November 1, 2023 • 22 mins
In this edition of Pats from the Past we sit down with former Patriots coach, Romeo Crennel. Crennel discusses the differences between working for Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick, his favorite Super Bowl victory, working with Mike Vrabel as a player then as a coach, and what makes him successful. Plus, much more.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
It's time for another episode of Pats from the podcast
Matt Smith and Paul Parrillo and who are we lucky
to have today, Paul, but the great Romeo Crenell, who
is here for the Hall of Fame weekend. Romeo, thank
you so much for joining us.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Really appreciate it. It's my pleasure. It's great to be back.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
A lot of new editions and new things since I
was last here, but I'm excited and had a chance
to meet some see some old guys and it's all great.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
So, I mean, Paul and I were talking about this
before here in Romeo, what does it say about the
quality of the people who were enshrined yesterday? And look,
you're coming from New York. Maybe not that big of
a deal, but that's something that you didn't want to miss,
did you, you know, to be able to be here
to help contribute and honor the two people that the
organization aren't yesterday, that says about a lot what you
(00:53):
must think of them.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Well, I do think a lot of both guys. On Dante,
because I was coaching defensive line for a while and
then Dante coaches the offensive line, so in practice you
got that little you know, back and forth between the
two groups, and so we always were were competitive, but
(01:15):
we understood the challenges that each.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Of us had.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
And for him to do it in one place for
as long as he's done it, that is unreal, really is.
And then Vrabel, you know, we got him from Pittsburgh
and he basically was a backup at Pittsburgh and he
was looking for an opportunity and we offered him a
contract and he came aboard and he's playing that outside
(01:40):
linebacker spot for us and coming off that edge and
getting after the quarterbacks. But Rabel is smart. He knows schemes,
he knows offenses, and that helped make him the player
that he was.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
How was it coaching with him? Because was he on
your staff in Houston?
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Yeah, it's funny. Mike was coaching at Ohio State because
he graduated from Ohio State. Then he was coaching at
Ohio State. And then Billy Oh, you know, had running
to him here and Billy Oh liked him, and so
Billy Oh offered him a job. And he called me
and asked me what about pro coaching and what did
(02:20):
I think and all of that, And I said, Mike,
you got some things going for you and in this business.
You've been in this game. You know about pro football,
and I think that if you come aboard you'll be satisfied.
And he came aboard Boom right away. People were trying
(02:41):
to hire him away. He became the coordinator and then
the next year he became the head coach and we
see how he how he is improved that team and
took him to the playoffs and all that, and so
everybody in this business, I mean, you know, coaching, you
don't stay at the top forever. So sometimes what goes
(03:03):
around comes around and you have to deal with it.
But the thing that he mentioned yesterday was that you
always try to get better. You try to find ways
to get better. And I know that he will do
that as far as his team goes this year, and
I think you'll have a great career.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
So when you were coaching Mike, you know, Mike was
the guy that obviously always had all the answers. So
I assume you guys sort of looked at him and said,
you know what, he's always busted him, but he's going
to be a coach some day.
Speaker 5 (03:32):
Did you always kind of look at him as as
that kind of a guy.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Well, he was like a coach on the field, right,
you know, And so by him being able to be
considered a coach on the field, I thought that at
some point that if he chose coaching, that he would
be a good coach.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Romeo, what was your You don't have to limit it
to one. When you look at your career in coaching,
is there a person or people that you could say
were tremendous influence says on you? Mentors, if you would,
that helped you along the way. I mean, well, did
you have seventeen different stops as far as coaching. I'm
looking at your wife over here, and that's a lot
of tacking up and moving, which is you know, I
(04:11):
think a lot of people take for granted and professionally, Oh,
it's professional sports.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
It's really easy.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
And Mike mentioned it yesterday how hard that can be
on kids. You know, who are the people that you
that maybe inspired you and that you want to give
credit to as far as your coaching career is concerned.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Well, I think, first of all, I have to start
with coach Jimmy Fikes, who is at Western Kentucky and
I went to school there.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
I played for him.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
I was a captain on the team and he gave
me my first job, and after my graduate assistant year,
he hired me to be on the staff. And if
not that, I was probably going to be a high
school coach. And then this coaching business, you kind of
get stuck on the stratafy or that you're in. And
so by starting at the college level as opposed to
(04:58):
the high school level, that allowed me to be able
to elevate up the ladder and so coach Jimmy Fikes.
