This Story of Bill Belichick Carrying an Injured Donte Stallworth on His Roster Just to Boost His Pension Will Be the Best 3 Minutes of Your Week

By way of background, this story Donte Stallworth told on Michael Silver’s podcast is from December 2012. The infamous “Letterman Jacket Game.” when the Texans came to Foxboro 11-1, and left with their bitchin’ new jackets shoved all the way up their butts after losing 42-14. The loss sent them into a humiliating tailspin it took the franchise years to recover from.

And Stallworth was hurt on this play:

Put in the eight years since, he’s never told a story. About how Bill Belichick carried his injured, unusable self on the roster for the entire season to make sure he not only got paid, but so that he could accrue an extra year of time toward his pension. Something he was under no obligation to do. And served no purpose other than to do right by a true pro who had played hard for him in the past.

Just bear that in mind next time someone is telling you that Belichick doesn’t have a heart. That it’s all about business. When the reality is, nderneath that gruff, crusty exterior, beats a warm, caramel and nougat-filled gooey center of pure sweetness. That man in the tattered battle flag-looking sweatshirt is a sentimental softie who gets all sentimental about people who have helped him build an empire. The world thinks he’s Mr. Potter. And the truth is, he’s a real life George Bailey who takes care of his friends. Thanks, Stallworth. This story made my week.