The Patriots lost in controversial fashion on Sunday night
in Baltimore, watching as Justin Tucker's 27-yard field goal sailed over the
top of the goal posts for the win. As the Ravens celebrated the thrilling
victory, Bill Belichick wanted some answers about the kick that was almost too
close to call.
Belichick sought the ear of an official after the final
whistle, but as he was being blatantly ignored, the Patriots head coach decided
to make sure he got the referee's attention. A slight tug of the official's arm
was Belichick's attention-grabbing — quite literally — method of choice, an
action that caused an outpouring of questioning over the incident.
Belichick decided to address the situation at the start of
his press conference on Monday, clearing up a lot of the questions surrounding
his actions before they could even be asked.
"I
went out, and I was really looking for an explanation from the officials as to
whether or not the play was under review," Belichick said in his
introductory comments to the media. "I did try to get the official's
attention as he was coming off the field to ask that, but I really wasn't able
to do that."
The made field goal ultimately capped a 31-30 win for
the Ravens, but Belichick sought to make sure the game was officially over.
"I've
been through a situation at the end of a game where it's over but it’s not over
[against the Dolphins in 2000], that type of thing. That was really the
situation last night. I was trying to get the official's attention to try to
get an explanation on it, and in no way was I ever trying to do anything other
than that."
A very sincere Belichick wanted to clarify that he was in no
way trying to show up the officials, though, explaining that he never intended
any "disrespect."
"I
have never meant any disrespect or in any way tried to abuse or be
disrespectful to the officials and the job that they do," Belichick said.
I'm trying to get an explanation for obviously an important call, play, in that
game. That's the number one thing between coaches and officials. It's always at
the forefront. It's just communication of what's going on, of what's
happening."
Whether Belichick gets fined
for the incident is still to be determined, but at the very least he seemed
sincere and genuine in addressing his actions. A clear misunderstanding that
likely could have been avoided if the replacement officials had ever gained
control of the game in the first place.
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