Bill Belichick on Aaron Hernandez: "personally disappointed and hurt"
The coach's opening statement was unlike anything we've really seen from him before. He was open, and very honest.
"A man lost his life," Belichick said, while extending his sympathies to the victim and all effected by the tragedy.
"It certainly goes way beyond being a football issue. This is real life," he said later.
Bill Belichick stood in front of the media for the first time since his former player Aaron Henandez was charged with murder. It was the topic of much debate whether or not he would address the situation, as the coach often deflects any distracting questions about off-field incidents. This was obviously different.
In an almost eight minute long prepared statement, Belichick detailed his thoughts on the situation, saying that he was "personally disappointed and hurt" by the news. He said that he was outside of the country when he heard the news, and both he and his coaching staff were shocked by it.
He wasn't shying away from responsibility, stating that he was responsible for the players that are brought into the organization. He was confident in the system the team has in place of evaluating players, stating that they have a strong track record in a system that's been used since 2000. However, he acknowledged that it was currently being re-evaluated and could have some modifications.
After his statement he did comment that he could not talk about Hernandez directly, as he needed to respect the judicial process. He did speak on general topics related to the incident though.
Below are some quotes, transcribed by myself and members of the media.
First here's Belichick's full statement, courtsey Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald:
"I’m going to address the situation involving Aaron Hernandez today" Belichick said. "I thought that it was important enough to do that prior to the start of camp. It’s a sad day, really a sad day, on so many levels. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim. I send my sympathy really to everyone who has been impacted. A young man lost his life. His family has suffered a tragic loss, and there’s no way to understate that.
"When I was out of the country, I learned about the ongoing criminal investigation that involved one of our players, and I and other members of the organization were shocked and disappointed at what we had learned. Having someone in your organization that’s involved in a murder investigation is a terrible thing. After consultation with ownership, we acted swiftly and decisively. Robert and his family and I, since I got here in 2000, have always emphasized the need for our team and our players and our organization to represent the community the right way, both on and off the field. We’ve worked very hard together over the past 14 years to put together a winning team that is a pillar in the community, and I agree 100 percent with that, the comments that Robert has already made on the situation. I stand behind those as well.
"This case involves an individual who happened to be a New England Patriot. We certainly do not condone unacceptable behavior, and this does not in any way represent the way that the New England Patriots want to do things. As the coach of the team, I’m primarily responsible for the people that we bring into the football operations. Our players are generally highly motivated and gifted athletes. They come from very different backgrounds. They’ve met many challenges along the way and have done things to get here. Sometimes, they’ve made bad or immature decisions, but we try to look at every single situation on a case-by-case basis and try to do what’s best for the football team and what’s best for the franchise. Most of those decisions have worked out, but some don’t.
"Overall, I’m proud of the hundreds of players that have come through this program, but I’m personally disappointed and hurt in a situation like this. You know, as far as the whole process goes, I can tell you that we look at every player’s history from the moment we start discussing it, going back to his family, where he grew up, what his lifestyle was like, high school, college experiences. We evaluate the performance, intelligence, his work ethic, his motivation, his maturity, his improvement, and we try to project that into our organization on a going-forward basis. It combines a player’s personal history, but it also has to project what we think and how we think he will be in our environment.
"Obviously, this process is far from perfect, but it’s one that we’ve used from 2000 until today. And unfortunately, this most recent situation with the charges that are involved are not a good one on that record. But we’ll continue to evaluate the way we do things and the way we evaluate our players. We do it on a regular basis, not just at the beginning when they come in. We do it on a regular basis. Personally, I’m challenged by the decisions that affect the team on a daily basis, and I’m not perfect on that, either, but I always try to do what I think is best for the football team.
"We spent a considerable amount of time evaluating our current players and educating them on, not only football, but many other life experiences and off-field subjects. We stress high character, and we stress making good decisions. We’ll continue to do this, and we’ll work to do a better job of it as we go forward. We’ll learn from this terrible experience that we’ve had. We’ll become a better team from the lessons that we’ve learned. We have so many players on this team that work hard, that do the right thing, and have set a great example of being a professional and being a solid representative of this team and the community.
