It’s been a much different game week than normal for the New England Patriots given the significant circumstances regarding the improved health of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin.
And as the Patriots and the rest of the league try to process Hamlin needing to be resuscitated after suffering cardiac arrest on an NFL field on Monday, Matthew Slater for one is glad Bill Belichick is steering New England’s proverbial ship.
While Belichick is often seen as extremely calculated and detached from feeling, Slater said that Belichick hasn’t been anything like his public persona as he guides the Patriots through a challenging time.
“I think compassion and empathy are two things that really come to mind. That’s what I’ve seen from Bill this week,” Slater told reporters Thursday, per team-provided video. “I think so often people like to paint Bill as being this emotionless guy that just kind of cares about one thing and has a one-track mind. But this week I have certainly seen the compassion and empathy, the human side, if you will, of Bill.
“His concern for Damar, his concern for what’s going on over there with the Bills and then his concern for how our players are processing this, how our families are processing this, he’s made every resource available that he possibly can and he’s been very compassionate. I think it’s really helped the team navigate the week, and you definitely tip your hat to the way he’s led in this time.”
Slater wasn’t the only member of the organization to laud Belichick for his leadership. Special teams coordinator Cam Achord also praised the veteran head coach for how he has handled a unique situation.
Aiding Belichick was his ability to share with his players a first-hand experience with a similar harrowing event. When Detroit Lions linebacker Reggie Brown sustained a spinal cord injury and was knocked unconscious during a 1997 game against the Jets, Belichick was on the New York sideline as the team’s defensive coordinator.
Belichick has also leaned on assistant coaches Jerod Mayo and Troy Brown to understand what the players are going through since he never played a snap in the NFL.
Belichick continues to display that his leadership extends well beyond the football field, and it’s been a tremendous asset for the Patriots as they get set to travel to Buffalo to face the Bills in their regular-season finale.
“I think a part of being a leader is understanding how you need to be in different situations. … We obviously had a lot of communication between the captains and some of the older guys and with coach Belichick,” Patriots captain Devin McCourty told reporters, per team-provided video. “It’s just being able to do the things that the players need. He tells us that all the time. He has a great deal of respect what each guy decides to do when you go out there and play football. I think that was showcased this week.”
McCourty added: “Overall, just being able to stand in front of a room in a tough time and point us in a direction that we need to go, is probably some of the toughest things you have to do as a leader and he stepped up. I always say his consistency of just being himself and standing in front of a room leading men has helped this team out a lot. Obviously, in a bizarre situation like this was very necessary and I think we all appreciate that.”
