North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick is speaks to the press before its 10th day of fall camp and its second in full pads.

It was 2002, and the former second-round pick had just turned 30. He was a free agent for the first time in his career, on the verge of a decent payday, but he had endured countless ankle injuries, and his primary goal was to protect his body for the long term. Bill Belichick did not seem like the guy to do it.