A story from now-San Diego Chargers tight end Asante Cleveland removes any lingering doubt:

Bill Belichick is the Grinch.

Cleveland was a member of the New England Patriots last season — that is, until Christmas Day, when a dinner with teammates at center Bryan Stork’s house was interrupted by a call from the 508 area code.

It was Belichick.

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"He was like, ‘Hey, Asante. It’s Belichick,'" Cleveland recounts to the San Diego Union-Tribune. "He said, ‘We’re going to have to make some roster moves.’ At that point, I knew what ‘roster moves’ means. It means I’m being moved from the roster. We needed to bring in a cornerback because we were playing the Jets."

Cleveland continued, “He said, ‘I just want to let you know this is no indication we’re moving away from you. We really like you. ... We just need to make this quick transaction.’ That call ended. I said, ‘Merry Christmas.’ I don’t know if he heard me. He didn’t say it back.”

One positive to come out of the phone call was that Cleveland, with no obligation to the Patriots the next day, was able to enjoy an adult beverage to celebrate the holiday. On Saturday, Dec. 26, he went to a Bruins game.

On Monday the 28th, he was claimed off waivers by San Diego before New England could re-sign him.

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Now Cleveland has a new Christmas Day guideline.

"Phone off on Christmas,” Cleveland said. “It’s going to be the new rule I go with for the rest of my life. Only bad news can come. Good news will still be there the next day."