9:51 p.m.: OK, that will do it. Bill Belichick offered a lengthy opening statement regarding “DeflateGate” but little more, advising reporters to direct further questions toward the NFL office.
Stay tuned on NESN.com/patriots throughout the day for additional coverage.
9:47 p.m.: The media is attempting to get more out of the coach, but he isn’t budging.
“I’ve told you everything I know,” he repeats.
9:47 p.m.: Belichick wraps up his opening statement on “DeflateGate,” says he will have no further comment on the matter and begins taking questions.
9:45 p.m.:Belichick said the Patriots are fully cooperating with the NFL’s ongoing investigation and will take steps to make sure this type of situation never repeats itself in the future.
9:43 p.m.: Belichick said that in his entire career, he never has discussed football air pressure with any Patriots player or staff member.
9:42 p.m.: Belichick described how he intentionally makes footballs “as bad as they can be” during practice. Because of this, he says, he never wants his players to use the quality of the ball as an excuse.
9:40 p.m.: Belichick said he was “shocked” to learn about the deflated footballs when he arrived at the Patriots’ facility Monday morning. He said he’s been learning much more about the situation over the past few days.
9:39 p.m.: Here he comes. Let’s go.
9:37 p.m.: We’re still waiting for the coach to arrive at the podium. We should be getting started any minute now.
9:15 p.m. ET: The eyes of the football world will be fixed on Foxboro on Thursday morning.
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is set to address the media at Gillette Stadium since the story now known as “DeflateGate” broke late Tuesday night.
Which details of the situation Belichick actually will address is anyone’s guess, but reporters certainly will try to pull as much information as possible out of the notoriously tight-lipped coach.
Belichick’s news conference is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Follow along as we bring you up-to-the-minute updates.
Photo via Elise Amendola/Associated Press
