Others, however, see Belichick’s comments as a direct violation of the players’ First Amendment rights. “This is about more than football,” argued Kendra Thompson, a civil rights advocate and occasional Patriots fan, depending on how the season’s going. “Kneeling is a powerful form of protest, and to silence that is to silence the voices of marginalized communities. It’s disappointing, but not surprising, coming from an organization that probably spends more time practicing their deflated football drills than engaging with real societal issues.”

Belichick, who has never been one for long-winded explanations, responded to criticism in the same way he always does: with a shrug, a grunt, and an “on to Cincinnati” attitude. He refused to elaborate on the decision, leaving fans and commentators to speculate whether this is a genuine stance on patriotism or just another strategy to keep his players focused on one thing and one thing only—winning.