Now that we have seen what the New England Patriots look like without Tom Brady, Shannon Sharpe feels he owes the seven-time Super Bowl champion an apology.
Sharpe was asked on ESPN’s “First Take” Monday if he believes Bill Belichick has proven to be “just another coach” in the post-Brady era with the Patriots. The Hall of Fame tight end gave Belichick credit for New England’s sustained run of success over two decades, but Sharpe also admitted he did not give Brady enough credit.
"I think I owe [Tom] Brady an apology because I don't think I gave him enough credit. … Brady is the largest eraser in pro sports because every mistake that coach Belichick made … Brady could erase it."
—@ShannonSharpe pic.twitter.com/8xDkrOsubV
— First Take (@FirstTake) October 9, 2023
“I think what has happened, and I can just speak to me, I think I owe Brady an apology because I don’t think I gave him enough credit. Or, I should have given him even more credit,” Sharpe said. “What Brady allowed Coach Belichick to do — Brady is the largest eraser in pro sports. Every mistake that Coach Belichick made during that two decades, Brady could erase it.
“Coach Belichick did a great job of designing defensive schemes, what he did against ‘The Greatest Show on Turf’ and all these high-flying offenses. At the end of the day, when you needed a quarterback to make a play, Brady always made that play.”
Sharpe added that no “regular coach” could have the same success Belichick had over 20 years. Like many others, Sharpe feels the Patriots’ recent struggles show that Brady was far more important to New England’s dynasty than Belichick.
Belichick is going to retire as arguably the greatest coach in NFL history regardless of what happens over the remainder of his career. However, there is no question his legacy has taken a hit since Brady left the Patriots. Brady immediately won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Belichick appears to have turned the Pats into one of the worst teams in football.
Belichick has reached the point where even former Patriots stars are questioning his plan. Sharpe is not the only one who feels he did not give Brady enough credit.
