robertweathers

Watched NESN this am. Cole Wright, Mazz and Ted Johnson were in the studio.

Wright says, "according to locker room sources, Belichick issued an apology to the team for how he handled expelling Thomas, Burgess, Moss and Guyton from the facility". Needless to say, Ted Johnson was in complete shock.

Did anybody else catch this?

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“I'm not really concerned about the other 31 teams,” - Bill Belichick

"If a player has talent and doesn't succeed, that means that they either don't want to be successful or I have failed as a coach." - Bill Belichick

mgteich

I hope we get verification. I hope it's true. If so, we should make it a stickie and force posters to read it every time they post. Perhaps posters will also reconsider their feelings toward the situation.

Belichick acted like a vindictive schoolteacher and not like the best coach in the history of the game. If he wanted to fine the players, few would have objected. That choice is consistent with the CBA and with the professional way in which the patriots operate.

SoCal Pmen

Doesn't surprise me. It caused a media ****** storm which was not what he had intended. They typically handle these situations in house which is what he should have done in this case with levying of fines, extra laps, etc. I recall a professor of mine in college would lock the door to class if you were late and you were not allowed to come in until after the first break. The embarrassment alone would make you not be late again.

PatsFanSince74

Remarkable. Has any other source verified that?

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It is what it is. It wasn't what it wasn't.

Patstopia

I cannot see this happening. It wasnt BB who released the story, it was Thomas. It doesn't make sense that he apologized for 'his' behavior and still benched Thomas from the game. It sounds like more BS from the "unnamed source".

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In BB we trust...the media...not so much!

mgteich

Thomas should have apologized for being late and his comments. That doesn't make Bill right.

reflexblue

Did anyone check to see if BB ha a fever when he said it?

Patstopia

Being BB makes BB right!

Shooting your mouth off and being a slacker makes you a negative influence and a detriment to the team!

__________________
In BB we trust...the media...not so much!

mgteich

spoken like a pop warner coach!

MassPats38

So what exactly does he apologize for? I'm sorry for being harsh? I'm sorry I overreacted for you being late? I'm under a great deal of stress running this team, and some times I just get angry. Do you four think I'm pretty?

I can accept a hasty rush to judgment on the players by fans based on a single reported incident of tardiness. That really isn't much to go by for character assessments. There is nothing to suggest this violates any CBA interpretation. If you conclude otherwise, review the text of the Owens decision. Belichick did not make this issue public. He might regret the public scorn resulting from this incident as that was unintended, but I would be flat-out amazed if he apologizes for his decision to send them home. That would render every decision he makes subject to appeal by his players, so it would mean he now needs to rethink how he coaches and runs the team.