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But Belichick's aggressive management style pays dividends. "The players say we're not on a 14-game winning streak," says Pats owner Robert Kraft. "We're on 14 one-game winning streaks. That's a reflection of Bill's attention to the task at hand." Wide receiver Dedric Ward calls Belichick "the wizard, a guy you never see but know he always has a hand in what's going on." Says a colleague: "He's thinking about the next game plan as soon as he's on the plane. Everyone else has to take a nap, or is all about a few cocktails. He uses every possible moment to prepare."
For a Gandalf type, Belichick has a wild side, sort of: he's a fan of the band Bon Jovi. At a concert, the coach will stand for hours in driving rain, hands clapping, feet tapping. Says Jon Bon Jovi: "The guy has as much fun as he can without falling down. He's so self-deprecating. I'll congratulate him on a good job, and he'll say, 'Yeah, right, it's no big deal,' and I'm like, 'Christ, Bill, take a bow once in a while.'"
Sunday night, Belichick and Fox will take their cues to bow or grimace from the scoreboard. Some flashy player will get the limelight, but the winning coach won't. Field marshals don't go to Disney World. --Reported by Paul Cuadros/Charlotte and Sean Gregory/Foxboro