The New England Patriots were on the wrong side of a few bad non-calls in Sunday’s loss to the Dolphins. And while the typically tight-lipped Bill Belichick is usually quiet when it comes to the officiating, he took a moment to address it on “The Greg Hill Show.”
Speaking on a play in the first half where running back Ezekiel Elliott appeared to get tripped by a Dolphins defender, Belichick said:
I like to feel like our players are getting protected like everybody else’s. The tripping on Ezekiel Elliott, that’s another dangerous play. Stuff like that, there shouldn’t be any place for that in football.
“I like to feel like our players are getting protected like everybody elses. The tripping on Ezekiel Elliott, that’s another dangerous play. Stuff like that, there shouldn’t be any place for that in football” — Bill Belichick, on @TheGregHillShow
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 30, 2023
In a video call with ESPN’s Mike Reiss, Belichick was asked how important it is that his players are protected on the field. To which the coach replied, “Very important.”
Reiss followed that up by asking “What is the process you go through if you feel like that isn’t happening?” and Belichick didn’t really feel like getting into it.
“Let’s hope it happens,” he said.
It’s unclear right now if the Dolphins will receive any punishment for the tripping or DeShon Elliott’s unpenalized hit on DeVante Parker that left the receiver concussed. But we’ll see what happens when the NFL releases its Week 8 fines/suspensions.