Earlier this week, veteran New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick decided to break his usual pattern of giving reporters short and vague answers.
When asked about the current state of the franchise, Belichick said that «the last 25 years» should give Patriots fans hope for the future.
The comment drew criticism from legendary linebacker Tedy Bruschi, a key contributor to the Patriots’ three Super Bowl victories.
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Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots before a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 12, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Bruschi, who works as an NFL analyst, detailed why he disagreed with his former coach’s statement during a recent edition of «Get Up!» from ESPN. morning show.
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Bruschi said Belichick’s comments came off as hypocritical.
«I don’t know how many times I’ve been in meetings with Coach Belichick, and the first meeting is, ‘I don’t care about anything from the past. We won Super Bowls. Last year it doesn’t matter. Pro Bowls don’t matter, All-Pros don’t matter. . Everything you did last year doesn’t matter, guys. It’s about who we are in the future,'» Bruschi said, via NESN’s Adam London.
Former NFL linebacker and University of Arizona alumnus Tedy Bruschi meets players before taking the field as a coach at Arizona’s spring game at Arizona Stadium on April 24, 2021, in Tucson , Arizona. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Bruschi added that the 70-year-old’s response sent the wrong message.
«This is what good teams do. Players hold coaches accountable as well when they deviate from the message. Right now, Coach Belichick deviates from the message.
“That’s something his players shouldn’t hear, that he’s basing some optimism for the fans on ‘what I’ve done in the last 25 years.’ I don’t know if I’ve ever heard Bill mention something like that in terms of all of his work. It was surprising to me.»
Head Coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots reacts after a game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on October 30, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Elsa/Getty Images)
Belichick usually focuses solely on the future. After he finishes a game, he normally ignores any questions about what happened and only answers questions related to an upcoming opponent.
The Patriots haven’t experienced the success many have grown accustomed to during the Tom Brady era. In the three seasons without Brady, New England has failed to win a playoff game.
In Brady’s first season with the Buccaneers, he won his seventh Super Bowl.
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The Patriots are coming off a turbulent 8-9 season that saw 2021 first-round draft pick Mac Jones regress in his second season. Jones was replaced by Bailey Zappe, a 2022 fourth-round draft pick out of Western Kentucky, for four games after Jones suffered an ankle injury.
Belichick was asked earlier this week about the quarterback situation heading into next season, but he declined to publicly commit to Jones as the team’s starter for 2023.