If there is one thing Belichick's defensive squads have always been -- besides prepared for any possible scenario on the field -- is in tremendous shape. The Patriots were not meeting his standards, so the team began exhausting conditioning drills. And just in case players still did not get the message, they picked up the newspaper the next day and read these blistering words from their new leader:

''We've got too many people who are overweight, too many guys who are out of shape, and too many guys who just haven't paid the price they need to pay at this time of the season. You can't win with 40 good players while the other team has 53.''

This week, Belichick explained the message he was sending his team.

''I've been with some very successful franchises,'' he said. ''The Giants, the Jets, and with those teams we had some very successful systems. And not just X's and O's, with everything, including conditioning. So I am trying to do here what we did with those franchises. I'm telling the players, 'This works. It's proven. So let's follow it.' ''

Or, do not follow at your own risk.

Belichick is not the only new National Football League head coach trying to grab a fast foothold inside his players' heads. In Miami, Dave Wannstedt loaded his team on a bus and took them to see the Imax film ''Michael Jordan: To the Max'' as a way to build camaraderie, something that was missing under Jimmy Johnson. In Green Bay, players were often late for meetings when Ray Rhodes was head coach, so Mike Sherman has installed digital clocks throughout the complex and beefed up the system for imposing fines.

In one of Al Groh's first days as Jets head coach, he had a spiffy video presentation that first showed an image of Bill Parcells and commented that the legend is not coaching anymore. Then Groh flashed the image of Belichick and said that the genius was gone. A picture of wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson followed and Groh explained that the star was in Tampa Bay. He concluded by saying despite the brain and talent drain, the Jets were still a good team, and there should be no excuses.

Belichick's actions are in the same vein as those other coaches. The difference with Belichick is that he is a work in progress.