Bill Belichick Reflects on Relationship With ‘Great Manager’ and ‘Good Friend,’ Terry Francona

FOXBORO, Mass. — Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has developed a friendship with Terry Francona during the time both have spent in the Boston area.

Because of that, Belichick was disappointed Friday when he was told the news at his morning news conference that Francona would not return as the Red Sox manager.

"Terry and I are good friends," Belichick said. "I didn't realize that had happened. Great manager, I'm sure there are a lot of people in baseball who would like to have his record, including the championships, so I'll certainly miss his presence in this area. I'm sure we'll be friends and still talk and see each other and so forth. It's disappointing on a personal level because I like Terry. I think he's certainly had a great record as the manager of the Red Sox. Whatever it was, 100-something years without any championships and then win two of them, so I mean, that speaks for itself right there."