[Golden Jet]

Originally posted by transplant99@Feb 7 2005, 11:35 AM
He was "brutal" in Cleveland?? I beg to differ.

He inherited a 3-13 team and in 3 years had them in the playoffs one win from the best record in the AFC.

Here is his bio...the only reason he left cleveland was because they moved to Baltimore, and i dont blame him a bit for wanting not to get involved in that fiasco.

Prior to joining the Patriots, he spent five seasons (1991-95) rebuilding the Cleveland Browns, whose 3-13 finish in 1990 was the worst in the history of the franchise. By 1994, the Browns were again one of the elite teams in the NFL, boasting the second-best record in the AFC. That head coaching opportunity came following the 1990 season, when Belichick’s defensive efforts with the New York Giants helped claim a second Super Bowl title in five years. Cleveland wasted no time in hiring the talented young defensive coordinator, naming him the franchise’s 10th head coach on Feb. 5, 1991. At the age of 38, he became the NFL’s youngest head coach. In his first season, he began the rebuilding process by restoring the foundation of the aging squad he inherited. In 1991, the Browns improved to 6-10 and played in 11 games that were decided by a touchdown or less. The most dramatic improvement came in the category of turnovers. In 1990, the Browns surrendered 46 turnovers. In Belichick’s first season as head coach, the team established a franchise record by turning the ball over just 18 times - four shy of the NFL record set by the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants the previous season. The Browns led the AFC with a plus-15 turnover ratio, a remarkable 39-turnover improvement from their NFL-low negative-24 ratio the year before.

Following back-to-back 7-9 campaigns in 1992 and 1993, the Browns improved to 11-5 in 1994. Only Pittsburgh, who won the division with a 12-4 record, had a better record in the AFC that season. In their return to the playoffs, the Browns eliminated Parcells’ Patriots, 20-13, in a first-round wild-card game on New Year’s Day 1995. The Browns advanced to the divisional playoff round before being bumped by the Steelers. The 1994 squad was defined by its defense, which allowed a league-low 204 points (12.8 ppg) and just 301.6 yards per game, second in the AFC.

The 1995 season was disrupted by the mid-season announcement that the franchise would be moved to Baltimore at the conclusion of the season. The announcement caused an inextricable mid-season distraction resulting in a 5-11 finish. Belichick did not accompany the franchise’s move to Baltimore after the 1995 season.

He really is a defensive guru.

Belichek not accompanying the Browns to Baltimore means he was effectively fired. They certainly didn't think too much of him in Cleveland when he left.