Expect Motivated, Fired-Up Patriots Team in Deflategate Aftermath

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick stood in front of a media firing squad twice in three days. He had no choice; the reports had swirled about details stemming from the Patriots allegedly using underinflated footballs in the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts.

The first time, he was his normal, quiet self, explaining what he had learned about the process through which footballs are approved for use in games. He answered questions in his typical, minimalist, grumbling fashion.

The second time, he was defiant, borderline angry with the stunning lack of facts surrounding the story, as details pour out that make it appear as though the NFL ran a sting operation and compromised the integrity of the game.

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"I feel like this is important because there have been questions raised, and I believe now 100 percent that I have personally, and we as an organization, have absolutely followed every rule to the letter," he said in the second press conference. "I just feel that on behalf of everyone in the organization, everyone that's involved in this organization, that we need to say something."

Former Patriots linebacker Matt Chatham says this is par for the course with Belichick.

Belichick went to bat for his players, for his owner and for his franchise. Now, it's their turn to go to bat for him. 

It wouldn't be the first time, either. In 2007, the Patriots were found to have illegally filmed their opponent's signals from the sideline instead of from other areas that were allowed at the time—in what was termed Spygate. The media backlash was strong, as people began to question the legitimacy of Belichick's legacy.

Less than a week later, his team kicked into high gear and blew out the league's best team from the year before, beating the San Diego Chargers 38-14 at Gillette Stadium in prime time. 

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But heck, it wouldn't even be the first time this year that New England would rise to the occasion in the face of media scrutiny. After the Patriots were blown out 41-14 by the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football in Week 4, the doubters were never louder. Tom Brady was done; Belichick the head coach needed to fire Belichick the GM; the offensive line was in shambles; the defense was falling short of its lofty expectations.

Fast-forward less than one week, and the Patriots were blowing the doors off the Cincinnati Bengals 43-17 on Sunday Night Football. 

No one believed in the Patriots then, just like no one believes in them now.

Never mind that this is being called a "witch hunt" by the likes of CBS analyst Boomer Esiason and others in the media. Even if people do believe in the Patriots, Belichick won't let them know it.

He'll go into that locker room and deliver an impassioned, "nobody believes in us" speech that hearkens back to the Rodney Harrison days, only this time, he can do so in earnest.

"No man, playing in the Super Bowl, that's all [the motivation] you need," said wide receiver Brandon LaFell. "As a child, this is what you dream of, playing in this game. You finally get to live out your dream, the best dream of your life. If you need any more motivation for this game, you don't need to be playing."

No one ever wants to be surrounded in controversy, but if it has to happen it might as well occur before the biggest game of the year. Now, Belichick has all the fuel he needs to feed the fire in his locker room. 

For many players, like linebacker Darius Fleming and wide receiver Brian Tyms, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live out a lifelong dream. They're not about to let this controversy sully the moment.

Especially since the controversy has already sullied their victory in the AFC Championship Game—which Brady reflected on at his press conference last Thursday.

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"It was a great accomplishment to reach the AFC Championship, to win the AFC Championship and then to have the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl," Brady said. "That was a great feeling after the game. Obviously the next few days and hearing the football issue has taken away from a little bit of that, but hopefully we'll rally around one another to bring it back to the task at hand, which is to try to go out and be the best we can be."

That's a rather diplomatic way of putting it. Cornerback Brandon Browner, however, was not as willing to hold back his true feelings.

The Patriots are on the doorstep of greatness, with the opportunity to cement themselves as the best team of our generation beyond a shadow of a doubt. This opportunity may not come again. 

For that reason alone, no extra motivation is needed. But it certainly doesn't hurt.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand.