New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is famous for trying to set a strict, no-nonsense tone at the start of every season. He might kick a player out of practice for being late, or he might rip his Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady to show that everyone can improve and be held accountable.
After winning another Super Bowl and returning an improved roster without much turnover, it could be easy for all of the players to lapse into complacency. Belichick’s mission is to keep the team focused- and it was the rain at practice that allowed him to hold his team’s feet to the fire.
“After a series of miscues, among them a botched center/quarterback exchange involving Jimmy Garoppolo and then another with Jacoby Brissett, the entire offense was punished by being ordered to run a lap around the field,” according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “In all, players had to take two laps. After one of the laps, Belichick addressed the unit.
“‘We're not really used to doing that, so it wasn't very pleasant doing it, but it was deserved,’ Garoppolo acknowledged afterward. ‘We weren't happy with our play. Coach wasn't happy with our play. And we had to run because of it.’”
Multiple players dropped passes in the rain as the offense put together a sloppy performance. The unit is still undeniably talented and there isn’t a reason to be concerned- but you can be certain that Belichick is rubbing his hands together with glee at the opportunity to grill his squad for their questionable performance.
The Patriots already have a large target on their back, but it will be much larger in 2017. The team shouldn’t need any more motivation. But 2016 is in the past and Belichick will undoubtedly find a way to keep his team unsettled in the new year.