Even a decade ago, the NFL community couldn’t imagine that they would witness such a terrible situation for the once-legendary team, the New England Patriots. Head coach Bill Belichick and former NFL quarterback Tom Brady have done everything possible to grab six Super Bowl titles for the franchise.
Now, the Patriots are having trouble securing a mere win, let alone the Super Bowl. Though Brady still vehemently supports Belichick amid recent criticism from sports enthusiasts, a former iconic player slammed the team’s HC following his recent downfall.
Warren Sapp takes shots at Bill Belichick
The departure of Brady from the Patriots sparked an enduring debate within the NFL community: who was the true architect behind the team’s unparalleled success—the storied Belichick or TB12?
Initially, opinions diverged on the matter, but as the Patriots’ fortunes took a downturn following Brady’s exit, many now attribute the team’s “golden dynasty” to Tom Terrific’s unparalleled talent and leadership on the field.
During a recent appearance on Fearless With Jason Whitlock, the former NFL star Warren Sapp reignited this contentious discussion, asserting that the California Cool was the driving force behind Belichick’s acclaim. Sapp emphasized that the Patriots’ success owed itself primarily to the QB’s prowess, likening his impact to that of defensive legend Lawrence Taylor.
“Tom Brady is the reason why you’re Bill Belichick. Lawrence Taylor is the reason why you’re Bill Belichick.Maybe the greatest football player on offense and maybe the greatest football player on defense to ever be in the National Football League.”
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— BlazeTV (@BlazeTV) November 20, 2023
NFL Hall of Famer @WarrenSapp trashes Bill Belichick: "Tom Brady is the reason why you're Bill Belichick. That's who you owe that to. All that Patriot way s*** is out the window. You can't go recreate it somewhere else." pic.twitter.com/DyB0Zg5ipo
The seven-time Pro Bowler underscored his point by referencing Belichick’s former assistants. He claimed the team no longer adhered to the “Patriot Way” philosophy of winning.
“Bill, that’s who you owe that to. All of the ‘Patriot way’ bulls*** is out the window. Ask Bill O’Brien. Ask Romeo Crennell. Ask Josh McDaniels. Ask any of them. It’s out the window.”
With rumors swirling about Belichick’s potential departure from the Patriots after the current season, the Pro Football Hall of Fame confidently said the coach might struggle to replicate his past successes elsewhere.
“And you can’t go recreate it [the ‘Patriot Way’] somewhere else because no one cares about it. No one respects that but you and the old-school football guys.”
The seven-time Pro Bowler even said that Belichick should now watch games from his couch instead of the NFL sidelines, hinting towards his retirement from the coaching job.
Belichick keeps starting QB name under wraps
The Patriots find themselves in a quarterback quandary as they gear up for their Week 12 clash against the New York Giants. Following a Week 10 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, speculations about the starting quarterback position have surged within the NFL community.
Belichick has earlier maintained a shroud of secrecy regarding the team’s QB situation. Amid mounting anticipation, he refrained from explicitly naming either Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe as the definitive starters for the upcoming game.
Days ago, while talking about who would start in the Week 12 match, the 71-year-old veteran said he told all the signal-callers to “be ready to go”.
Belichick on starting QB: "I told everyone to be ready to go" pic.twitter.com/IUWDwaVzRg
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) November 21, 2023
During the conference held on Friday morning, he maintained a discreet silence when confronted with the same question.
“I’ve told everybody to be ready to go. Hopefully that’s what they’re all doing. I’m not going to announce starters at every position. Everybody will be ready to go,” he said via SI.com.
Zappe echoed the sentiment of readiness while deferring to the HC’s authority on such decisions.
“That’s Coach Belichick’s decision. He’s the head coach for a reason. He makes those decisions, and we just play football.”
The Pats’ QB room, featuring not just Jones and Zappe but also Will Grier and Malik Cunningham, hints at a competitive atmosphere. Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien earlier suggested that the decision regarding the starting quarterback position will hinge on the week’s practice performances. During last Wednesday’s practice, he revealed that both Zappe and Grier rotated in with Jones.
What’s your take on the Patriots’ current offensive side? Tell us in the comments.
