Projo Pats Blog

The Patriots' Oct. 20 game against Denver may be Andre Tippett Night at Gillette Stadium but today is something of an Andre Tippett Day, as the linebacker felt the love from the current New England players this morning and will get the opportunity to be sent to Canton with the love of the fans at this afternoon's practice session.

Tippett departs for Canton, Ohio tomorrow morning for a weekend's worth of Hall of Fame festivities, the highlight being his induction into the Hall on Saturday evening (NFL Network and ESPN will both carry the ceremony live).

Bill Belichick, who coached some great linebackers during his years with the Giants in Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson, holds Tippett at the same level.

"I just remember him as a guy that was dominant," Belichick said. "He and other players like LT really re-defined the position of outside linebacker. When Andre came in, an outside linebacker might get two or three sacks a year on a blitz, but he and a few others re-defined the position in a 3-4 defense."

Tippett recorded 100 sacks in his 11-year career.

This morning, Belichick brought Tippett into the room at the end of the Pats' team meeting to give the players a chance to honor him since they won't be able to be there in Canton with him.

"He's not only a friend and an asset to bounce things off of, but he's a great ambassador for this team," Belichick said. "He talks to the rookies every year (and) he's a great, positive influence on all of us. We're very proud of him...we'll be there with him in heart and spirit."

Belichick said Tippett was one of the few players he would use as an example and learning tool for Taylor and Carl Banks, and that his use of martial arts influenced him as well. Belichick said the Giants began to incorporate hand drills for offensive and defensive linemen, and when Belichick went to Cleveland as head coach, he hired a martial arts instructor to teach his players moves that could help them on the football field.

And when Mike Vrabel came to New England in 2001, he worked with Tippett and Belichick said many of Vrabel's sacks have come thanks to those moves.

 Tags  andre tippett bill belichick hall of fame mike vrabel

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