FOXBOROUGH – For the first time since the world watched the chilling scene in Cincinnati unfold on Monday night, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick met with the media on Thursday afternoon.
Of course the Bills are dealing with the scary incident on a completely different level than the Patriots are, but Belichick was unfortunately able to put himself in the shoes of those in the Bills’ organization, having experienced something similar while coaching for the New York Jets.
“Certainly, the news about Damar’s progress this morning is great news and encouraging for all of us,” Belichick said to begin his nearly 10-minute opening statement. “On a personal level, I usually don’t watch the Monday night game, maybe flip through it randomly or whatever, but because we were playing Buffalo on a short week I happened to have it on. When I saw the situation, it reminded me very much of one I experienced when I was with the Jets in 1997 when we played the Lions. I think it was the last game of the year and Reggie Brown was injured. It was kind of a normal play. Adrian Morrell carried the ball, got tackled, everybody got up and went back to the huddle and Reggie laid on the field and didn’t move and was unconscious for quite a while, I forget how long it was, maybe 10 minutes or something like that, and the whole process took a long time.
“It must’ve taken a half hour by the time he was given CPR, revived and then put on the board, put in the ambulance and then driven off the field at The Silver Dome. It was quite a lengthy process where the teams looked very much like the game on Monday night. Concern, thought and prayer, kneeling and so forth. It was a very chilling game, one that I’ll obviously never forget. I’ve been in a lot of games, but there’s some with a moment that just sticks out…not that I have all the answers, because I don’t. But, I was there and experienced that and think I have some sense of what the players and teams, coaches went through on Monday night. It’s something that you never forget.”
Belichick also said he’s reached out to a number of people around the league trying to figure out the best way to support any players he’s currently coaching after what they all witnessed as well.
“I’ve reached out to a lot of, a number of different of people for different perspectives,” he said. “Different coaches in our sport, other sports, our team, players, I talked to them on Tuesday. I addressed it and say, really all I can say, all I’m going to say is, everyone’s doing the best they can…I think we’re all doing the best we can. I think everyone’s doing the same thing.”
Belichick expressed his appreciation for the players he’s coached both now and over the years for the sacrifices they make and risks taken each time they step on the field.
“I’ve expressed this to the players multiple times, but the amount of respect I have for them and what they do and how they do it is immense,” he added. “I’m proud to coach the players I’ve coached here and everywhere else and respect them for what they do and how they do it…I respect how much they put into this. As a coach, that’s not something I ever think about, being hurt in the game.
“I’ve been hit a few times, but that’s another story. I know players, it’s different. They walk out there, they put the equipment on. It’s a contact sport and what they and their families deal with as participants is different than what I do as a coach and I respect that. I appreciate what they do and try to make the right decisions and coach them in the best way I possibly can.”
Having guys like Jerod Mayo and Troy Brown on staff has also been extremely helpful for the players’ perspective on dealing with such a scary situation, while also trying to prepare for a season-altering game.
“We have great leadership on this team and I would say two people in particular…two people in particular that carry a lot of weight with me are two staff members, Jerod and Troy,” Belichick said. “They’ve played the game at this level, I haven’t. They’ve lived the life of a professional football player at a very, very, very high level…their input and guidance has been especially valuable.”
Calling this just another “normal” week in the regular season clearly isn’t truthful, and Belichick didn’t try to act like it was when asked how a team can prepare for a game with so much swirling around.
“I don’t want to keep repeating myself, but I’m going to keep repeating myself. I think everyone’s doing the best they can. I don’t know any other way to put it.”