Running backs Shane Vereen and Brandon Bolden each committed a fumble in the first half of the New England Patriots' preseason loss to the Detroit Lions Thursday, and neither player saw the field for the remainder of the half as a result.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick was asked Friday if he was sending a message by sidelining the tailbacks for their respective blunders.
"Was it sending them a message? Our message has been the same here from day one that ball security is of the highest priority for anybody that handles the ball – that’s a message from day one," Belichick said, via Christopher Price of WEEI. "I think that message has been delivered on a daily basis since we started practicing back in May.
"I don’t think there are any new revelations about that message. Ball security is very important to anybody who handles the ball in any situation. There can be no mistake about the importance of it. There can be no mistake about that message. That message has been delivered ad nauseam."
He used the word "message" seven times in that quote, and I'm still not sure if he meant that he was sending a message on top of the previous message, or if he didn't need to send a message because the message was already delivered loud and clear prior to the event that prompted the latest message.
Or something.
Or something.
Tight end Zach Sudfeld also lost a fumble early, which like the other two cough-ups, was recovered by the other team. In fact, four of the Patriots' first five possessions ended in turnovers, with Tom Brady accounting for an interception.
