While many view Bill Belichick as the curmudgeon of a head coach, “The Hoodie” seems to be a pretty sensible guy behind the scenes. Sure, he often makes a ruthless list and personnel decisions like the leader of the New England Patriots, but when it comes to serious issues like the current COVID-19 pandemic, he’s not someone to hold a grudge if a player decides to go for not participate in 2020..
A total of six Patriots players, including three full-time starters, made that decision Tuesday and will be out for the entire 2020 season due to coronavirus concerns. Safety Patrick Chung is one of those headlines, and the three-time Super Bowl champion pulled back the curtain on his brief conversation with Belichick when he informed the head coach that he would be sitting in 2020.
“He understood,” Chung told “CBS This Morning” on Wednesday. “He understands that a serious pandemic is happening. He totally understood. You think Bill is like this drill sergeant, but he’s actually a very loving person. He totally understood and that was it. It was a short phone call.”
Linebacker Dont’a Hightower, right tackle Marcus Cannon, running back Brandon Bolden, fullback Danny Vitale and reserve offensive lineman Najee Toran were the other Patriots who chose to exit the season. All of these players chose to stay out for various reasons. For example, Cannon is a cancer survivor after battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma when he entered the league in 2011. He is in a high-risk category for COVID-19, which was a major factor in deciding not to participate.
As for Chung, he explained that he has several family issues that led to his decision.
“Of course it is a difficult decision,” he said. “You want to play soccer. I’m in the second half of my career, so I wanted to play soccer, but when it comes to that, I feel like money is not that important. I have a girlfriend who is pregnant and a girl is coming. Soon my son has a little asthma, my dad is 75, so I felt this was the best decision for my family to keep everyone safe. ”
Chung was ready to enter his 12th season in the NFL in 2020 and the 11th with the Patriots under Bill Belichick. With him on the sidelines, New England will likely turn to 2020 second-round pick in safety Kyle Dugger to help cushion the blow from Chung’s absence.
Of course, COVID-19 is about to appear in the NFL year-round, as long as a vaccine against the virus is being developed, leaving open the possibility of a canceled or shortened season. Chung is hopeful that the NFL will be able to play the entire board, but he cautiously noted, “Only time will tell.”
