Bill Belichick thanks media, high school coaches on Thanksgiving conference call

It appears as though Bill Belichick was touched by the Thanksgiving spirit.

Despite not being known for his candidness during press conferences, the New England Patriots coach opened up during Thursday's conference call and thanked the media members involved for their professionalism.

"I'll jump in there and just wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. I appreciate the professional way that this group covers us and being the conduit of information from the team to the fans," said Belichick. "We have great fan support."

Belichick also spoke fondly about high school football coaches and their importance in players lives:

Today is also a day to be recognized with the high school football level with so many traditional and rivalry games taking place. Having been at high school and played in those games myself, we always had a traditional Thanksgiving Day game between Annapolis and Severna Park, and I know how important that was to the teams, the families, and really the whole school body that supported us. It's such a good traditional way to capture and bring a lot of things together - family, community, friendship - and do it in a competitive way but also in a way that bonds friendship and community support. And just recognizing the high schools, the great job the coaches and those programs do to develop players that eventually become our players and how impactful they are to our players.

When I talk to players at the combine in the spring and so forth usually the two most influential people for kids are their parents - or in some cases one parent - and then the high school football coach or maybe a junior high school football coach - somebody who mentored them along the way or kind of helped them develop as young men.

All of us who have had that opportunity have certainly gained from it and taken from it. So just reaching out to them with our level of appreciation for what they do for kids that we eventually see at this level and for all the support that the parents and the families and the high schools give those teams and those players and how it brings everybody together. And again, thanks to all of you for taking time on your Thanksgiving morning to accommodate us, and we look forward to seeing you out in Denver. Happy Thanksgiving.

Nice.