The Senior Bowl is one of a handful of NFL events that provides slightly more relaxed media access, giving fans at home a closer look at how games are coached and prepared for. They can also give everyone a look at some personality that doesn’t often show during the actual season.
Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia certainly provided an example of that Saturday. Patricia and his staff coached the North team during the Senior Bowl, and the coach himself was interviewed at the start of the fourth quarter by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Among the topics that came up: Pelissero being allowed to call a play with his job on the line, Patricia nearly spilling the Lions’ draft plans, and the attempted trade of a giant Reese’s peanut butter cup in exchange for Patricia’s famous pencil.
Most entertaining part of the @seniorbowl for me: this sideline hangout with a Matt Patricia you don't often see. @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/p4ybU4Luf5
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 25, 2020
Patricia is a student of the New England Patriots and has not always come off as the most affable guy, so this was a somewhat surprising side to him. Of course, it probably helped that this was a more relaxed environment and the team he was coaching had a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter. Still, it’s always nice to see a bit of personality from a guy who doesn’t always show it during the season.
