The Post’s Steve Serby chatted with the Patriots’ owner in the lead-up to their playoff game against the Jets on Sunday.
Q: Where does the Jets-Patriots rivalry rank?
A: We think it’s No. 1
Q: Rex Ryan saying this game is him versus Bill Belichick?
A: If I were a Jet fan or a media person in New York, I guess I’d really be fond of the guy and impressed with him. He’s got a 20-12 (regular-season) record, so he’s produced. Stylistically, he does things a little different than we do . . . but that’s just his style.
We all understand why he says that. He’s trying to take the pressure off his players. He knows best how to get his players in the best position, so I can’t be judgmental of that. The players are the ones who play the game. I wouldn’t question what he’s doing because he seems to have done a pretty good job so far.
Q: What makes Tom Brady great?
A: He’s a great person as well as a great competitor. In our family, we’re involved in a lot of different businesses. We want people who are going to help (us) achieve our goal, but once we reach success, they’re not going to change. As the 199th pick, in the sixth round, nothing was given to him. He had to fight and work hard for everything. He shares the same values that are important to me. I was privileged to go to his wedding in Costa Rica, just with a small group. I do love him like a son. As a matter of fact, my kids are concerned that he gets cut into the will there. He’s pretty special. Think about it: How cool is it to have a young man like that at the helm of your franchise who’s a great human being?
Q: What makes Bill Belichick great?
A: First of all, I think Bill and I have been able to develop a trusting, solid relationship. You can only be successful year-in and year-out if you minimize division from within. Then after that, he is so focused on his task, and so knowledgeable on what he’s doing on every part of the game. In the age of the salary cap, I think he also has a great understanding of value. He understands personnel. I’ve been happy giving him more and more autonomy each year.
Q: What do you like about this Patriots team?
A: It’s young. It’s enthusiastic. You go through the locker room and it’s really a fun place. I think it’s a group of guys who, in the spirit of Belichick and Brady, put the team in front of individual goals, and everyone is pulling in the same direction.
Q: What are your recollections of Wellington Mara?
A: When he would get up and speak in the room, everyone would listen. He was always sort of like the conscience of the league in many ways. When I went to his funeral and I heard John eulogize his dad, it was one of the most amazing eulogies, and one of the most beautiful eulogies I ever heard.
Q: The Super Bowl XLII loss to the Giants that ended your perfect season?
A: It was really horrible in a way. We had a chance to make history. It really was a completely draining experience, and the only way I was able to get balance was I went down to the field, and I waited for John Mara and Steve Tisch to get off the podium after accepting the (Lombardi) trophy. I said, “I’m going to congratulate you both, and I’m happy for you both.” Because Wellington Mara and Bob Tisch are smiling. That was the only way I could get through that, because I did have a lot of affection for Wellington and Bob. . . . My eldest son John was with me and kept me steady until I said that. I felt better after I did that. But it was a horrible feeling. You get so close . . .
Q: Most emotional moment as Patriots owner?
A: Probably two. The most overwhelming was being able to share with my family winning that first Super Bowl, No. 36, right after 9/11. . . . Sitting in the stands (as a boy) and dreaming of owning the team and being able to be part of an organization who helped put it together was very thrilling. There was a special karma being called the Patriots, and (wearing) red, white and blue post 9/11.
Side by side with that was spending 15 years trying to buy the team. When I was able to do that in January of ‘94, remembering the 34 years before we owned the team . . . it was pretty cool. The team had never sold out one full season. The day after I bought the team, there was a big snowstorm, and 6,000 people lined up to buy season tickets.
Q: What are your recollections of the end of Super Bowl XXXVI, after Tebucky Jones’ TD fumble recovery was called back?
A: I think most New Englanders had a view of the ball going through Bill Buckner’s legs. . . . That drive at the end of the game when (John) Madden said, with 1:21 to go, Brady should take a knee. . . . I always remember Brady spiking the ball and catching it in his left hand and he gave it to the referee. . . . (Adam) Vinatieri came out and made that great kick. My whole family was holding hands in the box. I remember with five minutes to go, the NFL people came and told me I should go down to the field, because they weren’t sure who was going to win the game. I said, “I guess I’m going to miss the ceremony.”
