Dissin’ distractions
Pats always seem to keep focus
FOXBORO — Most of the news surrounding the Patriots during the past week hasn’t been about playoff football and starting their title defense. Instead, it’s been about alleged cracks in their foundation. It’s been about the dynasty supposedly falling apart, with the power trio of Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick and
Tom Brady feuding.
With all of the drama, real or imagined, swirling around them, the Patriots need to ignore the noise and focus. The defending Super Bowl champions begin the quest for title No. 6 tonight when they take on the Tennessee Titans in the divisional round.
The good news?
The Patriots have a master’s degree in dealing with soap opera-like distractions. Whether it’s Spygate, Deflategate, or even a former teammate on trial for murder, they’ve blocked it out and still managed to win.
There are few, if any teams, as good as the Patriots at handling the various problems dropped in their laps and then carrying on without missing a beat.
Special teams captain Matthew Slater credits Belichick for creating a distraction-proof environment.
“I think coach Belichick has always led us in a way that’s been very direct, to the point, very focused on the task at hand, being able to live in the moment and just take things day by day,” Slater said. “I think the leadership combined with the mentality of the men that we’ve had around here in my time has been tremendous and that helps you just live in the now, focus on things day by day, focus on the things that you can control and take it from there.”
Attempting to attack that focus was an ESPN story that emerged a week ago detailing an alleged power struggle among Kraft, Belichick and Brady and the team’s struggle with how to handle backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who was ultimately dealt to the San Francisco 49ers for a second-round pick.
Kraft, Belichick and Brady all challenged the validity of the story, and subsequently all did their best to put out the fire and bring the attention back to football.
Since then, it’s been all business. Devin McCourty said it really hasn’t been hard.
“With this thing, we literally have no idea (about it),” the veteran safety said. “It’s not even close to being a distraction for the team.”
For his part, Brady said the team went about the week as it always does simply because the players have a job to do.
“We do what we always do. We show up to work and try to do the best that we can do. There’s a lot at stake,” Brady said. “I think everyone’s put a lot into it. It doesn’t really matter what happens outside of this facility … it’s a big task to go out and try to win a playoff game against a good team in the divisional round. I’m glad we earned the chance to be here to do it. We just have to go take care of business.”
Naturally, there are those who think the ESPN story will serve as motivation for the players, putting them into an “us vs. them” universe — with the opposition being the media.
McCourty doesn’t see this particular situation as a rallying cry for the players.
“I don’t care about it and I think a lot of guys don’t really care about what goes on outside and who writes what and if we suck, if we’re great — it doesn’t matter,” said McCourty. “So, I just think guys are motivated by playing for each other, their families more than an ESPN article. I think it’s a great thing for our fans and people outside. I think they enjoy all of that, but I think for us, it’s just going out there and playing for each other. An ESPN article doesn’t help us when we go out there and it’s negative 9 degrees. Like you’re not going to be motivated to prove an article wrong. You’re just having fun playing with the guys.”
More than anything, it’s playoff time again. Slater said the sense of urgency that comes this time of year has returned, and the players are dialed in, knowing the season could end with a poor performance.
Defensive captain Duron Harmon agreed.
“Right now, we’re so focused on that task at hand,” he said. “And the task at hand is so big, the moment you’re not putting everything you have into it, it can be taken away. We know how important this game is for us. So we’re going to put everything we have into it.”
The Patriots worked hard to gain home field and put themselves in the best position to return to the Super Bowl. The last thing they want is an early exit.
“This is a team that essentially won two playoff games,” Harmon said of the Titans. “They had to win their last game against the Jaguars, another playoff team, just to get into the playoffs. They did that, then they went into Kansas City, which we all know is a hostile place, one of the toughest places to play in the NFL, down (21-3), and came back and won. So they’re a mentally tough team that can play in any situation.”
The Patriots are also a mentally tough team. They’ve learned the hard way how to handle any distraction. Now we’ll see how that translates on the field.