In the light of recent professional sports game boycotts led by the NBA as well as a number of NFL teams cancelling practices following the recent shooting of Jacob Blake by police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin, some Patriots players expressed feelings of hopelessness.
New England practiced on Thursday and is scheduled to do so again on Friday, while other teams and professional sports halted operations.
As has been the case in most of the country, social injustice issues and police brutality have been an ongoing topic in the Patriots locker room dating back to the murder of George Floyd at the hands a police officer this offseason.
During his Friday video conference with local reporters, Bill Belichick was asked about what he's learned listening to his players and what discussions the team has had in recent days following the Blake shooting.
"I'll keep the things that happen within the team privately within the team. That's kind of the forum that we had. So I'll maintain the integrity of that," Belichick began before praising his players in general terms. "I've certainly learned a lot, continue to learn a lot. We have an incredible group of players. I'm so proud of this team and the players we have on it. The way that they are involved in each other's lives as teammates, the way that they raise their families and are involved in the community on a number of different levels. We've always prided ourselves on doing things right and not only being a good football team but being a pillar in the community. That continues to be our goal and our expectation and I'm so proud of what our players do on all those levels."
