Photo: Donald Miralle
A former New England Patriots star has taken a strong stance in the Tom Brady vs. Bill Belichick debate.
Former Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel, who played alongside Brady and under Belichick in New England during his first five NFL seasons (2003-07), said the six-time Super Bowl champion coach "is just another coach" without the seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback.
Samuel quote-tweeted a response to ESPN's Louis Riddick, who tweeted that Belichick "is cold-blooded and will do what he thinks he has to do," in response to news of the Patriots releasing Cam Newton and announcing rookie Mac Jones as their starting quarterback.
"Cold-blooded is a [sic] understatement! But without Brady he is just another coach in my opinion," Samuel tweeted.
Samuel's tenure with the Patriots ended on bad terms as he was forced to play his final year under the franchise tag and then left as a free agent after dropping a would-be game-securing interception during Super Bowl XLII, which would have given New England a perfect season.
The four-time Pro Bowler also claimed he "made Belichick understand the cornerback position better and how to make plays in any coverage."
"He never agreed with the way I played but now he teaches it," Samuel tweeted.
Samuel then said he doesn't believe Brady needed Belichick as much as the coach needed the quarterback, which seemed to acknowledge Brady winning his latest Super Bowl without Belichick, while the Patriots missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008 when Brady experienced a season-ending injury in Week 1.
"I think Bill Belichick needed Tom to be successful. Do you think Tom needs Bill??? My answer is Nooo. Talk to me," Samuel tweeted.
Brady and Belichick are arguably the greatest quarterback-coaching duo in NFL history, having won a record six Super Bowls together before Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last offseason.
The duo's relationship, however, has been a topic of discussion leading up to and even after their split.
“I have a great relationship with him,” Brady said about Belichick during Super Bowl LV Media Day in February via CBS Boston. “Again, I’m just incredibly grateful for what he’s meant in my life as a coach. He was everything you could ask for as a player. I loved my time, I had two incredible decades there. My football journey took me to a different place.”
“I certainly could never have accomplished the things in my career without his support and his teachings,” Brady added. “He’s an incredible coach and mentor for me. I’ve had a lot of those in my career, but obviously, he’s at the top of the list.”
In January, Belichick's girlfriend, Linda Holiday, responded to criticism from a fan who blamed Belichick for Brady leaving New England but expressed gratitude for Brady's legendary career with the Patriots.
“I’m happy for Tom’s career! How could you not be?” Holliday wrote in the response amid the Bucs' Super Bowl berth.
In February, Brady recorded 201 yards and three touchdowns on 21 of 29 passing in Super Bowl LV, winning a record fifth Super Bowl MVP Award, which surpassed his own previous record set in Super Bowl LI (2017).
Brady now owns a 7-3 record all-time in the NFL's biggest game and surpassed his own previous record for most Super Bowl wins by a quarterback (6) set in February 2019. The 43-year-old also broke his own record as the oldest quarterback to both start and win a Super Bowl also set in 2019.
The win was Tampa Bay's second Super Bowl victory in franchise history. The Buccaneers are also the only team in NFL history to both host and win a Super Bowl in their home stadium.
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