Football can be a very scary game, with devastating injuries. But, according to longtime Patriot and current team captain Matthew Slater, Bill Belichick handled a scary situation last night perfectly.
The situation happened early in the 4th quarter, when this play in the New England Patriots vs.
Green Bay Packers preseason game left Patriots linebacker Isaiah Bolden lying on the field for a considerable amount before being stretchered off.Here’s the Isaiah Bolden injury for those who are asking what happened. Absolutely heart breaking. #Patriots #Packers #NEvsGB #NFL #NFLnews #ForeverNE pic.twitter.com/T2FdJVOLdu
— Patriots Global (@PatriotsGlobal2)
The game was not continued after the play. Early Sunday morning, the New England Patriots did release a very encouraging statement regarding Bolden’s status.
Isaiah Bolden has been released from the hospital. He'll travel with the Patriots back to Foxboro.
The Patriots have canceled their planned joint practices with the Titans in Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/lEvspkMx8y
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff)
According to longtime Patriots special team ace Matthew Slater, legendary head coach Bill Belichick handled the situation perfectly. Here’s more according to Pro Football Talk.
“I think the situation, in the bigger picture, overrode the game,” Belichick said, via NESN. “So, all saying a prayer for Isaiah. . . . Appreciate the way the league handled it. I think that was the right thing to do. Also saying a prayer for some of our players with their close friends and relatives in Hawaii that are going through some stuff out there. That’s really the bigger picture of it here. Kind of regroup and talk about the game later.”
It was Belichick who apparently suggested calling the game.
Slater called it “tremendous leadership” by Belichick and one of his “proudest moments” in the NFL.
“I really appreciate what coach Belichick did,” Slater said. “He took the initiative on that. Look, this is not the AFC Championship. We’re not playing for records. It’s preseason Game 2. When you have an injury like that, it affects a lot of guys in a lot of different ways. Clearly, our team was shaken by what happened, and I think coach made the right decision.
“I think that was tremendous leadership by him. I have to say honestly, that was one of the proudest moments I’ve had as a guy who’s played for him for now 16 years, to see what he did. There was no hesitation. And I appreciate coach LaFleur, as well, for standing with him. I think everybody acted swiftly, and it was the right call in this situation.”
Just another thing that Bill Belichick has done correctly in his incredible career.
New England won the game, 21-17.
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