"I know that there are a lot of questions, fair questions, about this subject and related subjects. I’m not trying to make the story disappear, but I respect the judicial process and have been advised not to comment on ongoing legal proceedings. I’m advising our players to do the same thing. We’ve got a system in justice that deals with criminal charges, and ultimately the judge and the jury will determine the accountability. My comments are certainly not in proportion to the unfortunate and sad situation that we have here.
"I’ve been advsised to address the subject once, and it’s time for the New England Patriots to move forward. Moving forward consists of what it’s always been here -- to build a winning football team, be a strong pillar in the community and be a team that our fans will be proud of. That’s where we are."
BB: "It's a sad day...it's really a sad day, on so many levels. ...A man lost his life"
— shalise manza young (@shalisemyoung) July 24, 2013
Belichick: "I and other members of the organization were shocked"
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) July 24, 2013
We worked very hard together over past 14 years to put together winning team on field and in community. Agree 100 pct with commentsRK made
— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) July 24, 2013
Belichick on Hernandez "this does not in anyway represent the way the Patiots want to do things"
— PatriotsLife (@PatriotsLife) July 24, 2013
As the coach of team Im primarily responsible for players we bring into organization.
— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) July 24, 2013
Belichick: "We try to look at every single situation on a case by case basis...most of those situations have worked out, others don;t"
— PatriotsLife (@PatriotsLife) July 24, 2013
Belichick is "personally disappointed and hurt" by the Hernandez situation.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) July 24, 2013
Overall Im proud of the 100s of players whove come through this program. Hurt by this one.
— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) July 24, 2013
Belichick is actually coming across as a human being in this press conference. I might need to be revived.
— Bart Hubbuch (@HubbuchNYP) July 24, 2013
Belichick: "I'm not perfect either, but I always try to do what is best for the football team"
— PatriotsLife (@PatriotsLife) July 24, 2013
We will continue to evaluae the way we do things. ...Personally I'm challenged by decisions that affect team on daily basis. Always try to..
— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) July 24, 2013
... do what's best for the football team. We'll continue to do this and will work to do a better job coming forward.
— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) July 24, 2013
"we'll learn from this terrible experience...we'll become a better team from the lessons that we have learned."
— shalise manza young (@shalisemyoung) July 24, 2013
I'm not trying to make the story disappear but I respect the judicial system and have been advised to not make further comments. I've advise
— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) July 24, 2013
Belichick been advised not to comment on judicial proceding, advised players to do the same.
— PatriotsLife (@PatriotsLife) July 24, 2013
Belichick said questions about case are "fair" and he's not trying to duck them, but he's been advised not to comment about investigation
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) July 24, 2013
Belichick says they've discussed improving pre-draft psychological screenings of players, and it could possibly be improved.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) July 24, 2013
Shaughnessy-has team talked to current players re Franklin apt: we have absolutely done as much work as we can finding out things like that
— shalise manza young (@shalisemyoung) July 24, 2013
Belichick said the Patriots had no knowledge of the 2012 shooting or the 2007 shooting at Florida that have been linked to Hernandez.
— Bart Hubbuch (@HubbuchNYP) July 24, 2013
"nobody knows better than you guys that all sources are not equal...you get the info, evaluate it, and do what you can with it" - BB
— shalise manza young (@shalisemyoung) July 24, 2013
Bill Belichick clearly put significant time and thought into how to address Hernandez, and the situation has clearly affected him.
— Brian Lowe (@_BLowe) July 24, 2013
Belichick said the team "will try to learn from the mistakes that we've made."
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) July 24, 2013
Belichick: "It certainly goes way beyond being a football issue. This is real life."
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) July 24, 2013
Belichick asked if DT John Drew's previous gun arrest had issue to do w/ not signing him. Says only decision made in best interest of team.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 24, 2013
Belichick on Dennard: "I can't comment on that."
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) July 24, 2013
Belichick: "I feel like I've had a strong relationship with Robert & his family since I was here in 96. And it's gotten stronger every year"
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) July 24, 2013