After Canceling Practice, Legendary Coach Bill Belichick Took His Team to the Movies — but It Wasn't Just Any Movie

With the Super Bowl just around the corner, you would probably expect the New England Patriots to be running through plays on the field instead of chilling at the movies.

But that's exactly what they did New Year's Eve, when instead of forcing them to work up a sweat, head coach Bill Belichick treated the team to a private showing of "American Sniper," about late Iraqi War vet Chris Kyle. The film's director, Clint Eastwood, had already contacted Belichick and asked him to bring the guys along, the Boston Herald reported.

Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots watches against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at Gillette Stadium, Dec. 28, 2014 in Foxboro, Mass. (Jerome Davis/Getty Images)

In addition to the screen time, Belichick gave the team Thursday through Sunday off, according to New England Sports Network.

The players didn't seem to mind the decision.

“It’s cool to be able to see the Navy SEALS and their team with your team. You can draw some comparisons between the two and it’s a team-building kind of experience," fullback James Develin told ESPN.

Tight end Michael Hoomanawanui said he didn’t know a lot about the movie going in other what he had heard everyone else say, but said it was a "great film to see."

"It’s just the passion for his country, and the guys next to him, that he had; and the dedication, the will, and the fight," Hoomanawanui said of Kyle.

In this image released by Warner Bros. Pictures, Bradley Cooper appears in a scene from "American Sniper." (AP Photo/Warner Bros. Pictures)

So what about all that lost time on the field? Well, the team isn't too worried about it.

“You know… hey, if Coach feels like it’s best for us, then, I’m not going to argue with him," Patriots wide receiver Matthew Slater said. “There’s definitely a balance there. It’s good to be able to recharge your batteries, so to speak and mentally clear your mind.”

Tight end Tim Wright agreed: “Yeah, it felt good... but we got some things done in the meeting room that we could correct and look forward to what’s coming up in the playoffs. Yeah, we definitely did. We went out there, worked hard, put things on film, tried to work on small details. We put a good week in.”

Slater echoed Wright, saying the team had a "productive week."

“I think it can still be productive, as far as taking advantage of getting rest and continuing to engage ourselves mentally, focusing on what we can improve upon as individuals and as a team. I think there’s still time to do that," Slater added.

Belichick did something similar last season when he took the team to see "Lone Survivor."

Wright noted the benefit of having the extra down time to bond as a team, in addition to just getting some more rest.

“Hopefully that’s what can pull us through, everyone being on the same page, having the same mindset," Wright said.

(H/T: Boston Herald)

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