New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick characteristically addressed reporters with his deadpan demeanour when asked about the Miami Dolphins tampering with star quarterback Tom Brady during the 2019 season.
On Tuesday, the NFL announced the Dolphins were to be stripped of two high draft picks - a first- and third-round selection - and issued a fine and a suspension to team owner Stephen Ross for tampering violations involving Brady and iconic New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton in recent years. The NFL referred to Miami’s conduct as ‘tampering violations of unprecedented scope and severity’.
The league conclusively found the Dolphins had ‘impermisssable communications’ with Brady between 2019 and 2021, while he played for both the Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Along with the draft picks, Ross has been fined $1.5million (£1.2m) and been removed from all NFL committees indefinitely.
On Wednesday at training camp, Patriots coach Belichick was asked about the incident and news surrounding his former quarterback. While the question was legitimate, Belichick responded with his usual demeanour.
“Yeah, I’m not really worried about that,” the 70-year-old said. “We’re just trying to have a good training camp here.”
Belichick, who won six Super Bowl titles alongside Brady across a dominant two decades for New England, has a history of shutting down questions from reporters. It is likely the coach is furious with the Dolphins as they were found guilty of tampering with Brady since August 2019, when the legendary signal-caller was entering the final year of his contract with the Patriots.
Do you think the Miami Dolphins received a fair penalty for tampering with Tom Brady? Let us know in the comments section.
The future Hall of Famer went on to leave the Patriots in free agency, opting to join the Buccaneers where he won Super Bowl LV in his first season. Belichick was asked again whether he had any thoughts on not just another team but a division rival tampering with not one of his players but arguably the greatest player in football history. His response, yet again, was cold.
“I’m focused on training camp here,” Belichick added. “That’s all in the past.”
The Patriots will travel to Miami on September 11 to play the Dolphins to open their 2022 regular season. Expect fireworks, drama, and sassy Belichick answers to press questions.
