Christmas came a few days early for New England Patriots punter Jake Bailey.
Bailey was home Monday playing “Call of Duty: Warzone” with a high school friend when his phone buzzed. It was Bill Belichick. He had some good news to deliver.
The Patriots head coach informed Bailey he’d been selected to represent the AFC in the 2021 Pro Bowl, one of three New England players (along with cornerback Stephon Gilmore and Matthew Slater) to make the cut.
Bailey didn’t try to hide his enthusiasm as he recalled the moment two days later.
“I was just over-the-moon excited,” Bailey said Wednesday in a video conference, an ear-to-ear smile plastered across his face.