And then I met Parcels while I was down there
at Western on the recruiting trail and ended up going
to a Texas Tech with Steve Sloan and Parcelles was
his defensive coordinator. And then after a couple of years later,
(05:19):
a couple more moves, we ended up in New York
with the Giants.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
So you had that whole group, and I always found
this interesting, just you know, it was the Giants, and
then Parcels came to New England and it was all
you guys coming to New England and then back to
the Jets, and just how special was that group with
you know, we all know all the names, with you
and Charlie, that iconic photo.
Speaker 5 (05:40):
We'll get to that.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
I think later too, you know, with you and Bill.
But how that must have been a pretty special group
that you guys were a part of with the Giants.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Well, it was, and I should have mentioned Belichick also
and those guys who had the influence. But Belichick and
I we worked in the same office. He was a
special teams coach to start with, and I was quality control.
And then when Ray Perkins left the Giants, Parceales became
the head coach. Par Sales didn't give him the coordinator title.
(06:10):
He said, you run the defense, but I'm not gonna
give you the title yet. But Bill ran the defense
and then I took over for special teams for him,
you know. And so because of the time we were together,
I think you developed that strong bond, and so I
think we have a strong bond that group that you're talking.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
About that and I would think as we're talking about
all the moves that you've made and the different groups
that you're with, I have to assume it's a challenging
time for you. When Bill Belichick came here to New
England after the ninety six season, when he became the
head coach here, you're with a group with the Jets,
you know, and are we gonna go here with Bill?
How are we going to do that? That must have
(06:50):
been a hard decision for you to do because you're
leaving some people behind, but you're going with another really
good group. What was that period in life like.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
For you, Romeo?
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Well, you know what, when those things things happen, and
when they occur, you have to sit down and you
have to look at the landscape, all right. Who's working
at different places?
Speaker 2 (07:10):
You know?
Speaker 3 (07:10):
And I took a couple of interviews, went at the
San Diego and interviewed with those guys, and I knew
a guy out there and he told me how good
the weather was and all of that kind of stuff.
But when it got down to it and Belichick called
me and secured the position with him, then I knew
(07:32):
where I want it to be.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
If you look back, Romeo, at all the great battles
that you were involved in, here, the championships that were
won your career, primarily on the defensive side of the ball.
And during your head coaching career, was there a scheme
or a team or a group of players that you
can market say these guys kept me at up at night.
(07:54):
More so than the rest. You know, I think we
romanticize some of the Colts games from the early two
thousands and how difficult they were to play. But is
there somebody that particularly sticks in your mind, like, how
am I going to stop these guys?
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Well, Peyton Manny for what he fell into that category.
You know, his rookie year, he kind of took a
beating the first half of the season. But Peyton had
such a command of that offense, and he was always
able to get the players to rally around him and
sometimes exceed their abilities. And he was always a challenge
(08:31):
because he knew offense, he knew defense, he could check,
you know, and so he was one that I always
enjoyed playing. But a little concern the night before.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Can you talk a little bit about the differences between
the two bills. You know, few people have the intimate
knowledge of working with and around both of them as
you do. I'm just curious your thoughts on your similarities
and differences.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Well, one similarity they both liked football, and they both
liked winning, you know. Uh, And I I think Parcels
he had a little bit different way of approaching players.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
He would go and sit in the locker room in
the morning with the players, uh, and find out which
buttons he needed to push on a guy, whether he
needed to hug the guy or if he didn't hug
him himself, he could get somebody to hug him uh,
or what guy that he needed to yell at to
get on Uh. Who would respond, you know to to
(09:35):
that motivation? I think Belichick? Uh, he is I I
think the consummate football guy because of his background. He
started with his dad watching film and and understanding how
his dad broke games down. And he's coached every position
on offense uh as well as defense. And so that
(09:58):
background and knowledge U makes him a really good game coach,
you know. And he deals with players, and he understands
the system, the value that the system has, and would
value that the players you need to put on players.
And he has an uncanny knack of knowing when to
(10:20):
move on from a guy. And sometimes you say, well
why this, you know, but then you see it works out,
you know. And and so I think those are the
similarities about winning and being driven, and then the styles
that's the difference.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Yeah, I get that ones publicly maybe a little bit
more acerbic.
