Arguably the greatest pro football coach of all time, who has had the worst back-to-back losses in his career, is being defended this week by arguably the greatest quarterback of all time – and his former charge.
Retired quarterback Tom Brady defended his former coach, Bill Belichick, on his SiriusXM podcast “Let’s Go!” on Tuesday after the Patriots have had consecutive losses to the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints – and the Saints game was at the Patriots’ home stadium in Foxborough, Mass. – where they were outscored 72-3 (Tom Brady defends Bill Belichick after worst home loss in Patriots’ history).
Belichick benched starting quarterback Mac Jones in both games, after the offense was ineffective and Jones had multiple turnovers, including two interceptions for touchdowns.
After the game, Belichick met with media and told them the Patriots needed to “start over.”
“Plain and simply, we’ve got to find a way to play and coach better than that. So that’s what we’re going to do – start all over and get back on a better track than we’re on right now,” Belichick said.
When pressed on what ‘starting over’ meant, Belichick repeated himself. “Starting over,” he said.
“I think the results are different from what they’ve been, but I know that he’s got the same work ethic. He’s got the same coaching style,” Brady said. “I think the thing that I think as I watch not only the Patriots, but a lot of other things, football’s a hard sport.”
Brady was quarterback of the Belichick-led Patriots from 2000 until 2019, and in that time, the team got to the Super Bowl nine times, and won six. Brady moved on to Tampa Bay, and won another Super Bowl before his eventual retirement last year.
Times haven’t been as good for the Patriots, though, who haven’t made the postseason since Brady’s departure.
Brady continued.
“…I think he’s got a very consistent approach that he’s always taken, and you know, it’s the right approach.” Brady said. “(The approach is to) try to prepare players, give them the best opportunity to succeed. You know, you get out there on the field in the end, [once coaches call the play in], the players gotta do it. And it takes a great coaching staff to win. It takes great players to win. It takes great front office support to win. It’s an organizational win. It’s an organizational loss.”
The Patriots’ lone win was over the New York Jets, who have, of course, had tremendous injury issues, losing quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the fourth snap from scrimmage this season, and now right tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker is gone for the season, both to torn Achilles tendons.
The Patriots are 1-4 and will play at the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday at 3:05 p.m., Central Standard Time.
