Bill Belichick Downplays Tom Brady’s Departure During Media Session

Belichick called Brady's departure from New England "water under the bridge”

Head Coach Bill Belichick looks on as Tom Brady walks by during the AFC Championship Game in 2018. (Adam Glanzman/Getty)
Head Coach Bill Belichick looks on as Tom Brady walks by during the AFC Championship Game in 2018. (Adam Glanzman/Getty)
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In his first public comments to the media since Tom Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccanneers, Patriots coach Bill Belichick spoke about his quarterback of 20 years the same way he does any player who departs Foxborough.

Belichick, who praised Brady in a prepared statement after the 42-year-old quarterback announced he was leaving the team, was asked if he had wanted to keep his longtime quarterback, who signed a two-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last month. (Speaking with Howard Stern last week, Brady said he knew prior to last season that his time in New England with Belichick was probably up.)

As he typically does, Belichick looked to the future, not the past, with his answer.

“Water under the bridge,” Belichick said. “We’re really 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 this year.”

Had he wanted to take it, that would have been an opportunity for Belichick to recount some of the kind things he said about Brady in a statement last month. But predictably, his mind is on the 2020 season, not looking back at Brady. The 67-year-old was more than willing to talk about what the team will be doing on offense without Brady under center, however.

“Over the last two decades, everything we did, every single decision we made in terms of major planning, was made with the idea of how to make things best for Tom Brady,” Belichick said.

Now, with Brady gone, Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will have to tailor their system to suit 2019 fourth-round pick Jarrett Stidham, veteran Brian Hoyer or a quarterback who is not yet on New England’s roster. Though the sample size is small, the Patriots have had success with quarterbacks like Matt Cassel, Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett when Brady was unavailable due to injury or suspension.

Now, they’ll have to do it again.

“We spent quite a bit of time with Brian and Stid,” Belichick said. “I think Josh and I have a pretty good feel for both of those players. Circumstances will be different this year … Main thing is to give everyone a chance to compete.”

With Brady gone, 2020 will see the first true quarterback competition in New England in decades. And it sounds like Belichick might actually be looking forward to it.

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