Belichick even admitted as much after the Patriots' victory against the Eagles in Week 12. But for the guys on the roster this week, that's not exactly the case.
Based on plenty of conversations with Belichick's players, both past and present, he's actually quite simple to play for because he's honest, direct and to the point. He conveys his message and expects everyone to live up to his standards.
And there's no gray area, either. They know what he wants and when he wants it. He tells them when they're working hard, and he surely lets them know when they suck. Some can't handle that type of coach, but for the rest, it's a breath of fresh air.
"Honestly, I think the 60-something guys we have on the team, I don't think any one of us thinks coach Belichick is a hard guy to play for," wide receiver Deion Branch said. "That's my honest opinion. That's my opinion. We're going to go out and do everything he asks of us. He's a demanding coach, and that's what football is all about.
"Some guys can't handle that, and the guys that can't handle that, those are guys that are not around this program. Those guys are no longer here. The guys that can handle that, those are guys that are here right now. With that being said, everybody bought into what coach asked us to do. That's why we're standing right here."
Have a question for Jeff Howe? Send it to him via Twitter at @jeffphowe or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.
