Belichick Surprises Patriots With Bye Week Bowling Trip

Jan 8, 2016 at 10:00 am ET 1 min read 1.1k views

**** DO NOT USE **** — Photo: Steve Mitchell - USA TODAY Sports

1 min read Patriots Commentary

The New England Patriots earned a first round by in the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season in 2015 and continuing a new tradition by Head Coach Bill Belichick, he treated the entire team to a surprise bonding trip to the local bowling alley Splitsville Lanes at Patriot Place. This is the first time Belichick has taken a team out bowling, as the past two years past they have gone to the movies on the bye week to see “American Sniper” and “Lone Survivor.”

In a season ravaged by injuries over the final two months, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reported “Belichick scheduled the players to arrive at Gillette Stadium for a meeting and lifting session, and he shocked them by interrupting the program to take them bowling.” The Patriots, who have lost four of six, were rewarded with a much needed “mental break” away from the preparations for the AFC Divisional round.

According to Howe, Belichick himself got in on the action and Rob Gronkowski’s team which “included ringer Darius Fleming, won the Patriots’ bowling championship.”

Some Snapchat screenshots were taken by the fan @GrizzMiss that provide a glimpse into the days activity.

https://twitter.com/GrizzMiss/status/685496439238225920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/GrizzMiss/status/685507447742689282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss reported that Belichick informed the team they will have Saturday and Sunday off before returning for Monday meetings to officially begin preparations for their divisional round home playoff game Jan. 16.