Speaker 5 (10:47):
Well, I'll tell you what made me.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
Think of it as when Romeo was explaining how when
you guys first got to the Giants and Ray Perkins
left and Parcels had Belichick in charge of the defense,
But what not with the title, right, which is what
we see Bill do now right with you know, with
Gerard and his own son Steven. You know, they're running
the defense clearly, but neither one of them has the
(11:10):
title of defensive coordinator. And I just sort of thought, like, that's, yeah,
probably not all that surprising to hear that.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
I think in both situations, I think you have to
they like Parsales, wanted Bill to prove himself as a coordinator,
to see if he could run the defense, and so
he said, I got confidence in you, so I'm gonna
let you run the defense, but I'm not gonna give
(11:37):
you the title, you know. And and then after he
showed him that he could run the defense, then he
gave him the title, you know. And I think that
that's probably Belichick's philosophy a little bit also that he's
not exactly sure he knows that no football you know
that know their position all right, but can they run
(12:00):
the whole defense and deal with everything that you have
to deal with when when you're a coordinator.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Romeo was.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
As an assistant or for working for both of them?
Is it a clearly defined role? Is it easier for
you as somebody who works in that program. I know
what my job is. They've told me what my job is,
and I'm gonna do it. Is it pretty matter of fact?
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Basically?
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Yes, you know, no ambiguity, No like par sales. You
just say, hey, just coach your guys. Don't worry about
these other guys. I got coaches who can coach these
other guys. You just coach your.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Guys, all right.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
And I think that philosophy has carried through through with Belichick.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Also.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Now if they come to you and say what do
you think about this? What do you think about this player?
What about this scheme? You know, then you're allowed to
give them information. And so I think that they wanted
to keep it the status, you know, keep it going
(13:04):
so that one guy wouldn't say.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Oh, the head coach likes you better than he likes me.
Speaker 5 (13:11):
And you know that kind of thing, that iconic photo.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
You know, Matt and I talk about it all the
time with you and Charlie, with Bill, and you guys are.
Speaker 5 (13:21):
Both finally going to go and get your head coaching jobs.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
What was that last moment, like, you know, after you
win that that third super Bowl in four years.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Well, that was a great moment one because we won
to get you know.
Speaker 5 (13:33):
Yeah, it would have been a little different if we
had lost.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
But all right, and then I think that the emotion
of all of us knowing that we're not going to
be coaching with each other the next season, you know. Uh,
And so that was just a group hug saying we
appreciate each other.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
And if you think about it, we talked earlier about
the decision to leave New York and you know you're
gonna take a chance here, You're coming to New England again.
You're gonna bet on you guys and Bill. The culmination
of that all that work, lousy team in two thousand,
terrible cap situation, all the veteran free agents, to then
win three out of four. Charlie goes to Notre Dame,
you go to Cleveland. You know, that's a culmination of
(14:17):
a lot of hard work and a lot of sweat.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Equity and everything.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
And to know what you guys accomplished must have felt
so sweet.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
Well definitely, I mean it was really good, because, like
you say, in two thousand it was I don't remember
what the record was, but I wasn't here in two thousand, right,
all right. And then when I got here in two
thousand and one, we were like a five hundred team, okay,
and we had just played finished playing the best team
(14:45):
on turf, okay. And so our game plan was to
try to pressure those guys. Let's pressure them, throw whatever
we can throw at them, you know. And we did it,
and we lost, and then we got a on a streak.
We got on a winning streak. You know, guys, just
believe you know, the adages game, the game. Let's play
(15:07):
this game, Let's play one at a time, you know.
And so we started doing that, we started winning, and
then got us into the playoffs, and we're able to
get to the Super Bowl and then win the Super Bowl,
you know.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
From a five hundred team mid season.
Speaker 5 (15:23):
Do you did you catch that?
Speaker 2 (15:25):
Though?
Speaker 5 (15:25):
Like you know, I wasn't here in two thousand five
and eleven. I listen, I wasn't a defensive quarter on
that team. I got here when we won the Super.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Bowl, right Romeo? Do you I mean you won five
of them? Do you have a favorite, the first one.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
The first one is my favorite.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
Eighty six, Yes, because it's the first one, you know,
And I mean, I keep it kind of quiet. But
I played in one before eighty six. We coached in
one before eighty six, but.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
We lost ninety six, right, No, eighty six was the
first one?
Speaker 5 (15:58):
Was before that?
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Oh no, that was the Giants. I'm sorry, I was
talking about the first one with the Patriots. Oh okay, right, yeah,
And but I played in one with the Patriots before that.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
We lost to Green Bay.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Ninety six, right, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
And so I got two with the Giants, right, and
then three with the Patriots.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
What was so when you say it's the first.
Speaker 5 (16:26):
One and what that means?
