the rival Jets could get Bill Belichick talking.
The famously tight-lipped Patriots coach was more concise than usual in his Friday press conference, answering 11 questions with a total of 100 words after quickly noting the team had signed quarterback Will Grier and put cornerback Marcus Jones on injured reserve.
Here is the entry of Belichick’s exchange with media:
Q: Will he, Will, be the emergency third quarterback?
BB: Yeah, that’s it.
Q: What do you lose without Marcus? What does he bring to the team?
BB: Yeah, it’s unfortunate. He obviously had a good rookie year, explosive player.
Q: Is it a season-ending injury?
BB: Well, he’s on IR for right now, so he’ll be out for a while.
Q: What made you want to work with Will Grier?
BB: Yeah, wanted to work with him, felt like we needed depth at that position – two quarterbacks, long year.
Q: You drafted a quarterback the year that Grier came out. Was he somebody that you had interest in even back then?
BB: Yeah, we track all of these guys.
Q: How do you feel about the depth at corner now with Marcus and Jack Jones out?
BB: Well, that’s the depth we have.
Q: Jalen [Mills], we’ve seen him more at safety, probably in the diamond package? Is that an easy …
BB: Sure, he’s played out there.
Q: How would you describe the level of urgency you’ve seen from your players this week?
BB: Yeah, good. It’s Jets week, division game. Yeah, it’s been good.
Q: Have you tried to convey in any way some level of urgency to them?
BB: There’s urgency every week. There’s 17 games. They’re all big games.
Q: We’ve heard stories and things in the past, where you bury a football. Have you done any sort of outside-the-box explanations as to the importance of this week?
BB: Yeah, we get ready to play them all.
Q: You said Jets week a couple of times. Is there a rivalry feel here for you?
BB: Well, it’s a division game.
The entire availability lasted under three minutes.
Belichick’s Patriots are going for a 15th straight win against their AFC East rivals on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, but the years of success clearly haven’t loosened him up.
So far in the 2023 season, his emotional outbursts have been contained to the sidelines, as evidenced by a sassy challenge flag tossed at a referee during their 24-17 Week 2 loss to the Dolphins.