Bill Belichick surprising everyone with personality in media pivot: ‘Never in a million years’

The world gets turned upside down every now and then. You realize that the apocalypse is near when “We’re on to Cincinnati” becomes “We’re on to television.”

What’s next, a “Boom!?” from Bill Belichick, or a turducken play-by-play on Thanksgiving? A telestrator perhaps?

There have been a number of former NFL coaches who were always good bets to transition to television: first and foremost John Madden, Mike Ditka, Bill Parcells, Herm Edwards, Rex Ryan …

But Bill Belichick?

And yet there he is — chopping it up on the “ManningCast,” and with Pat McAfee, on “Inside the NFL,” breaking down the game on “The Breakdown” with Peyton Manning — biding time before returning to the sidelines to try to break Don Shula’s record for career coaching wins.

And guess what: Liberated from the paranoia over revealing even the most minute competitive disadvantage, the guy is entertaining and informative talking shop.