A former coach who's a longtime friend and also was a pretty fair athlete in his day -- good enough to be drafted by a professional team -- made this insightful comment regarding Bill Belichick's decision Wednesday to send four players home because they were late for a team meeting.

"The banishments had nothing to do with lateness," the old coach said, "and everything to do with Belichick's frustration that the magic seems to be gone. How about letting them practice, and then making them stay and work for an extra hour, or more, rather than sending them home at the expense of the team?"

That's a good question.

What, really, was accomplished by sending Randy Moss, Adalius Thomas, Gary Guyton, and Derrick Burgess home when, because of an unexpectedly-heavy snowfall, they were a few minutes later arriving at the stadium?

Not that the weather is an excuse for their tardiness. The rest of their teammates took the inclement conditions into account and arrived on time for the 8 a.m. meeting. And, given that the Pats had lost two in a row for the first time since 2006, dropped 3 of their last 4, and, by blowing a two-touchdown lead in Miami, also blown a chance to all but lock-up the division title, it was not the time for any player to show up late.

But how does it make the Patriots a better team, how will the Patriots be prepared for Sunday's game with Carolina, by having them miss an important practice and film session?

Because they showed up late, why not have them stay late?

Surely, there are things each of those players could work on -- including Moss, and certainly Thomas, who has been at odds with Belichick all season because the coach clearly doesn't feel his high-priced, 32-year-old has played up to his capabilities.

If, by embarrassing them, Belichick hoped to motivate them, that hasn't worked in Thomas' case.

"Motivation is for kindergarteners," Thomas said.

As for preparation, the answer to that is obvious.

"He's the head coach," Thomas said Thursday of Belichick. "He makes the calls and, whether you agree, or not, you just roll with them. That's why they pay him to be the head coach. He has that title, so he doesn't have to have a reason to send you home...I was told to go home, I went home."