Bill Belichick Dismisses Broncos Trash Talk As "A Bunch Of Hot Air"

By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston

BOSTON (CBS) -- Bill Belichick's Patriots are famous for being tight-lipped with the media. They also largely "ignore the noise" from the outside, but that won't stop them from using "bulletin-board material" to their advantage. Their emasculation of gum-flapping jabronis like Freddie Mitchell and Anthony Smith (Who? Exactly.) is concrete proof of that.

The Denver Broncos are already making the rounds with subtle jabs at the Patriots leading up to Sunday's game in Denver, and perhaps work the referees over a little bit. First, linebacker Brandon Marshall says Gronk is so hard to cover because he pushes off. Then, defensive end Antonio Smith agreed that Tom Brady is a "crybaby" who yells for calls from the refs, and Malik Jackson doubled down, calling Brady a "whiner" who has thrown "temper tantrums" in past meetings between the Patriots and Broncos.

Belichick was asked about the comments and whether he would use them for any kind of added motivation, he said, "We're focused on the Denver Broncos in the game. All the rest of it is just hot air."

Not sure why they would want to make Brady angry or give him reason to be more motivated because that's the only real result that could come from this. It's not like the refs are going to stop calling roughing the passer because Antonio Smith said so, and Gronk is already getting called for phantom offensive pass interference calls. Can't expect this strategy to particularly work with Ed Hochuli, either.

Belichick will act mum about the crap being spewed from the mouths of Denver players. But there's no doubt that, one way or another, he has heard about it. And if he hasn't burned the tapes or buried the papers, he's channelled them into a motivational factor for his team. The Patriots may not need extra motivation to win the AFC Championship Game.

And, besides, if Brady is a whiner then what does that make Aaron Rodgers? Or every other quarterback in the league, for that matter?

Brandon LaFell had a great response when asked about the comments:

Brady himself addressed the idea that he calls for flags in typical Patriots fashion: "I'm not sure what the other quarterbacks do ... If the refs want to throw flags, I love when they throw flags on the defenders, absolutely. It advances our team, so that's just part of football."

A reporter also asked Brady if he had a response to the ridiculous New York tabloid covers depicting him as an actual baby: "No. I haven't seen any."

BRADY TRIES TO GET FLAGS! WHAT A CHEATER! (End sarcasm.)

Brady once again laughs off the clown show coming from the other side in the media. He's dialed in and focused on beating the Broncos' formidable defense, this time with a full complement of weapons.

Teams that trash-talk the Patriots aren't necessarily guaranteed to lose - just ask the Baltimore Ravens or 2010 New York Jets. But, ultimately, the game will be won on the field and not on the airwaves or tabloid covers.

Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.

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