ShareThisFOXBORO, Mass. - While many National Football League teams enjoy "Victory Mondays" -- when players get the Monday after a win off, New England Patriots Bill Belichick gave his players Monday off this week despite their loss at Indianapolis.
But when they came back on Wednesday (Tuesday is almost always a day off during the regular season), there was only one message: it's time to get ready for the New York Jets.
When everyone gathered for a morning meeting to watch film of the Colts game, "he (cursed us out) pretty good on the things we did wrong," quarterback Tom Brady said, this week holding his news conference back in front of his locker, much to the aggravation of stall neighbor Randy Moss. "There's no 'welcome back,' there are no hugs in the locker room or anything like that. We forget the things we didn't do so well and we get back to work.
"We've lost plenty of games here, and you have to show back up the next day and put just as much effort into it as you did the previous week. The reasons why you lost, you have to understand those, and the reasons why you're doing well; you have to understand those and try to be more consistent in the things that you're doing well."
After a result like the Patriots had in Indianapolis -- we all remember what happened, no need to rehash it all -- getting back to the grind and routine is welcome for the players.
"It's the best way to get over a loss: come back to work," Brady said. "Everybody's really excited to be in here and we'll try to make some improvements this week and go out and play a lot better."
If recent history is a guide, the Pats usually bounce back from big losses in a big way, meaning the reeling Jets should be on high alert.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
Must credit The Providence Journal