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Is it the spectacle and finally getting over the hump
and realizing you're at the epitome of your professional goal?
Is it You're never going to experience that first one again?
Is that why the first one is always is to
you the most special?
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Well?
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Yeah, that and winning it, that's right, right, winning it?
But all of those things that you mentioned, the spectacle,
like we were out in California, okay, and what you
have you have two a sea of two colors. You know,
you got the blues and the oranges because we were
(17:05):
playing Denver, okay, And now then you go play the
game and and it's a big game, but still all
the things that you know about coaching you have to
apply to make it work in that game. And so
we didn't play great the first half, alright, but we
weren't down by much. And then we came out the
(17:27):
second half and then we started playing a lot better.
And so winning it and all the hoopla alright made
it all worth it. And so that's one I'll always remember.
Speaker 4 (17:41):
So you've been you've stepped away for a couple of years. Now,
what has life been like, you know, since you retired.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
I'm telling you what. It's It's great.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
I get to spend a lot of time with my
wife and uh get on her nerves and it's not
nodding yeah, but uh, but there's no stress.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
I don't I don't feel stress, you know.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
And and coaching it's stressful, you know, it's stressful in practice.
It's stressful on game day, and then as soon as
that game is over, you got another game, you know, So, uh,
there's a lot less stress. I'm more relaxed. I missed
football a little bit. I'm still getting used to being retired, uh,
(18:24):
having been retired that long. But uh, she's trying to
take my mind away from football. But we're going on
a cruise here or there, and so so it's been good.
Speaker 5 (18:36):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
Another thing is I'm able to see my grandkids more,
you know. Uh. They live two in Jersey and one
in here in mass and so, uh when we were
in New York, it's easy to get to both of 'em.
They can get to us as they choose to. And
so it's been good.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
It's a hard life. It's not an easy life.
Speaker 5 (18:57):
It's not for the faint of heart.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
And I mean, I'm not trying to make more of
it than it is. I don't know that fans necessarily
know what it can the toll it takes on families,
and you know, not being there for some of the
most important things for your children or your grandchildren.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
And so now is it.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
I got to play a little catch up, you know,
because I want to see these things. I want to
experience these things, you know, And now that I'm retired,
I'm able to do some of the things that I've
always wanted to do.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Yeah, see how the other half lives, you know, and
see what other people how they get through their day
and what kind of things they do, like going to
see a play, you know, or just taking a walk
on Fifth Avenue, you know, and those kind of things
where in coaching you don't have time to do that,
you know.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
Like.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
We're talking about Dante yesterday, and Dante was always the
first guy there. I think he's usually there at four
point thirty, all right, and then stay until eleven.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
I mean that's that's more than a full day.
Speaker 5 (19:55):
Guy's gonna say.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Yeah, but that's what you have.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
To do to be successful, you know, to give yourself
the best chance.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
You still follow the game much a little bit so
as a defensive guy, I'm just curious, as you know,
do you sort of lament you know, the old school
sort of physicality that you could bring on defense and
how hard it is to play that way nowadays.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
With the new Yeah, you can't do it anymore. You know.
Speaker 4 (20:20):
We had Rodney in here, you know, about a month ago,
and I asked him, you know, if he would have
lost money playing.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
He would have and and and it's funny, not funny,
But I was talking with someone last night and we're
talking about the game. It's a different game offensively, you know,
they try to spread the field, put speed on the field,
look for matchups. And then with the with the rule changes,
it's it's difficult to be physical, you know. But I
(20:52):
was watching a Bucket's tribute and on that tribute, every
play he's putting his hat right in somebody's chest or
right under somebody's chin, And he wouldn't have been able
to be a might not have been able to be
as good a player if he had had to play
in today's game, no question.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
You know, were you glad you we were able to
come back here for this? I mean, there were so
many people that came. Was it fun to be able
to come back and reminisce and see a lot of
old faces and a lot of people that you spent
a lot of time with.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Yeah, it was great. I mean, and like we were
talking last night, also is you you were become a
family on a team, you know, and you developed these
relationships and so now then when guys end up going
their different ways, all right, but then you get back together,
it's like old times and you remember those relationships and
(21:46):
appreciate those relationships and enjoy seeing everybody Rollyo.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
Thank you very much for your time. I hope you
have a great time the rest of the weekend. App
shiate your time.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Hi, I enjoyed it. Thanks a much, thank you. Thanks,
thank you for downloading this podcast.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
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Speaker 5 (22:03):
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Speaker 2 (22:06):
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It's time for another episode of Pats from the podcast
Matt Smith and Paul Parrillo and who are we lucky
to have today, Paul, but the great Romeo Crenell, who
is here for the Hall of Fame weekend. Romeo, thank
you so much for joining us.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Really appreciate it. It's my pleasure. It's great to be back.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
A lot of new editions and new things since I
was last here, but I'm excited and had a chance
to meet some see some old guys and it's all great.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
So, I mean, Paul and I were talking about this
before here in Romeo, what does it say about the
quality of the people who were enshrined yesterday? And look,
you're coming from New York. Maybe not that big of
a deal, but that's something that you didn't want to miss,
did you, you know, to be able to be here
to help contribute and honor the two people that the
organization aren't yesterday, that says about a lot what you
(00:53):
must think of them.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Well, I do think a lot of both guys. On Dante,
because I was coaching defensive line for a while and
then Dante coaches the offensive line, so in practice you
got that little you know, back and forth between the
two groups, and so we always were were competitive, but
(01:15):
we understood the challenges that each.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Of us had.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
And for him to do it in one place for
as long as he's done it, that is unreal, really is.
