Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is seen furiously SMASHING a phone on the sideline as New England secures its first losing season since 2000
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick's patience with New England's disappointing season appears to be exhausted after he obliterated a sideline phone during Sunday's humiliating loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Not only did the Patriots fall, 38-9, securing their first losing season in 20 years, but Belichick also lost a challenge after apparently receiving some bad advice.
Already trailing 24-9 at halftime, the Patriots yielded a sideline catch to Bills tight end Dawson Knox to begin the third quarter. Belichick, on the apparent advice of someone in the Patriots coaches' booth, tossed the red flag, signifying his wish to challenge the call in the hope that Knox was out of play and the catch would be overturned.
Unfortunately for Belichick — and a wireless telephone on New England's sideline — the call was upheld and the Patriots were docked one timeout.
As seen in a video that has since gone viral, Belichick stormed over to the sideline phone and spoke with the presumed culprit before angrily slamming the receiver to pieces.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick's patience with New England's disappointing season appears to be exhausted after he obliterated a sideline phone during Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills
Bill Belichick is not happy.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 29, 2020
(via @NFLBrasil)pic.twitter.com/Uvq33foTnc
Bill Belichick is not happy.
(via @NFLBrasil)pic.twitter.com/Uvq33foTnc
As seen in a video that has since gone viral, Belichick stormed over to the sideline phone and, presumably, spoke with an assistant coach before angrily slamming the receiver to pieces
'Whoever suggested to Coach Belichick that he might want to challenge that got an earful,' said NBC broadcaster Mike Tirico.
Belichick has not revealed the member of the Patriots' coaching staff who ignited his rage on Sunday, nor did he confirm that the phone call had anything to do with the challenge.
However, he did admit that there was no reason to throw the red flag on such a clear catch by Knox.
'Obviously he made the catch,' Belichick said after the game. 'It was a good catch. I mean, it was a good call. It was a good catch. And the challenge was obviously not successful, as it shouldn't have been.'
With the win, the Bills swept the season series with the Patriots for the first time since 1999.
Meanwhile Tom Brady, a Patriots rookie in 2000, is 10-5 in his first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have already clinched a playoff spot.
Tom Brady , a Patriots rookie during the team's last losing campaign, is 10-5 in his first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have already clinched a playoff spot
