FOXBOROUGH, Mass.– New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Thursday morning that the teams facility will remain closed through a minimum of the rest of the day, as “its the health and security of the group first and football second.”
Belichick added that the Patriots are still preparing to play Sundays game against the Denver Broncos at Gillette Stadium (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS) until told otherwise by those making medical decisions for the group and NFL.
The Patriots, who are holding all conferences virtually, received no new favorable tests from Wednesdays results that returned late Wednesday, according to a source.
The group put cornerback Stephon Gilmore on the reserve/COVID -19 list Wednesday after he tested positive. Quarterback Cam Newton tested positive Friday, while practice squad defensive deal with Bill Murray was positioned on the reserve/COVID -19 list Tuesday. Being on the list does not necessarily mean a gamer has actually checked favorable for the coronavirus; it could also imply he has actually remained in close contact with somebody who has checked positive.
Of his level of concern for the ongoing health and wellness of the group, Belichick stated, “Theres absolutely nothing more important than the health of the team. Without a healthy team, you do not have a group. Thats priority No. 1, and I d say not only to our team but to their families and individuals that are close to them. Thats constantly our No. 1 issue. We try to do everything we can to make that the best we can make it. Thats the way its constantly been, whichs not going to change.”
1 RelatedBelichick, 68, was asked how he is feeling personally and said he was “fantastic.”.
The Patriots havent been able to experiment their facility closed the past 2 days.
” We continued our preparation for Denver with virtual calls, and well simply sort of take the scenario day by day,” Belichick stated. “When we feel that its safe for everyone to come back, well do that. We all have questions, and this is actually more of a medical situation than a football circumstance. Well work through the decisions and input from the people in the medical field– combination of Patriots and league.”.
The team positioned cornerback Stephon Gilmore on the reserve/COVID -19 list Wednesday after he checked positive. Of his level of concern for the continued health and safety of the team, Belichick said, “Theres nothing more crucial than the health of the group. Without a healthy team, you dont have a group. Thats top priority No. 1, and I d say not just to our team but to their households and individuals that are close to them.
With Gilmore screening positive after having played in Mondays roadway loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Belichick would not address whether he felt the Patriots must have played that game.
” There are a great deal of choices that run out our control, and so what Im trying to do is concentrate on the things we have control over and make the very best choices we can in those scenarios,” he stated, including that he feels the team has done everything possible for prevention, such as taking 2 aircrafts to the game, taking a trip the day of the video game and adding extra buses for transportation.
” I believe we understood at the beginning of the season that there were going to be obstacles, and there have been. Were dedicated to resolving them, and thats what were doing.”.
