FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Midway through the New England Patriots' second mandatory minicamp practice Wednesday, head coach Bill Belichick ripped into the team's offensive players before sending them all on a penalty lap around the field. The assistant coaches joined the lap, too.
Any questions as to who is in charge?
As for the reason for Belichick's anger, it helps to set the scene at practice: The last two days, the pace has been quickened and music has blared loudly, creating mental stress on players to keep up and all be on the same page.
This is where the breakdown occurred Wednesday, as the proper personnel wasn't on the field.
"It was a miscommunication and you have to move fast because that's our offense -- fast-paced," explained receiver Brian Tyms. "You're trying to pick up the pace so the defense can't see what we're doing. We didn't move fast enough and we have to be able to communicate in even the harshest of situations; when everybody is dead-tired and has nothing left, you still have to be able to communicate with each other and execute."
Tyms, who has been getting more repetitions with Brandon LaFell (left foot) sidelined, had no issue with the full-unit discipline because he's seen positive results from it in the past.
"That's what it takes to win. That's what I've been taught. We won a Super Bowl like that -- we're all as one, it's never one person. There are no 'me' people on this team and if there are, they will be gone before the season starts. It takes everybody collectively to work together and for us to accomplish the ultimate goal, which is the Super Bowl. It took everybody to win that Super Bowl. ... If you had nothing to do with that in the huddle, it doesn't matter. Everybody runs."
As for the message sent by Belichick, Tyms said it's rather obvious.
"Whatever we just did, don't do it again," he relayed. "The penalty lap [stinks]."
