As we approach the end of the first full season of the Bill Belichick and Tom Brady separation, in true Super Bowl week fashion, there was plenty of radio and television “hot take” discussion as to which individual had a larger impact on the Patriots success.
On Monday, the debate fire was rekindled when former Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola told FS1’s “First Things First” that Tom Brady was really the one behind the team’s success over Bill Belichick and his coaching staff.
“When you see ‘Patriot Way’ in the dictionary, it’s going to have Tom Brady’s name next to it,” said Amendola. “None of those coaches threw any passes. None of those coaches caught any passes. None of those coaches made any tackles. They got guys in the right position because they watched a lot of film and they spent all their time at the facility.”
“But Tom Brady is the Patriot Way and that’s the reason why Tom Brady is in the Super Bowl right now and the Patriots aren’t.”
In response to Amendola’s comments, former Patriots cornerback Darius Butler decided to take a different (and rather rational) approach to the debate, instead crediting BOTH men for the “Patriot Way” rather than one.
Butler tweeted out his thoughts on Wednesday, which you can listen for yourself in full below.
My thoughts on the Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the "Patriot Way". pic.twitter.com/U4tMwI1E3S
— Darius Butler (@DariusJButler) February 3, 2021
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