The NFL coaches and owners, along with commissioner Roger Goodell, are in Florida this week for the owner’s meetings. Goodell was giving a speech to the owners and coaches in Florida, but according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was walking the other way.
Goodell is giving a speech to head coaches, owners, etc. in a banquet room. Belichick is walking down the hall in the opposite direction.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) March 20, 2016
To be fair, there’s a chance that this could be nothing. We don’t necessarily know if every other coach and owner was in the banquet room or if Belichick was really expected to be there. With that said, it could be a big something too.
Since their AFC Championship Game victory in January of 2015, the Patriots have been battling with the NFL over the Deflategate controversy. The issue cost New England its first-round draft pick this year and could still end up costing Tom Brady four games of the 2016 season.
Walking away from a speech from Goodell would certainly seem to fit Belichick’s occasionally passive-aggressive M.O.
At the very least, even if it’s not an outward sign of disrespect, Belichick is clearly making no efforts to hear what the commissioner has to say. Only Belichick knows what his true intentions were, but it’s tough to believe that this was completely accidental.