Pats like it loud at Gillette Stadium
Well, everyone except the head coach, that is
The New England FOXBORO, MASS. Patriots want it loud at Gillette Stadium on Sunday night. Well, not too loud. Veteran Pats players said this week they couldn’t recall a game when their victory-spoiled fans were more vocal than they were during last Saturday night’s AFC divisional playoff win over the Houston Texans. Some New England players said on Friday that they want the same kind of atmosphere when the Pittsburgh Steelers visit with a berth in Super Bowl LI on the line.
“Please, come out and be very, very loud,” 11th-year linebacker Rob Ninkovich said.
Fourth-year cornerback Logan Ryan was one player who said he’d never heard Gillette Stadium so loud.
“It actually gave us some trouble hearing each other,” Ryan said. “(It’s) something we’re working on with the crowd noise, but that’s why we’re excited … I think we feed off that a little bit.”
Oh, but the Professional Killjoy of Foxboro — head coach Bill Belichick — doesn’t want his own offence or defence to struggle amid any constant din.
“That is the challenge,” Belichick said.
“We have to be able to communicate.
“We can’t control what the crowd is or isn’t, but we prepare for those situations. … If everybody doesn’t have the (play) call or isn’t playing the right play, then you’re probably not going to have a good play.”
INTIMIDATED? NERVOUS? NOPE
New England quarterback Tom Brady was asked Friday if anything still intimidates him on the field. He paused longer than usual.
“I don’t know if intimidate is the word. I think you always point to the game understanding what gets you beat, and being cautious of the things that (opposing players) do well. I don’t think it’s necessarily intimidation. I think what helps you win and lose is really good performance and execution and so forth.”
OK, but don’t you still get nervous before games, Tom?
“No, I think you just get anxious,” he said, “because there’s a big buildup and you prepare pretty hard. And so you just want to get out there and play.”
SUPERSTITIOUS? DOUBLE-NOPE
In that vein, Belichick was asked if he had any superstitions or rituals.
“Yeah,” the ever-sarcastic Belichick answered. “Try to coach and play good. It goes a long way.”
You get the sense the Pats’ coach has never owned a rabbit’s foot, hung a horseshoe, or crossed his fingers.