Patriots present @BarackObama with a jersey, game ball, and autographed team helmet. pic.twitter.com/lOD4X5GZFb
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 23, 2015
The New England Patriots attended the White House on Thursday because that’s what you do when you win the Super Bowl.
The moment is little more than a light-hearted photo opportunity for everyone involved and President Barack Obama decided that it would be a good a time as any to unleash a Deflate-Gate (remember that?) joke for the proceedings.
President Obama to the Patriots: "I usually tell jokes at these things — but I was worried 11 of 12 of them would fall flat."
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) April 23, 2015
Yes, you better believe that that elicited some groans from the crowd.
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The joke also received a emphatic (and actually funny) thumbs-down from Bill Belichick.
Belichick thumbs down to deflategate joke #Patriots #WBZ pic.twitter.com/FECsKlzjNy
— Joe Giza (@JoeGiza) April 23, 2015
Of course, the unusually dressed up Belichick was much more diplomatic when asked about Obama’s Deflate-Gate crack afterwards. Even when he’s dealing with a non-sports media, Bill still finds a way to say absolutely nothing of consequence to the press.
What did Belichick think of Obama's jokes: "He's a pretty engaging guy."
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) April 23, 2015