Chapter 11 Summary

The Patriots experienced another slow down early in their following season. Belichick liked a player named Lawyer Miller. He had worked with him several years, but Belichick also considered him overpaid. When he had an average year in 2002, Belichick offered him a three percent pay cut. Miller balked at this and was released in the upcoming draft. This seemed to strike a nerve with the team, and usually loud practices turned quiet. Player talk focused around the subject of "could be me next." The morale issue was driven home when the Patriots were decimated by the Buffalo Bills in the first game of the season, 31-0. After the second game of the season, a friend of Parcells on ESPN named Tom Jackson made the comment that the Patriots "hate their coach." Belichick was furious. Jackson later offered Belichick his hand but no apology...