Bill Belichick gushed about Tom Brady in a statement released after the quarterback left New England for Tampa Bay in free agency. But don’t expect that sort of thing to continue.
Belichick spoke with reporters on Monday for a conference call and kept his focus on the future and his team, as usual.
When asked if the Patriots wanted to bring back Brady, Belichick deflected and called the subject “water under the bridge”, according to the Boston Herald’s Karen Guregian. Like usual, Belichick was focused on the future.
“We’re really just focused on this season and trying to look at our opportunities and make decisions and plan and prepare to be as competitive as we can be this year,” Belichick said.
Belichick, who tends to limit the praise of his players, was full of compliments for Brady in a statement after the legendary quarterback signed with the Buccaneers.
“Tom was not just a player who bought into our program,” Belichick said. “He was one of its original creators. Tom lived and perpetuated our culture. On a daily basis, he was a tone setter and a bar raiser. He won championships in three of his first four years on the field and in three of his final six seasons with us, while competing for championships in most every season in between. This is a credit to Tom’s consistency and what separates him. He didn’t just perform. He didn’t just win. He won championships over and over again.
“Tom and I will always have a great relationship built on love, admiration, respect and appreciation. Tom’s success as a player and his character as a person are exceptional. Nothing about the end of Tom’s Patriots career changes how unfathomably spectacular it was. With his relentless competitiveness and longevity, he earned everyone’s adoration and will be celebrated forever. It has been a privilege to coach Tom Brady for 20 years.
“Examples of Tom’s greatness are limitless, going back even before he was drafted. We witnessed how he prepared when he wasn’t playing, how he performed when he got his opportunity, what he did to continuously improve, his leadership, his mindset, the example he set, and, of course, the person he is. I am extremely grateful for what he did for our team and for me personally.
“Sometimes in life, it takes some time to pass before truly appreciating something or someone but that has not been the case with Tom. He is a special person and the greatest quarterback of all-time.”
Belichick said his piece then but is now back to business, which has always been his way. That has served the Patriots well for two decades, and surely Brady can understand that.
Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski have teamed up yet again! Treat yourself or a friend with this great Tampa Fiesta shirt. You can buy it here.
