Tom Brady receives heartfelt apology as Bill Belichick situation becomes clear

10 October 2023 , 12:28

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Debate over whether Bill Belichick or Tom Brady deserves more credit over the success of the New England Patriots over the last two decades rages on (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) (Image: Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

Shannon Sharpe has apologised after downplaying the role star quarterback Tom Brady had to play in the establishment of the New England Patriots dynasty.

Alongside head coach Bill Belichick, Brady inspired the team to six Super Bowl victories between 2001 and 2019, as the Patriots dominated. As a result of their achievements, debate has long-since abounded over who was more integral to the team's success in the period.

With the Patriots falling to a fourth loss of the season so far against the New Orleans Saints to sit at 1-4 for the year, analyst Sharpe waded into the long-running discourse over the role of the pair. For him, the team's struggles in recent times provide evidence that Brady served as an "eraser" when it came to Belichick's "mistakes".

Speaking on ESPN’s “First Take”, the former Denver Broncos tight end went as far as to apologise to Brady for underestimating his contributions during the Patriots' glory era. He said: "No, I don’t think he’s just another coach, I think the success he’s had with his team over the last two decades is something to be applauded and commended.

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"I think what has happened, and I can just speak for me, is I owe Brady an apology because I don’t think I gave him enough credit. I should’ve given him even more credit, because what Brady allowed coach Belichick to do, Brady is the largest eraser in pro sports."

Sharpe was particularly scathing in his assessment in regards to legendary coach Belichick's perceived mistakes when it comes to personnel. He continued: "Every mistake that coach Belichick made during those two decades, Brady could erase it.

"You took a bad receiver? Brady would take a mistake that you made in the first, second, or third round, and erase it with Julian Edelman."

Shannon Sharpe did not hold back in his scathing assessment towards Bill Belichick

Sharp added: "A regular coach can’t have this level of success for two decades. But what it does go to show you is that no matter how great of a defensive or offensive mind you are, if you don’t have a guy that’s 6’4 and 200-plus pounds with an arm, you’re whistling in the wind."

Brady would go on to depart the Patriots in 2019, moving on to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he would win another Super Bowl in 2020. Meanwhile, the Patriots have struggled to match their success from previous years following the loss of their star quarterback three years ago.

They have gone 25-25 over the last three seasons following Brady's departure, with Belichick unable to rouse his team in the years since. To compound their misery, their struggles have plain to see following back-to-back losses to the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints in recent weeks.

Tom Beattie