And then Vrabel, you know, we got him from Pittsburgh
and he basically was a backup at Pittsburgh and he
was looking for an opportunity and we offered him a
contract and he came aboard and he's playing that outside
(01:40):
linebacker spot for us and coming off that edge and
getting after the quarterbacks. But Rabel is smart. He knows schemes,
he knows offenses, and that helped make him the player
that he was.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
How was it coaching with him? Because was he on
your staff in Houston?
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Yeah, it's funny. Mike was coaching at Ohio State because
he graduated from Ohio State. Then he was coaching at
Ohio State. And then Billy Oh, you know, had running
to him here and Billy Oh liked him, and so
Billy Oh offered him a job. And he called me
and asked me what about pro coaching and what did
(02:20):
I think and all of that, And I said, Mike,
you got some things going for you and in this business.
You've been in this game. You know about pro football,
and I think that if you come aboard you'll be satisfied.
And he came aboard Boom right away. People were trying
(02:41):
to hire him away. He became the coordinator and then
the next year he became the head coach and we
see how he how he is improved that team and
took him to the playoffs and all that, and so
everybody in this business, I mean, you know, coaching, you
don't stay at the top forever. So sometimes what goes
(03:03):
around comes around and you have to deal with it.
But the thing that he mentioned yesterday was that you
always try to get better. You try to find ways
to get better. And I know that he will do
that as far as his team goes this year, and
I think you'll have a great career.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
So when you were coaching Mike, you know, Mike was
the guy that obviously always had all the answers. So
I assume you guys sort of looked at him and said,
you know what, he's always busted him, but he's going
to be a coach some day.
Speaker 5 (03:32):
Did you always kind of look at him as as
that kind of a guy.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Well, he was like a coach on the field, right,
you know, And so by him being able to be
considered a coach on the field, I thought that at
some point that if he chose coaching, that he would
be a good coach.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Romeo, what was your You don't have to limit it
to one. When you look at your career in coaching,
is there a person or people that you could say
were tremendous influence says on you? Mentors, if you would,
that helped you along the way. I mean, well, did
you have seventeen different stops as far as coaching. I'm
looking at your wife over here, and that's a lot
of tacking up and moving, which is you know, I
(04:11):
think a lot of people take for granted and professionally, Oh,
it's professional sports.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
It's really easy.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
And Mike mentioned it yesterday how hard that can be
on kids. You know, who are the people that you
that maybe inspired you and that you want to give
credit to as far as your coaching career is concerned.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Well, I think, first of all, I have to start
with coach Jimmy Fikes, who is at Western Kentucky and
I went to school there.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
I played for him.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
I was a captain on the team and he gave
me my first job, and after my graduate assistant year,
he hired me to be on the staff. And if
not that, I was probably going to be a high
school coach. And then this coaching business, you kind of
get stuck on the stratafy or that you're in. And
so by starting at the college level as opposed to
(04:58):
the high school level, that allowed me to be able
to elevate up the ladder and so coach Jimmy Fikes.
And then I met Parcels while I was down there
at Western on the recruiting trail and ended up going
to a Texas Tech with Steve Sloan and Parcelles was
his defensive coordinator. And then after a couple of years later,
(05:19):
a couple more moves, we ended up in New York
with the Giants.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
So you had that whole group, and I always found
this interesting, just you know, it was the Giants, and
then Parcels came to New England and it was all
you guys coming to New England and then back to
the Jets, and just how special was that group with
you know, we all know all the names, with you
and Charlie, that iconic photo.
