Bill Belichick’s Book Publicist Assured CBS Interview Would Be ‘About the Book’

Bill Belichick was assured by his ebook publicist simply days earlier than his now-infamous sitdown with “CBS Sunday Morning” that his interview for the present would intently persist with subjects associated to his new ebook … TMZ Sports has discovered.

Sources aware of the state of affairs inform us … again on April 9, Simon & Schuster’s senior director of publicity, David Kass, wrote to Belichick, “I can guarantee you that the dialog [will be] concerning the ebook.”

“This is a ebook phase,” Kass added, “that appears at your life in soccer and what folks can be taught from you to attain success in their very own lives.”

On April 21, simply lower than two weeks after that message was despatched, Belichick fielded no fewer than six questions from Tony Dokoupil for the CBS phase that gave the impression to be unrelated to his new “The Art Of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football” work.

Four of them surrounded his relationship with Robert Kraft — who was not talked about within the Belichick tome. Others, we’re advised, concerned Belichick’s portrayal in “The Dynasty: New England Patriots,” a preferred 2024 TV miniseries. At least two different inquiries centered round his private connection along with his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson.

Our sources say Belichick was livid … as although it was anticipated there can be potential questions on Kraft and Hudson, he anticipated them solely being associated to their roles in his ebook, or in Kraft’s case, lack thereof.

Sources say Belichick had truly shot down a number of interview alternatives Kass had put in entrance of him over considerations the media shops would use his ebook promotion as a option to pry into topics not associated to the precise ebook.

We’re advised Belichick had even at factors wished to show down CBS … however Kass was adamant he do it, writing to the 73-year-old, “I would not be this insistent if this wasn’t so necessary to ebook gross sales and with out danger.”

Kass, our sources say, truly flew to North Carolina on March 20 to encourage Belichick to go together with their advertising technique. Then, within the days following their in-person meet-up, Kass ensured Belichick in writing that he had talked to a CBS producer “about sticking to the ebook and shared that in the event that they do, they will get a fantastic interview, and he was actually open, saying he is not involved in going past the ebook.”

Kass did warn Belichick on March 26 “there would seemingly be one query about what you are to date.” Additionally, on April 8, he said CBS wouldn’t present any inquiries to them upfront, clearly making Belichick conscious there was at the least some probability of surprises. Kass additionally, we’re advised, supplied at the least as soon as to arrange a name with a present producer so they may “discuss issues by means of” earlier than Belichick acquired within the interview chair.

But in response to sources, Kass in the end wrote to Belichick the “CBS Sunday Morning” phase can be a “puff piece” that was “designed to make everybody look good and promote books.”

We’re advised Kass didn’t go along with Belichick to the interview, which came about at Bill’s former highschool, Annapolis H.S. in Maryland. Our sources say Kass opted out, writing to the coach’s crew he “had requested Bill if he wished me there and he did not appear to care, so I assumed it greatest to remain again and never lose all that point in transit.”

In Kass’ absence, Hudson — who sat close to present producer Gabriel Falcon throughout filming — took it upon herself to talk out and attempt to steer the Dokoupil interview again towards ebook subjects. Our sources say Hudson truly tried to name Kass as issues acquired off monitor, however she couldn’t get in contact with him.

The ultimate reduce ended up airing on April 27 … and it drew a lot adverse publicity, Belichick launched a press release to attempt to clarify what he believed prompted all of it to go so sideways.

“Prior to this interview,” he wrote, “I clearly communicated with my publicist at Simon & Schuster that any promotional interviews I participated in would conform to focus solely on the contents of the ebook.”

“Unfortunately, that expectation was not honored through the interview. I used to be shocked when unrelated subjects have been launched, and I repeatedly expressed to the reporter, Tony Dokoupil, and the producers that I most popular to maintain the dialog centered on the ebook. After this occurred a number of occasions, Jordon, with whom I share each a private {and professional} relationship, stepped in to reiterate that time to assist refocus the dialogue.”

He continued, “The ultimate eight-minute phase doesn’t mirror the productive 35-minute dialog we had, which coated a variety of subjects associated to my profession. Instead, it presents selectively edited clips and stills from just some minutes of the interview to counsel a false narrative — that Jordon was trying to regulate the dialog — which is solely not true.”

Hudson, too, tried to make clear the state of affairs after the present aired … posting on her Instagram web page an April 10 e mail Belichick had despatched to Kass and others that confirmed her boyfriend emphasizing he wished to advertise “The Art Of Winning” with out addressing “all the present occasions that do not have something to do with the ebook.” She added a Taylor Swift tune to the IG put up that gave the impression to be a jab at Kass — “Look What You Made Me Do.”

CBS ended up releasing its personal assertion on all the pieces, writing, “When we agreed to talk with Mr. Belichick, it was for a wide-ranging interview. There have been no preconditions or limitations to this dialog. This was confirmed repeatedly along with his writer earlier than the interview came about and after it was accomplished.”

Kass has but to publicly deal with the state of affairs. Simon & Schuster, in the meantime, declined to remark once we reached out on Tuesday.

Prior to becoming a member of Simon & Schuster, Kass labored because the vice chairman government director of publicity at Hilsinger Mendelson, the place he described himself as “a straight shooter whose phrase will be relied upon.”

In his bio on Simon & Schuster’s web site, Kass — who as soon as helped Jeff Benedict‘s Robert Kraft-themed ebook, “The Dynasty,” attain the New York Times’ bestseller listing — said he has a ardour for “orchestrating significant publicity campaigns for titles that serve a bigger suggest, uncover truths, and inform nice tales.”

“He sees ebook publishing and the related media campaigns as a chance to really change minds,” the bio reads.