Aug 29, 2021; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick during the first half against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Normally, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is not exactly known for his wit and humor, especially when it comes to motivating his players. But that doesn’t mean he can’t bring that side out of him if he needs to.

He did just that ahead of a 2016 preseason game – and he even brought a prop.

In an appearance on “The Patriots Report” podcast, former Patriots safety Duron Harmon shared an incredible story of a time when Belichick tried to fire up his defensive backs by using a jar of marshmallows.

“He’s a jokester. He’s got his days where he likes to joke,” Harmon said. “I’ll never forget, right before the third preseason game, he brings in a glass container of marshmallows. He sent them into the DB room for me, Dev and Log. It was like, ‘Are you guys gonna be soft or y’all gonna be ready to play this preseason game?’ Because I think we were all coming back from injuries, if I’m not mistaken.”

It seems like an odd approach. But apparently, it worked.

“So he was like, ‘Soft, soft, soft.’ I promise you, that preseason game, all three of us had an interception. We go into halftime, and it’s like ‘Well, I guess you (expletive) boys aren’t soft anymore.’”

The stat sheet doesn’t lie –Harmon, cornerback Logan Ryan and fellow safety Devin McCourty all had interceptions in the first half of the Patriots’ 19-17 preseason win over the Carolina Panthers.

Apparently, Belichick should consider having a jar of marshmallows on hand for every game.

[Masslive]