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SPORTS A21
Friday 2 February 2018
McDaniels capitalizes on second stint with Brady, Belichick
By ARNIE STAPLETON In this Dec. 4, 2016, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) confers with in my career have been
AP Pro Football Writer offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los some of the best teachers
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (AP) Angeles Rams, in Foxborough, Mass. that I’ve had. I’ve really
— Josh McDaniels didn’t learned a lot from them, I
know what he didn’t know. of Belichick’s artistry and through a different lens. of mistakes in my role and think I’m a better person,
In 2009, he was the baby- the depth of Brady’s genius When we need a push, he he’s there to help.” a better coach, a bet-
faced 32-year-old prodigy . pushes us. When we need McDaniels didn’t think it ter communicator, a lot
plucked out of Bill Belich- “It’s a unique perspec- love, he loves us. When we was possible, but he now of things because of the
ick’s roost and Tom Brady’s tive,” seeing things a sec- need a pat on the back, he holds Belichick in even things that I haven’t done
shadow to serve as Mike ond time after getting a does that. When we need higher regard than he did well.”
Shanahan’s replacement firsthand look behind the to run hills, we run hills,” Mc- during his first stint from One thing he’s done ex-
in Denver, holding down coaching curtain, McDan- Daniels said. 2006-08, because he now ceptionally well is working
two jobs he’d never had: iels said Wednesday, as he “He just has a tremendous realizes all the juggling with Brady, who’s going for
head coach and de facto helped Brady and Belichick ability to understand when head coaches have to do. his sixth Super Bowl ring Sun-
general manager. prepare for their eighth Su- to do what as a head “Before you leave and you day when the Patriots play
He’d trade away his start- per Bowl. coach. And he serves us in do that, it’s hard to say that the NFC champion Phila-
ing quarterback, draft “Bill does a tremendous job so many ways to make us you know what he’s going delphia Eagles .
Tim Tebow and win his first of understanding the pulse better coaches, to make through because you really McDaniels has long held
six games, including one of his team. the players better players. don’t,” McDaniels said. that working with Brady
against his mentor. He relates to everyone very He’s there to help us, he “I’m very happy for the ex- made him a better coach,
But he was fired halfway well and I’ve been able to doesn’t take it away from periences that I’ve gone because he always had
through his four-year con- see that and look at that us. Believe me, I make tons through. A lot of the failings to be prepared to answer
tract, losing 17 of his next 22 the quarterback’s inces-
games and presiding over sant questions, to justify the
his very own videotape smallest of his decisions, to
scandal. explain what everyone’s
The Broncos blamed them- role was on every single
selves for giving McDaniels play.
too much power with so “We haven’t treated each
little experience. other any differently. He
Denver then embarked on treats me with the respect
a renaissance under gen- of a coach and I treat him
eral manager John Elway like I need to make him a
and Peyton Manning. better player,” McDaniels
McDaniels spent a year said.
with the Rams before re- “And I think that’s the only
turning for a highly success- way to do it. I know his ex-
ful second stint with Brady perience and his under-
and Belichick, preparing standing is above all oth-
him for his second NFL head ers as a player. But I don’t
coaching gig with the In- really focus a whole lot on
dianapolis Colts , which will that. I focus on the next
become official after the team, the next week, the
Super Bowl. next practice, our scheme,
Now 41, McDaniels still what we’re trying to do
doesn’t look his age, but and he’s very respectful
he says he is a much wiser of that. And we listen and
than the brash coach who learn from each other.
wore the gray hoodie in “We have a tremendous
Denver eight years ago. relationship and it’s been
McDaniels said he was a an honor of my lifetime in
much better trainee and coaching to have an op-
tutor in his return to New portunity to work with a
England, much more ap- guy like that as long as I
preciative of the breadth have.”q
