FOXBORO, Mass. — The “New England Patriots are a bunch of cheaters” narrative kicked back into high gear this week.
Brandon LaFell couldn’t care less.
“Man, they can call us whatever they want. We’re playing in the Super Bowl,” the Patriots wide receiver said before Thursday’s practice. “That’s what we’re focused on. We’re not worried about what everybody else is saying outside this locker room.”
For LaFell, blocking out the noise — and, with the Pats set to play in the Super Bowl in less than two weeks, there’s a quite a bit of it — is simple.
“Easy,” he said. “Don’t listen to no TV, Twitter, social media, stuff like that. Listen to what our coaches are saying. Listen to these guys in the locker room and our coaches, and go out and do what we do.”
All the “cheaters” talk must add some extra motivation for his team ahead of its battle with the defending champion Seattle Seahawks, though, right?
“Nah, man. Playing in the Super Bowl is all you need,” LaFell said. “As a child, this is what you dream of — playing in this game. You finally get to live out your dream. … You don’t need no motivation for this game.”
“DeflateGate” aside, next Sunday’s game should be extra special for LaFell, who played in just one playoff game in four seasons with the Carolina Panthers before joining the Patriots last offseason.
That’s not to say the wideout doesn’t have experience in big games. LaFell caught a touchdown pass during the 2008 BCS National Championship Game to cap off his his sophomore season at LSU. The Tigers went on to win that game, knocking off Ohio State to claim the national title. LaFell surely is hoping for a similar outcome next Sunday in Arizona.
Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images
