Saturday night’s preseason game between the Patriots and Packers in Green Bay was suspended with 10:29 to play in the fourth quarter after New England rookie defensive back Isaiah Bolden was carted off the field.
Immediately afterwards the Patriots issued a statement that said, in part, Bolden “had feeling in all his extremities, but has been taken to a local hospital for further tests and observation.”
Moments later longtime New England team captain Matthew Slater spoke with reporters about the decision to end the game after seeing his teammate lay motionless on the Lambeau Field turf.
“I think right now our primary concern is Isaiah and his well-being,” Slater said. “Our whole team is praying for him and hoping things aren’t as serious as they seem.”
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick consulted with Slater on the field before spearheading the decision to suspend the action, a move that was obviously supported by Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and the NFL.
“I really appreciate what Coach Belichick did tonight. He took the initiative on that,” Slater said of ending the game. “This is not the AFC Championship. We’re not playing for records. It’s preseason game two and when you have an injury like that it affects a lot of guys in a lot of different ways. Clearly our team was shaken by what happened.
“I think Coach made the right decision. I think that was tremendous leadership by him. I have to say, honestly that was one of the proudest moments I’ve had as a guy who’s played for him now for 16 years to see what he did. There was no hesitation. I appreciate Coach LaFleur as well for standing with him on that. I think everybody acted swiftly and it was the right call in this situation.”
Slater relayed that he believed that Patriots medical personnel had been in contact with Bolden’s family.
“Our primary concern and focus right now is on him being OK. I think everybody in that locker room, that’s all they’re thinking about,” Slater said, noting that the seventh-round rookie out of Jackson State has “been a joy to be around” in his first summer in New England.
“Isaiah we’re praying for you. We’re sorry that this happened tonight. We love you. We appreciate you. If you need us for anything, we’ll be there for you. But we’re just praying for a speedy recovery, asking that God be with you and that you can move through this quickly.”
Slater was unsure exactly how the Patriots would move forward with plans to travel straight to Tennessee for joint practice action with the Titans prior to next Friday night’s preseason finale in Nashville. But he’s quite certain Bolden’s injury put things in perspective not just for he and his teammates, but everyone.
“It’s a reminder of the fragility of life,” Slater said. “It’s not something that we spend a lot of time thinking about, but the reality is that all of us are going to have to wrestle with that at some point in time. Every person that’s ever walked the face of this Earth. So, I think it’s unfortunate that it happens in this context, this setting, because this is meant to be a joyful, celebratory experience. We’re playing a game. We’re doing what we love. We’re entertaining people. People are getting enjoyment out of our game. But it’s a reminder that things can turn on a dime. And it’s something that you have to put out of your head as a player because you can’t go out there with fear and hesitation. But the reality is that things happen in life and certainly things happen in football all the time.”