Q: And when you won?
A: We went like the wind there. We went flying down.
Q: Holding the Lombardi Trophy for the first time?
A: It was unreal. I pinch myself now every day coming to work, driving into the stadium, knowing I have the privilege of owning an NFL franchise in my hometown. I had a greater chance of being a starting quarterback in the NFL.
There are 32 of those. Only one person can own a team in their hometown. The fact that I could be part of an organization that brought the trophy to New England. . . . I sat with the fans out there in the seats and hoped for and dreamt about it. I saw O.J. Simpson wrap up record yardage against us. It’s a confluence of all these great things happening so fast coming together, and it’s really the pinnacle. It’s a very special feeling.
Q: Reflections on the other two Super Bowl championships?
A: It’s like the birth of your children, each one is special.
Q: What did Belichick tell you that convinced you to add Randy Moss?
A: He said to me the way he’s represented in the media is not the way he believes he is. I said the only way I’d be comfortable with him joining the franchise was if I had a chance to meet him alone and tell him what was acceptable from my point of view and what wasn’t. First of all, he (Belichick) said he’d help the team a lot. I had seen some things that were concerning. I told (Moss), “Look, this is a family enterprise here. Our family name is on this franchise. If you come up here and do something inappropriate, it reflects on our family.”
Q: And he assured you he would (behave)?
A: He lived up to his word.
Q: Why was it time for Moss to go?
A: I think Randy himself wanted to move on, and we accommodated what he wanted.
Q: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell?
A: The task is almost thankless. He really has a board of 32 independent people, most of whom think they have the answers to everything. He’s been terrific with the pressure. He’s grown in a way that I think he’s exceeded the expectations of those of us who supported his candidacy. It’s like going on a treadmill; the speed always increases, and the better he does, the incline goes up at the same time.
Q: Are you optimistic a lockout can be averted?
A: I am optimistic, because the fans don’t want to hear about a labor struggle between well-to-do owners and players. They just want football. If we can get business people at the table and have fewer lawyers involved, it would be a big plus. I think there’s enough money there that everyone can make out.
Q: As a Giants fan growing up, who were your favorite players?
A: Frank Gifford, Y.A. Tittle, (Dick) Modzelewski, (Jim) Katcavage.
Q: Bill Parcells?
A: I think we both learned a lot, and we have a real good relationship today. In those days, he was more coaching year to year. I was looking for long-term stability. He brought a certain credibility to the franchise in the early ‘90s.
Q: Biggest influences growing up?
A: My mom and dad.
Q: Your relationship with Woody Johnson?
A: Very good. I tried every way I could to help him when he came into the league. I believe he wants to do everything he can do to help the Jets be a winning organization. I’m a big fan of his mother, too. She’s just a classy lady.
Q: Your passion for philanthropy (health care, Boys & Girls Club of Boston, United Way, education)?
A: One of the things I mentioned to my wife after we bought the team, we would be able to do good for our community if we could create a winning franchise. I saw that after the first Super Bowl, when a million-and-a-half people came to the streets of Boston 36 hours after we won ‹ people from all backgrounds, every social-economic background.
Q: You attended Columbia University, then Harvard (MBA). Who do you root for when Columbia plays Harvard?
A: Columbia!
Q: Your legacy?
A: Someone who worked hard to build bridges and bring people together, and stressed quality in whatever endeavor we were doing, and hopefully did things in a classy way. And we want to be one of the best at what we do.
Winning is very important, and that’s the scorecard. I told Bill (Belichick) when I hired him, one of my objectives was that I have the best won-lost record. Since ‘94 I think we’ve done pretty well.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: This week it would be Parcells, Belichick and Rex Ryan. I’ll pick up the bill if you let me have a fourth.
Q: Of course.
A: Fireman Ed.
Q: Fireman Ed?
A: He once stopped me driving out of the stadium and said some nice things to me, so I always remember that.
Q: What did he say?
A: I’ll let him tell you that. . . . Anyone who’s a football fan would love to be at that dinner this week.