Not long after the NFL imposed disciplines on the Miami Dolphins for violating its anti-tampering policies that the franchise had “impermissible communications” with quarterback Tom Brady and former coach Sean Payton, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick provided his response regarding his relationship with Brady while the two are still working together in 2019.
Belichick’s name was unintentionally dragged into the Dolphins’ tampering discussion as both he and Brady had worked together in New England in 2019, or a year before the QB parted ways to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In addition, the NFL’s investigation concluded that Miami’s communications with Brady began in 2019.
After the findings, many questioned Belichick about his relationship with Brady. The coach had a bold take regarding the matter and was not worried about the entire situation.
Belichick: ‘I’m not worried’ about Dolphins, Brady situation
The aftermath of the NFL’s investigation put the Dolphins in a pickle situation. Not only two of the franchise’s top executives are fined, namely $1.5 million on owner Stephen Ross and $500,000 on vice chairman/limited partner Bruce Beal, but also the two are barred from attending team activities until a certain given time period.
Additionally, Miami also had to forego its first-rounder for next year’s draft as well as a third-rounder pick for the 2024 draft.
These imposed disciplines on the franchise are indeed an expensive price to pay and in the midst of these, Belichick’s name was dragged since he had coached Brady in 2019 — the exact year the Dolphins had “numerous and detailed discussions” with the QB, as per the NFL’s findings.
Despite this, the veteran coach was unconcerned with the investigation findings.
“Yeah, I’m not really worried about that. I’m just trying to have a good training camp here,” Belichick said.
For the 70-year-old coach, what matters now is focusing on the Patriots’ training camps and ensuring the team got the most out of it ahead of the regular season this September. When asked if he had any idea about the Dolphins’ communications with the former New England QB, the coach replied “that’s all in the past”.
“Yeah, I’m focused on training camp here. That’s all in the past,” he added.
Belichick, Brady’s relationships
Belichick and Brady went a long way back. Both of them joined the Patriots in 2000 and would remain in Gillette Stadium until the QB went separate ways in March 2020. After Brady’s departure, many came to notice that the duo’s relationship had deteriorated. Brady provided his definitive answer on January 12 this year. Saying that he and the coach had a “great relationship”.
“Coach Belichick and I had for so many years a really great relationship — but it was always player-coach. He was there to coach football, I was there to play football,” Brady said in the ESPN+ special.
“He had always said there’s nobody I’d rather have play quarterback for our team than you, and I felt that same way about him as a coach.”
Even after the October 3 matchup last year, Belichick and Brady had quick catchup. The Athletic’s Jeff Howe reported the coach “was in the Bucs locker room for 23 minutes” and “walked out with Brady” post-game. Howe added that the duo planned “to meet up after the game, so they coordinated this meeting beforehand.”
It remains unclear how the two’s relationships would look like following the NFL’s findings on the Dolphins.