In the aftermath of the Patriots’ 28-14 season finale win over the Jets, Bill Belichick praised his team’s effort even after playoff elimination while also fighting to avoid speculation about looming offseason questions involving quarterback Cam Newton.
“I just have a lot of respect for coaches and the players, the members of this team,” Belichick told reporters in his postgame press conference. “Obviously the results this year weren’t what we had hoped for, but it doesn’t change my appreciation for their efforts and what they tried to do.”
The 7-9 Patriots’ record was Belichick’s worst since his first year as New England’s head coach in 2000.