MINNEAPOLIS -- Bill Belichick knows as well as anyone what the aftermath of a Super Bowl is like. Between his time with the Giants and the Patriots, he's coached in 11, which amounts to 21.2 percent of all Super Bowls and 34.4 percent of Super Bowls since his first in 1986.
It's emotional. Players, coaches and staff members start to reflect. But, in Belichick's opinion, it's not the best time to make any significant career choices.
Asked on Monday's conference call about tight end Rob Gronkowski, who did not totally shoot down the possibility of retirement after losing Super Bowl 52 to the Eagles, Belichick preached patience.
"At the end of every season, every person goes through somewhat of process at the end of the season and then the following season," Belichick said. "I think everyone that's involved in an NFL season, you get pretty drained, especially after a season like this. You go through the end-of-the-year process and the following year is the following year.
"It's the same for everybody. I certainly can't speak for anyone else. You'd have to ask any individual about their particular situation, but I would say five minutes after the game or the day after the game is not really the best time to make those decisions."
When it was posed to him that a rumor was swirling that he may retire, Gronkowski said on Sunday night: "I don’t know how you heard that but I’m definitely going to look at my future, for sure. I'm going to sit down the next couple weeks and see where I'm at."