Bill Belichick takes blame for field goal penalty

Oct 20, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick argues a personal foul call against his team by officials which ultimately led to a New York Jets game winning field goal during overtime at MetLife Stadium. The Jets won the game 30-27 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

The New England Patriots lost the game to the New York Jets on a late, and sort of controversial penalty call, during a Nick Folk field goal. Chris Jones pushed a teammate as they attempted to block a field goal kick, but that is illegal in a new rule.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick took responsibility for the penalty.

“On the field goal play at the end, Chris is obviously trying to do the right thing by stepping up and taking responsibility,” Belichick said Monday, per ESPN.com. “But that’s not his responsibility. That’s ours. I just have to do a better job of coaching that. That’s not his fault.”

“Obviously we are wrong,” he said. “It’s our job to understand the rules. Whatever the bottom line is, we didn’t do it properly.”

Belichick gets a lot of flack for his demeanor and personality, but accepting responsibility was the right thing to do. He gets kudos for that at least.

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