Sick? Snowstorm? Patriots ‘Business as Usual’ Belichick Preparing for Jets
FOXBORO — Neither snow nor sickness will prevent New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick from patrolling the sidelines for the season finale against the New York Jets Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
Despite battling a flu-like bug from which he was visibly and audibly feeling the effects, Belichick met with the media via videoconference on Friday morning instead of his customary in-person meeting.
Before the dual-eyeball emojis could travel halfway across the social media landscape, the ‘HC of the NEP’ confirmed that his health was the sole reason for the change — keeping the constantly-churning rumor mill surrounding his future with the team at a slight boil for the time being.
“Not feeling too well,” Belichick said when asked about the reason for the change in plans. “I figured I’d spare all of you in the first few rows from my coughing.”
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick
Cred: CBS News via USA Today Images
Instead, the 71-year-old kept the focus squarely on this weekend’s Week 18 matchup against the Jets. With weather forecasts predicting anywhere from 6-10 inches of snow on Sunday, Belichick advised the team would prepare as best they could for the expected conditions, in spite of having no control over the weather.
“As the conditions get closer to game time, we'll deal with them appropriately.’ Belichick said. "I mean, we're not going to create snow and get a snow machine in here. But, depending on what the conditions are, we can certainly talk about it and show examples of what playing in different type of conditions … like as a mental reminder for everybody. Definitely. That'll be part of it, part of the preparation.”
Though attempts were cryptically made to shift the conversation to potentially coaching his final game as Patriots head coach, Belichick routinely diffused such talk by reiterating that his attention had yet to wander past Week 18. Conversely, any reflection on his past would be given its just due at the proper time.
“I've always appreciated the opportunity [to coach here in New England] ... But, we’re trying to put our best game out there this year. That's what we're working towards,” Belichick said. “I’m sure there will be another time to talk about other things. But right now, just trying to focus on the Jets."
Accordingly, the man colloquially dubbed ‘the Hoodie” was among the first to arrive on the practice fields on Friday — habitually twirling his whistle, while directing the workout portion of the team’s session. Though a persistent cough or abundant precipitation may raise the degree of difficulty for his task, Belichick will be there on Sunday to make sure his team takes things one moment at a time.
In short, it’s business as usual in Foxboro for the time being … and that is exactly how their head coach of 24 years wants it.