Speaker 5 (05:40):
We'll get to that.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
I think later too, you know, with you and Bill.
But how that must have been a pretty special group
that you guys were a part of with the Giants.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Well, it was, and I should have mentioned Belichick also
and those guys who had the influence. But Belichick and
I we worked in the same office. He was a
special teams coach to start with, and I was quality control.
And then when Ray Perkins left the Giants, Parceales became
the head coach. Par Sales didn't give him the coordinator title.
(06:10):
He said, you run the defense, but I'm not gonna
give you the title yet. But Bill ran the defense
and then I took over for special teams for him,
you know. And so because of the time we were together,
I think you developed that strong bond, and so I
think we have a strong bond that group that you're talking.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
About that and I would think as we're talking about
all the moves that you've made and the different groups
that you're with, I have to assume it's a challenging
time for you. When Bill Belichick came here to New
England after the ninety six season, when he became the
head coach here, you're with a group with the Jets,
you know, and are we gonna go here with Bill?
How are we going to do that? That must have
(06:50):
been a hard decision for you to do because you're
leaving some people behind, but you're going with another really
good group. What was that period in life like.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
For you, Romeo?
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Well, you know what, when those things things happen, and
when they occur, you have to sit down and you
have to look at the landscape, all right. Who's working
at different places?
Speaker 2 (07:10):
You know?
Speaker 3 (07:10):
And I took a couple of interviews, went at the
San Diego and interviewed with those guys, and I knew
a guy out there and he told me how good
the weather was and all of that kind of stuff.
But when it got down to it and Belichick called
me and secured the position with him, then I knew
(07:32):
where I want it to be.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
If you look back, Romeo, at all the great battles
that you were involved in, here, the championships that were
won your career, primarily on the defensive side of the ball.
And during your head coaching career, was there a scheme
or a team or a group of players that you
can market say these guys kept me at up at night.
(07:54):
More so than the rest. You know, I think we
romanticize some of the Colts games from the early two
thousands and how difficult they were to play. But is
there somebody that particularly sticks in your mind, like, how
am I going to stop these guys?
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Well, Peyton Manny for what he fell into that category.
You know, his rookie year, he kind of took a
beating the first half of the season. But Peyton had
such a command of that offense, and he was always
able to get the players to rally around him and
sometimes exceed their abilities. And he was always a challenge
(08:31):
because he knew offense, he knew defense, he could check,
you know, and so he was one that I always
enjoyed playing. But a little concern the night before.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Can you talk a little bit about the differences between
the two bills. You know, few people have the intimate
knowledge of working with and around both of them as
you do. I'm just curious your thoughts on your similarities
and differences.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Well, one similarity they both liked football, and they both
liked winning, you know. Uh, And I I think Parcels
he had a little bit different way of approaching players.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
He would go and sit in the locker room in
the morning with the players, uh, and find out which
buttons he needed to push on a guy, whether he
needed to hug the guy or if he didn't hug
him himself, he could get somebody to hug him uh,
or what guy that he needed to yell at to
get on Uh. Who would respond, you know to to
(09:35):
that motivation? I think Belichick? Uh, he is I I
think the consummate football guy because of his background. He
started with his dad watching film and and understanding how
his dad broke games down. And he's coached every position
on offense uh as well as defense. And so that
(09:58):
background and knowledge U makes him a really good game coach,
you know. And he deals with players, and he understands
the system, the value that the system has, and would
value that the players you need to put on players.
And he has an uncanny knack of knowing when to
(10:20):
move on from a guy. And sometimes you say, well
why this, you know, but then you see it works out,
you know. And and so I think those are the
similarities about winning and being driven, and then the styles
that's the difference.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Yeah, I get that ones publicly maybe a little bit
more acerbic.
