"How would you handle that?" - Bill Belichick recalls astounding NFL Combine interview with Deion Sanders in 1989
Over the last few years, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has been known to head up to the broadcast booth during the NFL Combine telecast. He would typically join Rich Eisen and do an impromptu interview about what he was seeing from the Combine participants.
In 2018, Belichick told Eisen about Deion Sanders' Combine performance in 1989. He mentioned that Sanders' 40-yard dash time was 4.27, a time that the former defensive back has disputed for years, saying he ran the dash in 4.20 seconds.
Sanders worked for the NFL Network at the time and was covering the broadcast from the field. He chimed in and told Belichick that he was wrong.
Sanders revealed that he regards Belichick as the best coach, but still had to politely tell him that he was wrong.
Bill Belichick then shot back with a story about interviewing Sanders in 1989 when he was the defensive coordinator with the New York Giants. The Patriots head coach said that he told Sanders that he is a great player but Lawrence Taylor was on the team and wanted to know how he would share the spotlight with him.
Bill Belichick jokes with Deion Sanders about his Combine 40 yard dash time | Mar 5, 2018 youtube.com/watch?feature=… super-bowl-2018.org/bill-belichick…
Bill Belichick then recounted that Sanders told him that Giants fans would just have to change their ways and get used to him.
“I just remember when I interviewed you in the hotel and I said, ‘Look, you’re a great player and you’re going to have a big impact on whichever team you go to. With all due respect, if you come to the Giants, we’ve got another guy [Lawrence Taylor] who’s a little bit bigger than you at this point. How would you handle that?’ And you said, ‘Well, I think the fans are just going to have to change and get used to me if I’m there.'”
Sanders didn't essentially deny the details from the interview. The Atlanta Falcons would then draft him fifth overall in the 1989 NFL Draft.
Which player could Bill Belichick have his eye on during NFL Combine?
The NFL Combine is this week and every team will attend with an agenda of what position or player they need most. Bill Belichick and his New England Patriots will have the 14th overall draft pick in the first round and will have their eyes focused on offensive players first.
Whether it's an offensive lineman to add protection for quarterback Mac Jones or give their young quarterback a new offensive target, Patriots are on the lookout.
Wide receiver Jordan Addison, who is said to be high on many teams' draft boards, could get an extra look from the Patriots.
New England Patriots Eyeing Jordan Addison at Wide Receiver in First Round? Mock Draft Monday #PatsPodcast #PatsOpinion #PatriotsFans #ForeverNE #PatriotsFan youtube.com/watch?v=5qj9Bx…
The breakout wide receiver would likely fit right into the newly hired Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien's offensive scheme as well.