But there was another benefit to skipping this week's gathering: Belichick didn't have to watch one of his protégés get grilled Tuesday about a quarterback controversy.

Belichick missed seeing the onslaught of reporters who peppered new Denver coach Josh McDaniels with questions regarding his strained relationship with Jay Cutler. Inevitably, the same throng would have swarmed Belichick for his thoughts on the matter during an AFC-coaches interview session.

"I'm not sure I want to comment on that. I've got my hands full trying to coach my own team," Belichick told FOXSports.com on Tuesday afternoon while en route to a college workout. "You always have situations you have to handle with players and agents and all the different things that come up. It's part of the job.

"There's no handbook on how to do it. You just have to try and do what you feel is best for your team."

McDaniels wouldn't have to deal with this hullabaloo had the Broncos swung a proposed three-way trade that would have sent Cutler to Tampa Bay and reunited New England's former offensive coordinator with quarterback Matt Cassel in Denver. Belichick instead shipped Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel to Kansas City last month for a 2009 second-round draft choice. The aborted deal drove a wedge between McDaniels and Cutler, who has requested a trade.

Belichick said he wanted to jettison Cassel and Vrabel at the start of the free-agent signing period because their salaries were weighing heavily against the salary cap, greatly limiting New England's personnel options. Negotiations with Kansas City were far along by the time Tampa Bay and Denver became involved.

"It was not just about getting new players but players we wanted to re-sign," Belichick said. "We could have gambled and maybe gotten a little more [in trade value] by waiting, but we also would have lost time. This was a good trade for us."

The Patriots wasted little time using their newfound cap space to try and better Belichick's first non-playoff squad since 2002. New England has signed seven free agents, re-signed six veterans and acquired wide receiver Greg Lewis in a trade with Philadelphia.

"Lewis has always killed us," said Belichick, referring to the wideout's gaudy statistics (eight catches for 141 yards and three touchdowns) in his past two games against New England. "He's a good route runner and he's good with the ball in his hands. He's a smart kid who can play a lot of different [receiver] positions."

The Patriots added more offensive firepower in wide receiver Joey Galloway, tight end Chris Baker and running back Fred Taylor. Defensively, New England bolstered its secondary with the additions of cornerbacks Leigh Bodden and Shawn Springs.

While some clubs shy from signing graybeards like Springs, Taylor, and Galloway, Belichick has no problem adding talent over the age of 30.

"You know what you're getting when it comes to the level of commitment of those players," Belichick said. "They know their time is somewhat limited so you usually get a player's best shot at that point in their careers."

There's no question who is New England's most important 30-something player — Tom Brady. Belichick wouldn't say whether Brady will be ready to participate in the team's upcoming minicamps. But all indications are that the NFL's 2007 Most Valuable Player will make a full recovery from the knee injury that ruined his 2008 campaign and opened the door for Cassel to play.

"Tom is like all the other players in our offseason program," Belichick said. "He's working hard. He's doing everything to be ready to go just like he always does. I don't see any difference in the way he's approaching anything. It's good to see him there."

Just like it's good not to have the same quarterback problems that McDaniels is experiencing.