Traina Thoughts: Bill Belichick Wasn't Always Disgusted With the Media

NFL reporter tells story about Bill Belichick providing him with secret information.

Icon Sportswire

1. This may come as a shock, but there was a time when Bill Belichick didn't have complete contempt for people in the media.

ESPN's Rich Cimini has revealed that Belichick used to be a secret source for him when he was Bill Parcells's defensive coordinator with the Jets in the '90s.

According to Cimini, Belichick used to provide him with the favorite play of the Jets' opponent each week and a breakdown of said play for a regular feature in the newspaper Cimini used to work for. However, Parcells would not allow assistant coaches to speak to the media, so Cimini says that he used to call Belichick each week, let the phone ring once and then hang up. That was Bill's signal to meet him in the press room and supply him with the information.

This just proves once again that nobody knows how to get around the rules better than Bill Belichick.

2. Troy Aikman is having quite a run. He came on the SI Media Podcast last week and pulled no punches while talking about the NFL's officiating problem and getting a talking to from FOX higher-ups after a recent controversy.

Then, Monday night, he sent a clear message about being compared to Patrick Mahomes.

iCYMI: Talk to me when when he has 33% of my Super Bowl Titles https://t.co/Ba8kjPRnDs

— Troy Aikman (@TroyAikman) September 24, 2019

3. We told you Monday that Daniel Jones Mania has overtaken New York City. There seems to be no let up, either, because today he got the Barack Obama treatment from the New York Post.

4. Instead of Jim Nantz and Tony Romo calling Sunday's Bears-Vikings game, it might be Jim Nantz and Boomer Esiason. Romo may be busy playing golf.

5. Seventy-one year age difference be damned! Rams receiver Cooper Kupp has revealed that his celebrity crush is Betty White.

6. This athlete-celebrity story is much sadder than Cooper Kupp's love for Betty White. Arkansas quarterback Nick Starkel is cutting ties with Justin Bieber. Starkel had been a super fan, but after the Razorbacks lost Saturday to San Jose State, Starkel put the blame on Biebs.

Sadly, Bieber did not respond by saying, "What do you mean," or "Sorry."

7. RANDOM YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THE DAY: I thought I had seen all of the legendary "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase skits where he bribes people for various things, but I just discovered this one in which he went to an emergency room and did his thing. Just outstanding.

Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast hosted by Jimmy Traina on iTunes, Spotify or Google Play. You can also follow Jimmy on Twitter and Instagram.

IN CLOSING: Every single person involved with sports should take a lesson from Nelson Agholor on how you can turn something into positive press. It's really not that difficult.