Speaker 5 (10:47):
Well, I'll tell you what made me.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
Think of it as when Romeo was explaining how when
you guys first got to the Giants and Ray Perkins
left and Parcels had Belichick in charge of the defense,
But what not with the title, right, which is what
we see Bill do now right with you know, with
Gerard and his own son Steven. You know, they're running
the defense clearly, but neither one of them has the
(11:10):
title of defensive coordinator. And I just sort of thought, like, that's, yeah,
probably not all that surprising to hear that.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
I think in both situations, I think you have to
they like Parsales, wanted Bill to prove himself as a coordinator,
to see if he could run the defense, and so
he said, I got confidence in you, so I'm gonna
let you run the defense, but I'm not gonna give
(11:37):
you the title, you know. And and then after he
showed him that he could run the defense, then he
gave him the title, you know. And I think that
that's probably Belichick's philosophy a little bit also that he's
not exactly sure he knows that no football you know
that know their position all right, but can they run
(12:00):
the whole defense and deal with everything that you have
to deal with when when you're a coordinator.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Romeo was.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
As an assistant or for working for both of them?
Is it a clearly defined role? Is it easier for
you as somebody who works in that program. I know
what my job is. They've told me what my job is,
and I'm gonna do it. Is it pretty matter of fact?
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Basically?
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Yes, you know, no ambiguity, No like par sales. You
just say, hey, just coach your guys. Don't worry about
these other guys. I got coaches who can coach these
other guys. You just coach your.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Guys, all right.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
And I think that philosophy has carried through through with Belichick.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Also.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Now if they come to you and say what do
you think about this? What do you think about this player?
What about this scheme? You know, then you're allowed to
give them information. And so I think that they wanted
to keep it the status, you know, keep it going
(13:04):
so that one guy wouldn't say.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Oh, the head coach likes you better than he likes me.
Speaker 5 (13:11):
And you know that kind of thing, that iconic photo.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
You know, Matt and I talk about it all the
time with you and Charlie, with Bill, and you guys are.
Speaker 5 (13:21):
Both finally going to go and get your head coaching jobs.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
What was that last moment, like, you know, after you
win that that third super Bowl in four years.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Well, that was a great moment one because we won
to get you know.
Speaker 5 (13:33):
Yeah, it would have been a little different if we
had lost.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
But all right, and then I think that the emotion
of all of us knowing that we're not going to
be coaching with each other the next season, you know. Uh,
And so that was just a group hug saying we
appreciate each other.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
And if you think about it, we talked earlier about
the decision to leave New York and you know you're
gonna take a chance here, You're coming to New England again.
You're gonna bet on you guys and Bill. The culmination
of that all that work, lousy team in two thousand,
terrible cap situation, all the veteran free agents, to then
win three out of four. Charlie goes to Notre Dame,
you go to Cleveland. You know, that's a culmination of
(14:17):
a lot of hard work and a lot of sweat.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Equity and everything.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
And to know what you guys accomplished must have felt
so sweet.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
Well definitely, I mean it was really good, because, like
you say, in two thousand it was I don't remember
what the record was, but I wasn't here in two thousand, right,
all right. And then when I got here in two
thousand and one, we were like a five hundred team, okay,
and we had just played finished playing the best team
(14:45):
on turf, okay. And so our game plan was to
try to pressure those guys. Let's pressure them, throw whatever
we can throw at them, you know. And we did it,
and we lost, and then we got a on a streak.
We got on a winning streak. You know, guys, just
believe you know, the adages game, the game. Let's play
(15:07):
this game, Let's play one at a time, you know.
And so we started doing that, we started winning, and
then got us into the playoffs, and we're able to
get to the Super Bowl and then win the Super Bowl,
you know.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
From a five hundred team mid season.
Speaker 5 (15:23):
Do you did you catch that?
Speaker 2 (15:25):
Though?
Speaker 5 (15:25):
Like you know, I wasn't here in two thousand five
and eleven. I listen, I wasn't a defensive quarter on
that team. I got here when we won the Super.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Bowl, right Romeo? Do you I mean you won five
of them? Do you have a favorite, the first one.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
The first one is my favorite.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
Eighty six, Yes, because it's the first one, you know,
And I mean, I keep it kind of quiet. But
I played in one before eighty six. We coached in
one before eighty six, but.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
We lost ninety six, right, No, eighty six was the
first one?
Speaker 5 (15:58):
Was before that?
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Oh no, that was the Giants. I'm sorry, I was
talking about the first one with the Patriots. Oh okay, right, yeah,
And but I played in one with the Patriots before that.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
We lost to Green Bay.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Ninety six, right, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
And so I got two with the Giants, right, and
then three with the Patriots.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
What was so when you say it's the first.
Speaker 5 (16:26):
One and what that means?
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Is it the spectacle and finally getting over the hump
and realizing you're at the epitome of your professional goal?
Is it You're never going to experience that first one again?
Is that why the first one is always is to
you the most special?
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Well?
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Yeah, that and winning it, that's right, right, winning it?
