Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Mike McDaniel

Amendola: How Belichick Always Prepares for Slick Arizona Field

View the original article to see embedded media.

The field conditions in Arizona for Super Bowl LVII earlier this month became a popular topic of conversation, as multiple players on the Eagles and Chiefs were slipping and sliding all over the playing surface at State Farm Stadium.

The conditions were so poor that they received widespread criticism from NFL players and fans alike who were tuned in to the big game.

Former Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola joined the Green Light podcast with Chris Long, and explained Bill Belichick’s approach to his teams playing on the road in Arizona.

“Bill made it a mandatory seven-stud game,” Amendola said, referring to the number of spikes players needed on their cleats. “We were all b------- and moaning, but we didn’t have too many slips. … On that surface, you’ve got to switch the tires out and put the seven studs in. I feel like you get a lot better traction. You don’t feel like you can play as fast in them, but at the same time, you’re chopping it up, you’re gripping the turf.”

Amendola went on to say that any players in the Super Bowl between the Eagles and Chiefs who were struggling with traction were likely “wearing the wrong tires.”

Belichick is widely considered to be the greatest coach of all time, and his approach to field conditions at a given stadium is a testament to how detail-oriented he has been in his Hall of Fame career.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.