Hurley, unmasked: Coach miffed by mask protocols
Bump into Dan Hurley at a local restaurant or grocery store and you can bet he’ll be wearing a mask. He might even be wearing gloves, as well (he’s a bit of a germophobe).
On the sidelines this season, however, the UConn coach has often been seen with his face mask pulled down like a chin strap as he shouts instructions to players or complaints to referees. He’s hardly the only coach to do so.
Perhaps the result of a bit of being bottled up for so much of this season, with only four games played over the first six weeks, Hurley was feeling a bit salty when asked about his mask protocol this season.
“I want to have as good a mask discipline as the next guy,” Hurley said on a Zoom call with reporters on Tuesday, “and I wouldn’t dare pull my mask down if I’m getting takeout at some of the local eateries, or if I go into a food store, I’m not wearing my mask as a chin strap. If you’re saying it’s safe for all of us to go on the court, and if some refs are wearing them but (others) are not ... If we’re going on the court because we’ve been tested and none of us have it, and there’s no fans, then why do I have to wear a mask? The players aren’t wearing a mask. Some refs aren’t wearing a mask.”
Hurley added that he’s getting “multiple tests a day,” and that he and his team are essentially living in a bubble.
“If it’s about the message that we’re sending that we all need to wear masks, then I will try to do better,”
reiterated Tuesday that, results aside, he doesn’t think Newton’s work ethic has been an issue.
“He gives us everything he’s got,” McDaniels said. “There’s nothing else I could ask for as a coach. Have there been mistakes made? Yeah, that’s across the board. There’s no question about it. Our whole group we need better from. … But as far as Cam Newton is concerned, he’s obviously earned the respect of this entire building.”
WHAT’S WORKING
In a sign of what kind of season it’s been, punter Jake Bailey had one of the best performances of the game for the Patriots. Bailey, who was selected to his first Pro Bowl last week, had a 62-yard punt in the first quarter. He is averaging 46.1 net yards per punt, which leads the NFL.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
Injuries on defense caught up to New England in a big way. Down two of their top tacklers in defensive lineman Lawrence Guy and linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley (both sidelined with shoulder issues) the defense had its poorest showing of 2020, allowing a season-worst 474 yards.
STOCK UP
Kicker Nick Folk extended his made field goal streak to 26 with a 45-yarder in the first quarter. After missing his first two field goals of the 2020 season, Folk has not missed since. It is the second-longest field goal streak in team history behind Stephen Gostkowski’s 31.
STOCK DOWN
With cornerback Stephon Gilmore out for the season, J.C. Jackson was tasked with the primary coverage of Bills star receiver Stefon Diggs. Jackson, who leads the team with eight interceptions, entered the game having only allowed three touchdowns all season. He held his own opposite Diggs early, but gave up two of Josh Allen’s three TD passes to Diggs over the final three quarters.
INJURED
The Patriots listed 20 players on their injury report in the week leading up to Monday’s game. That list could grow this week with DE Tashawn Bower (neck), LB Josh Uche (foot), LB Terez Hall (ankle), S Devin McCourty (shoulder), C David Andrews (calf ), RG Shaq Mason (foot) and LB Anfernee Jennings (undisclosed) all leaving at different points because of injuries.
KEY NUMBER
19 — The Patriots’ NFLrecord run of consecutive seasons without being swept by a division foe that came to an end. The Jets and Dolphins last did it in 2000. The Bills hadn’t swept the Patriots since 1999.
NEXT STEPS
At a minimum, how the Patriots approach this week will offer at least a peek at what kind of offseason it will be. Cornerback Jason McCourty, who will be entering free agency, said he is already anticipating a lot of roster turnover.
“I think when you have a season like we did this year and you’re not going to the playoffs, you have embarrassing losses, this roster’s going to be a lot different,” he said. “There’s a lot of guys that are in the locker room tonight that aren’t going to be in the locker room next year.”