But all of those things that you mentioned, the spectacle,
like we were out in California, okay, and what you
have you have two a sea of two colors. You know,
you got the blues and the oranges because we were
(17:05):
playing Denver, okay, And now then you go play the
game and and it's a big game, but still all
the things that you know about coaching you have to
apply to make it work in that game. And so
we didn't play great the first half, alright, but we
weren't down by much. And then we came out the
(17:27):
second half and then we started playing a lot better.
And so winning it and all the hoopla alright made
it all worth it. And so that's one I'll always remember.
Speaker 4 (17:41):
So you've been you've stepped away for a couple of years. Now,
what has life been like, you know, since you retired.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
I'm telling you what. It's It's great.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
I get to spend a lot of time with my
wife and uh get on her nerves and it's not
nodding yeah, but uh, but there's no stress.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
I don't I don't feel stress, you know.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
And and coaching it's stressful, you know, it's stressful in practice.
It's stressful on game day, and then as soon as
that game is over, you got another game, you know, So, uh,
there's a lot less stress. I'm more relaxed. I missed
football a little bit. I'm still getting used to being retired, uh,
(18:24):
having been retired that long. But uh, she's trying to
take my mind away from football. But we're going on
a cruise here or there, and so so it's been good.
Speaker 5 (18:36):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
Another thing is I'm able to see my grandkids more,
you know. Uh. They live two in Jersey and one
in here in mass and so, uh when we were
in New York, it's easy to get to both of 'em.
They can get to us as they choose to. And
so it's been good.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
It's a hard life. It's not an easy life.
Speaker 5 (18:57):
It's not for the faint of heart.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
And I mean, I'm not trying to make more of
it than it is. I don't know that fans necessarily
know what it can the toll it takes on families,
and you know, not being there for some of the
most important things for your children or your grandchildren.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
And so now is it.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
I got to play a little catch up, you know,
because I want to see these things. I want to
experience these things, you know, And now that I'm retired,
I'm able to do some of the things that I've
always wanted to do.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Yeah, see how the other half lives, you know, and
see what other people how they get through their day
and what kind of things they do, like going to
see a play, you know, or just taking a walk
on Fifth Avenue, you know, and those kind of things
where in coaching you don't have time to do that,
you know.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
Like.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
We're talking about Dante yesterday, and Dante was always the
first guy there. I think he's usually there at four
point thirty, all right, and then stay until eleven.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
I mean that's that's more than a full day.
Speaker 5 (19:55):
Guy's gonna say.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Yeah, but that's what you have.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
To do to be successful, you know, to give yourself
the best chance.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
You still follow the game much a little bit so
as a defensive guy, I'm just curious, as you know,
do you sort of lament you know, the old school
sort of physicality that you could bring on defense and
how hard it is to play that way nowadays.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
With the new Yeah, you can't do it anymore. You know.
Speaker 4 (20:20):
We had Rodney in here, you know, about a month ago,
and I asked him, you know, if he would have
lost money playing.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
He would have and and and it's funny, not funny,
But I was talking with someone last night and we're
talking about the game. It's a different game offensively, you know,
they try to spread the field, put speed on the field,
look for matchups. And then with the with the rule changes,
it's it's difficult to be physical, you know. But I
(20:52):
was watching a Bucket's tribute and on that tribute, every
play he's putting his hat right in somebody's chest or
right under somebody's chin, And he wouldn't have been able
to be a might not have been able to be
as good a player if he had had to play
in today's game, no question.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
You know, were you glad you we were able to
come back here for this? I mean, there were so
many people that came. Was it fun to be able
to come back and reminisce and see a lot of
old faces and a lot of people that you spent
a lot of time with.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Yeah, it was great. I mean, and like we were
talking last night, also is you you were become a
family on a team, you know, and you developed these
relationships and so now then when guys end up going
their different ways, all right, but then you get back together,
it's like old times and you remember those relationships and
(21:46):
appreciate those relationships and enjoy seeing everybody Rollyo.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
Thank you very much for your time. I hope you
have a great time the rest of the weekend. App
shiate your time.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Hi, I enjoyed it. Thanks a much, thank you. Thanks,
thank you for downloading this podcast.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
Subscribe on Apple, google Play, and everywhere else you listen.
Speaker 5 (22:03):
Like the show, Please rate and review us.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Listener comments and ratings help keep us high on the
podcast rankings so new listeners can find us.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
Be sure to Checkpatriots dot com for more news and
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