Any issues that once existed between Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and retired quarterback Tom Brady appear to be water under the bridge.
Belichick was asked Monday on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” about Week 1 when the Patriots will honor Tom Brady during their season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Belichick sounds as excited as anyone to shower Brady with well-deserved praise.
“I’ve spoken to Tom a couple of times. Always look forward to talking to Tom and what a great experience and opportunity it was for me to coach Tom,” Belichick said in his weekly appearance on the radio. “Tremendous appreciation for everything he did for me, did for our team, everything he gave us. Look forward to seeing him. Sounds like he’s moving on to a very successful career in broadcasting and whatever else he decides to do. He’s a pretty talented guy, I’m sure he’ll do well in whatever he chooses to do, whatever area that is. So, look forward to seeing him and I’m sure there will be a lot of excitement at the game, in the stands as there should be.”
Brady announced his retirement this offseason after spending three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady won six Super Bowls with Belichick as the two formed the greatest quarterback-head coach pairing in NFL history. The QB won one more Super Bowl with the Bucs.
“He’s done an awful lot for this organization, for this franchise, for this city, the National Football League,” Belichick continued on Brady. “One night’s really not enough, anywhere close to being enough for the appreciation for what Tom deserves. It was a great opportunity for me. I feel very fortunate to have coached Tom, Lawrence Taylor, Matt Slater. That’s the three top players at their position: offense, defense, special teams that I think in the history of the game. And that’s pretty — I feel pretty lucky as a coach. Great players make great coaches, and I’ve been very fortunate. There’s been a lot of great players along the way. I’m not taking anything away from anybody else. But those three are special.”
Belichick was reiterating his stance on Brady, Taylor and Slater that he expressed to The33rdTeam.com this offseason.
The Patriots head coach was asked a follow-up on whether the thinks Brady deserves a statue. Belichick laughed.
“Give him whatever you want. Yeah,” he said.