FOXBORO -- Typically, the Pro Bowl is a relaxing, non-competitive game, but not when Bill Belichick is involved.
The AFC was down 42-7 at halftime of the 2011 Pro Bowl, and Belichick was not pleased with his squad in the locker room.
Speaking on a conference call Wednesday, Philip Rivers detailed the scene.
"We were getting killed, and it was me and Peyton [Manning] ... and [Matt] Cassel," he started. "We were getting blown out at halftime, and he kind of called us all up and said, 'Hey, we can tackle. I know it's the Pro Bowl and all that, but can we tackle somebody today? Let's go out and see if we can make this a little bit respectful in the second half.'
"And then he looked over at us quarterbacks, and we had all thrown an interception -- thank goodness I wasn't the only one. And he said, 'It would help if you guys would stop throwing it to the other team.' And I got a kick out of that because I'm standing next to Peyton Manning and Cassel. And Peyton's, if not my all-time favorite, one of [them] and I was glad I wasn't the only one that had thrown it to the other team.
"I thought that was pretty good. I got fussed at at halftime of the Pro Bowl."
The AFC did make it competitive, but fell 55-41.
The two will meet again this Sunday, but on opposite sidelines as the Patriots will host the Chargers in the AFC divisional round.
