FOXBORO, Mass. — Patriots head coach Bill Belichick gave his seal of approval for new Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine.
Belichick and Valentine have known each other for a little more than a decade when their careers intertwined in New York. Belichick was the Jets assistant head coach from 1997-99, and Valentine was the Mets manager from 1996-2002.
Belichick, who developed a good friendship with former Sox skipper Terry Francona, was happy to welcome another old pal to Boston.
“[I] love Bobby, great guy, great baseball guy, love to talk to him,” Belichick said Friday, one day after Valentine was introduced at Fenway Park. “He’s got a lot of energy. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love Terry, but I had a great relationship with Bobby in New York, went to several Mets games, stuff like that, watched [former Jets wide receiver] Keyshawn [Johnson] throw out the opening pitch, all that. Bobby is a wonderful guy. I look forward to catching up with him and seeing him here.”
