The Patriots won their first Super Bowl in a blowout on Sunday, and with that victory came the opportunity for Bill Belichick to apologize. What Pats fans don’t know is what is going on at home. The Earth has been miraculously kept spinning after beng apologetic for being cranky to local media members who had traveled from across the country to see them win this year’s championship game.
“Bill Belichick health” is a trending topic on Twitter right now. The Patriots coach has apologized to the media for being cranky, and the earth miraculously keeps spinning after he does.
We’ll probably never know what occurred to Bill Belichick between the time he left the platform in Indianapolis on Saturday night and the time he went up to the dais in Foxboro on Monday morning. But evidently, the head coach of the New England Patriots, who has been known for his gruff and curmudgeonly postgame remarks after a defeat for the last 20 years, had a change of heart over the weekend.
Perhaps it was seeing Tom Brady’s shutout in Tampa on Sunday night that sparked an untapped well of compassion for the rest of the world. Maybe he was feeling festive after learning that he’ll be receiving all-new hoodies this week. Or maybe Bill’s faithful dog Nike gave him a lingering judgy look all day Sunday until he caved in and altered his ways.
All we know for sure is that Belichick was a different man when he spoke with the media on Monday morning, two days after a demoralizing and sometimes contentious 27-17 defeat to the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday night. He was repentant and remorseful. He was contemplative. He was the best version of himself, but one that isn’t often shown in these kinds of media.
And, much to the delight of both Patriots supporters and detractors – and maybe even Belichick himself – this show of empathy and collaboration did not, in fact, bring the world to an end.
But, Bill, what about that 4th-and-7 field goal? He’s grateful you inquired.
Adam Glanzman/Getty Images/Bill Belichick
The media’s emphasis in the postgame press conference after the Colts’ defeat was singularly concentrated. Why would Belichick try a field goal on 4th-and-goal from the 7 with a chance to draw within six points with nine minutes remaining after trailing by 20, despite costly penalties, a blocked punt, and his team’s overall awful play?
His response, as expected, was a sour-faced non-answer, as he has done so many times in his 20 years in New England.
Apart from the customary, “I did what I believed was best for the team,” was the extent of the analysis. “We didn’t play well, and we didn’t coach well,” is the standard answer to every loss.
That seemed to be the end of it. There’s nothing to see here, so move along.
After the Patriots were blown out by the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football to fall to 2-2, and the football world was almost gleefully shoveling dirt on his team, particularly the too-old-to-play-at-37 Tom Brady, Belichick famously and defiantly responded to five straight questions the next day with “We’re on to Cincinnati.” It was perhaps Belichick’s most brash performance, and the Patriots reacted by winning the Super Bowl. So, thank you very much, there will be no apologies forthcoming.
On Saturday night, it looked like Belichick had plainly moved on to Buffalo without saying so, and the rest of the NFL media had gotten the message, shrugged, and moved on as well.
Then there was Monday.
‘It’s not your fault,’ because nothing in Patriots Nation is genuine any more.
To open the weekly Monday media session, Belichick took the microphone. But, before taking any questions, he delivered a personal remark that was unlike anything else he’d uttered at that stage throughout his Patriots career.
“I apologize if I looked a bit rushed with you after the game,” Belichick added. “It was obviously a difficult game.” We didn’t do anything well enough when we were down 20-0. Without seeing the movie, there isn’t much to comment at that time. We clearly had issues in every area, therefore there was no straightforward solution. Every play could have been better, every aspect of coaching could have been better, and every aspect of playing could have been better, and any of these improvements would have helped.
“I’m not trying to be brief, but there wasn’t much more to say.” I’m not sure what more to say at this point, but it’s not your fault. “It was a vexing game.”
But wait, readers, there’s more. It seems that there was more to say. Belichick spoke out and shared his views on the 4th-and-7 decision after having had 48 hours to chew on it.
After some thought, Belichick had a very excellent explanation for why he kicked the field goal.
When asked about attempting the field goal with nine minutes remaining and being down 20-7, Bill Belichick said:
“I don’t believe that would’ve been the ideal option in those game circumstances… A 50-yard field goal is a possibility towards the end of the game, particularly in the dome. I believe there is a much greater likelihood.” pic.twitter.com/3MmiP18CEm
December 20, 2021 — George Balekji (@GeorgeBalekji)
To be fair to the guy, few coaches are as eloquent, insightful, and able to give context and perspective as Bill Belichick when he wants to speak football and openly and freely express his opinions. He’s capable of it. He simply doesn’t talk about it very much.
In New England, Monday was a day of sharing.
“It’s still a two-possession game,” Belichick remarked, “and now it’s a field goal.” “I felt there was enough time remaining (nine minutes) for us to have enough possessions to score 10 points, which we could have done.”
“I wasn’t thrilled with converting 4th-and-goal from the 7.” If there was less time and you or I were in a scenario where we could go for it on 4th-and-goal at the 7, we would surely go for it. In that game circumstance, I don’t believe that would have been the wisest move. That would have cost three points and resulted in two touchdowns, in my opinion. Having a shot at a 50-yard field goal at the end of the game, particularly in the dome, is a lot better than scoring a touchdown and having a six-point deficit as opposed to a three-point disparity, in terms of the odds of converting a 4th-and-7.”
And that was the end of it. The chamber was not swallowed whole by a massive sinkhole. Dogs and cats have continued to refuse to sleep together. Perhaps it was only a Christmas Miracle. We’ve arrived at New Year’s Eve.
Pro Football Reference provided the statistics.
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The “new england patriots coach” is Bill Belichick. Belichick has apologized to the media for being cranky, and then miraculously, Earth keeps spinning.
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