FRANKFURT, Germany — A different Bill Belichick showed up for work on Friday, and even reporters who have watched the coach for 20-plus years from 3,000 miles away could see it.

“In my 23 years, I’ve been a Patriots fan, I’ve never seen you laugh so much,” a German reporter observed. “I think Germany is good for you. How are you feeling in Germany?

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Belichick walked up to the formal press conference area set up at DFB Campus, which usually houses the Germany national football team but was hosting the Patriots this week as they get set to play the Colts at Frankfurt Stadium, and noted reporters were eating pretzels for lunch before diving into his opening statement about the flight into Germany, the “beautiful facility” and wrapping up preparations for the Colts.

He turned to Patriots vice president of media relations Stacey James and asked, “are we going to get a setup like this?” as he admired the media workroom as part of the facility that was built last year.

Belichick went on to joke about how the Patriots’ German players — Sebastian Vollmer, Markus Kuhn and Jakob Johnson — were probably swearing at him in their native language under their breath and that he was “running on fumes” after a plane ride that left Boston in the evening and landed in Germany around 8 a.m., so he wasn’t sure how long he was going to “last” going sightseeing on Friday night. Belichick initially misheard a reporter from Spain asking about Kayshon Boutte and wondered aloud if there was a Spanish player on the team he was forgetting about.

He wasn’t exactly doing an impression of Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who went viral with a couple of clips going back and forth with European reporters last week in Germany, but he did put on a show in the special setting.

It was a Bill Belichick the media hasn’t seen this season outside of his Patriots Hall of Fame speech, honoring Mike Vrabel and Dante Scarnecchia. And it was a friendly Belichick who rarely shows up outside of a Super Bowl setting in news conferences.

“Love visiting Germany. I’ve been here a couple of times,” Belichick said. “Great country. People are great – beautiful, friendly. Thank you. I appreciate your hospitality.”

Belichick was certainly more cordial with the European reporters. He gave short answers regarding personal issues that kept Trent Brown and J.C. Jackson from traveling asked by New England media.

But it was pointed out that Belichick seemed to be enjoying the moment.

“It’s obviously a unique experience,” Belichick said. “It’s great for our team, our players, our staff. It’s a great experience. We’ve played a lot of NFL games, this is one that will be a little bit different, just like Mexico City and London were. It’s a good opportunity for our team, I think we’ll just make the most of it and enjoy it. Obviously focus on playing well. Regaining our focus and preparation here the next couple days and go out there and hopefully play our best game of the year on Sunday. That’s our goal.”

And it’s been a year without many moments that Belichick could enjoy as the team has started 2-7 with some of the worst losses of his NFL coaching career.

Quarterback Mac Jones was informed that Belichick was “laughing, smiling, almost giddy” with the media.

“Nice,” the quarterback quipped with a laugh.

Players were seeing a different Belichick, as well, arrive in Germany.

“Yeah, a little bit,” quarterback Mac Jones said. “I think he’s definitely happy to be here and sounds like he’s having a good time with you guys. We’re all excited to be here and it’s a very unique experience for the game of football, for Germany, the United States and everybody. It’s really cool.”

Safety Jabrill Peppers could see Belichick in a better mood too. Defensive end Deatrich Wise was hopeful that if Belichick was friendly with the media then maybe he would be with the team too.

Jones was in his best mood of the season, as well, despite some sleep deprivation.

Belichick told his players not to nap after their flight and to instead go to bed early on Friday night to get accustomed to the time change. The Patriots held an abbreviated practice at the fields next to DFB Campus and acknowledged it took until halfway through the session to get loose. It was probably a bit easier for running back Ezekiel Elliott an safety Jabrill Peppers, who boasted that they slept through the entire flight. Others, like Wise, didn’t fare as well.

When a reporter misspoke by using the word “balding” instead of “bonding,” a bald reporter got caught in Jones’ crossfire as he pointed at him, said, “balding,” before apologizing and getting the giggles over the flub.

He also appreciated the complexity of a question asked by a European reporter and joked that it sounds like he could be an offensive coordinator.

Elliott convinced the media that he was going out for beers after practice before Rhamondre Stevenson had to tell reporters that the veteran was joking. Peppers was asked if he’d like to play flag football in the Olympics.

“I don’t know about the flag football thing. I’m a violent guy. I like hitting people,” Peppers said to laughs from reporters. “I don’t think I’d fare too well.”

Who knows if this will translate into a win on Sunday. The Colts are favored, so Vegas doesn’t think so. But it’s been a grueling half-season for the Patriots, and it was fun to see them let loose if only for just one day.