Bill Belichick gathered the Patriots after Wednesday night's team dinner and brought them into the theater at the facility. That's when they typically break for their nightly film sessions, but this one had a different feel.
In an attempt to inspire his squad, Belichick had his team gather as a whole and watch The Fighter, the award-winning movie about former world-champion boxer Micky Ward, who hails from Lowell, Mass.
After the movie, Ward gave an inspirational speech about having heart, never giving up and always persevering in every walk of life. He also answered a few questions from the players. After that, Ward hung out for a little bit in the locker room, connected with some of the players and took pictures.
It was a welcomed break from the grueling days of training for the players, as they got a mental rest from football, met a local hero and got a chance to bond over the experience.
Photo: Twitpic/@deionbranch84
Photo: Twitpic/@ochocinco