Bill Belichick: 'Great Relationship' With Sean Payton, Saints A Huge Help To Joint Practices
BOSTON (CBS) -- It may stand to reason that an NFL team would schedule joint practice sessions with a team they are playing for the upcoming season, or a team with a certain playing style that they would need to prepare for with their upcoming schedule. In the case of the Patriots and Saints, it all comes down to the relationship between Bill Belichick and Saints head coach Sean Payton.
New England and New Orleans will hold joint practices for the second straight year starting on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters after Patriots practice on Sunday, Belichick said it was best for each team to find partners who are easy to work with.
"We have a great relationship with the Saints, with Sean [Payton] and his staff, the organization," said Belichick. "It's always worked out well the times we've done it with them, so if we have an opportunity to do it with them we try to take advantage of it. It's been really good. They're great to work with."
Belichick also commented on how he's already been in touch with Payton preparing for Tuesday. It's clear that for both of them, the joint practices are about much more than just competing and sharing a field.
"Yeah, I think we know what we want to try and do. We'll talk about it when they get here," said Belichick. "We'll kind of go over it one more time. We've still got practices that are important to us before we get to that, but we want to be organized with them. I think we are and we'll just kind of fine-tune that when they get here, but we're good to go."
Payton was asked about the joint practices on Monday and commented on the benefits of being able to practice with a coach like Belichick and a team like the Patriots.
"To have a chance to practice with [the Patriots], you've heard me say it before, it's great for the players [and for] myself as a head coach," said Payton. "I think you constantly are paying attention, I know I am, to what Bill [Belichick] is doing. That's something we don't take for granted. What he's accomplished, what they've been able to accomplish, and what they are continuing to strive to accomplish is special. I think being around a good team like that is positive for your team."
The first Patriots-Saints joint practice kicks off at Gillette Stadium at 9:30 a.m., 15 minutes past the original expected time.
