Shannon Sharpe apologizes to Tom Brady for not realizing the extent of his influence with the New England Patriots.
The Patriots are off to a terrible start to the season, going 1-4 and culminating in a 34-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, raising questions about Bill Belichick’s legacy.
The result became a key talking point on Monday’s episode of “First Take,” with Sharp asked if Belichick was “just another coach.” Belichick is an eight-time Super Bowl winner (six of them with Brady in New England).
Sharp, himself a three-time Super Bowl champion in his career, responded: “No, I don’t think he’s just another coach. I think the success he and his staff have had over the past two decades is worth it. Of praise and praise.
“I think what happened, and I can speak for myself, is I owe Brady an apology because I don’t think I gave him enough credit.
Shannon Sharpe talks Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s legacies on First Take
Brady and Belichick won six Super Bowls together while playing for the New England Patriots
Belichick’s Patriots are 1-4 this season, scoring three points in each of their last two games.
“I should give him more credit because of what Brady allowed Coach Belichick to do, Brady is the biggest eraser in professional sports.
“Every mistake Coach Belichick has made in these two decades, Brady can erase it.
“You took a bad receiver? Brady is going to take the mistake you made in the first, second or third round and eliminate it with Julian Edelman.
The Patriots’ offense is in crisis now – Sunday’s layoff means the team has three points in two games. New England’s current quarterback Mac Jones was benched by Bailey Zappe for the second straight game.
Belichick now needs to answer some big questions heading into Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders, who defeated the Green Bay Packers 13-17 on Monday night.
Sharp added of the pressure on Belichick: “There’s no way an average coach could be this successful in two decades.
“But what it does show you is, no matter how good your defensive or offensive mind is, if you don’t have a guy who’s 6-foot-4 and has over 200 pounds of arm weight, you’re going to have a whistling wind.
The Patriots will face the Bills on October 22 after traveling to Vegas to face the Raiders.