The Patriots were as crazy for 72 hours as any NFL team.
Just hours before the team prepared to travel to Kansas City to play The Chiefs on Sunday, it was reported on Saturday morning that Cam Newton had tested positive for COVID-19 the night before.
It was reported that the news was Players who care about their health and that of their families. The NFL also made a decision to temporarily postpone Sunday’s game and the Patriots’ travel plans.
“I think a lot of us just wanted to make sure we were in good health and didn’t pass on anything to our families,” Matthew Slater, captain of the Patriots special team, told reporters after Monday’s match. “That was the primary concern of many men.”
After every other player on the team tested negative multiple times over the course of Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, the NFL rescheduled the match for Monday. However, this meant that the Patriots had to travel until Monday morning from New England to Kansas City to play the same night.
Jarrett Steadham, who co-starred with Brian Hoyer in midfield play for Newton on Monday, shared how things have changed in the team’s preparation for the team leaders.
“Going into Saturday morning, when we discovered the situation, he was really trying to figure out not just football but basically the health and safety of everyone in the building,” said Stedham. “It was kind of a trigger of the moment where we had to switch some things, have virtual meetings, and I think we did a good job adapting to the situation and making the most of it.”
Steadham also said Newton wrote to him over the weekend, saying, “Hey, whatever you need, I’m here for you.”
Devin McCourtty, Patriots safety, said he realized how lucky he was in reaching all of the tests he received for coronavirus over the weekend.
“It gave me a true perspective of what everyone in our country is going through,” McCurty said. “I think about people who don’t have the resources and all that we have during the last three days of testing. This test, this test, multiple tests, a lot of people in different communities didn’t have that. As a nerve breaker and everything that was going on, I think it still is. We have a sense of security that not many people have.
“We have peace of mind with everything that’s going on. With all the continuous testing, with all of those things, it was clearly not perfect, but I think we had a lot of peace of mind. I’ve been gone for the past two months and people are leaving their homes or buildings just to walk down their hallways.” Or their streets. “
The Patriots eventually fell in front of the Chiefs, 10-26, Monday night. Slater realized how different the experience of traveling and playing on the same day was, but he didn’t want to use it as a reason to lose the Patriots.
“It was unique. I will say that. Slater said it was unique. “But I definitely don’t want to use it as an excuse, nor does anyone else in this team. The first time I did that in 13 years, I play in the National Football League. But look, any time you get a chance to take the field, and they give you a uniform Officially and helmet, you go there and try to get the most out of it.
“This is what we tried to do today. I definitely hope this is not something that we don’t have to do again. I know that a lot of us are usual creatures and our routines are being thrown off. But again, I don’t want to use that as an excuse. We just haven’t provided Enough plays today. It was a tough outing for us. “
Bill Belisik, the Patriots coach, was asked if there was any concern about playing Monday’s game. “I think we did everything right and what we’re supposed to do. So, it’s in the hands of the doctors here,” he said.
He commissioned Hoyer to begin in Newton’s place. However, he had a performance that led to him being seated on the bench for Steadham.
Hoyer completed 15 of 24 passes for 150 yards and interceptions. He was also hit by a fatal mistake that cost the Patriots points at the end of the first half.
Like Slater, Hoyer did not want to use the strange situation as an excuse.
“I mean look, this is what it is,” said Heuer. “I think in 2020 a lot of people are dealing with a lot of crazy things, ups and downs. We got involved in this and this is how it was done. Regardless of the situation, it has nothing to do with these two theatrics, I had to do a better job.” .
Slater wanted to make sure he sent his prayers to his teammate and thanked those who managed to make Monday’s match happen.
Slater said, “I’ll say this, first of all, we are praying for Cam and his health, and hopefully he’s okay.” “I would also like to thank the staff at the Bio-Reference Laboratory. We really appreciate all the work they did to help us navigate this process.”
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