Bill Belichick

Here is an interesting Belichick story:

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune has a fascinating account today of the machinations that went into the Patriots signing linebacker David Herron from the Vikings, apparently as retribution for the Vikes claiming tight end Garrett Mills, whom the Pats wanted to put on their practice squad.

According to the story, Vikings coach Brad Childress received a call from Pats head coach Bill Belichick yesterday morning when the team learned Minnesota planned to claim Mills.

According to Childress, Belichick said he was interested in a Vikings castoff but would not claim that player if the Vikings passed on Mills.

“I said, ‘Well, I’m really interested in your guy, so we’ll have to let our guy slide,’ ” Childress said. “He didn’t really care for that. He was trying to leverage. You always find out who is honest and straightforward.”

Shortly thereafter, the Pats claimed Herron, an undrafted free agent linebacker out of Michigan State who could contribute on special teams. The obvious question is, if the Pats wanted Mills on the practice squad so badly, why didn’t they protect him with one of the two roster spots they left unfilled following Saturday’s cutdowns? They could have released him today and then re-signed him to the practice squad, after most teams had made their signings.

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