Bruce Arians says Tom Brady was ‘making a statement’ about Bill Belichick

February 9, 2021 | 12:27 pm

Early in the playoffs, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Divisional Round, Bucs coach Bruce Arians noted that he allows quarterback Tom Brady to “be himself”.

“New England didn’t allow him to train,” said Arians at the time. “I allow him to train. I just sit sometimes and watch.

The mention of Patriots coach Bill Belichick angered some people, and the Aryans took it a step further before the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl LV on Sunday.

According to Jenny Vrentas and Greg Bishop of Sports illustrated, Arians said Brady played this season with his teammates in mind and wanted them to experience what he felt six times before Sunday. He then mentioned Belichick.

“I think personally he is making a statement,” said Arians Sports illustrated. “Do you know? Not everything was Coach Belichick.”

Much has been done over the course of their careers – and particularly this season, when Brady started from scratch at Tampa Bay – about which the Hall of Famer is most responsible for the Patriots’ sustained dominance race between Belichick and Brady. Brady’s latest achievement, of course, only reinforces his resume.

At first, however, they were not on track to reach the summit so quickly. Arians told Bishop and Vrentas that he was not initially thinking of winning a Super Bowl this season, but of putting everyone on the same page this year and winning one the following season.

In late November, the Bucs’ big experiment was leaning towards failure. @GregBishopSI and @JennyVrentas about how a fusion of minds saved their season and the uniquely built Bucs became Super Bowl champions https://t.co/m6wR1Quujk

– Sports Illustrated (@SInow) February 8, 2021

The article referred to a crucial meeting in late November between Brady and Aryans as a major turning point. The Aryans called the conference “mind-melting” and told Brady that he wanted him to feel as comfortable as possible down the final stretch.

“If you don’t like it, let’s throw it out,” Arians told Brady, according to the article.

Opponent Cameron Brate said that losing games and fighting in the attack benefits everyone in the long run. Although it was hard at times, he believes that his struggles at the beginning paved the way for success when it was most important.

“It is really forced [Brady and Arians] to take a look, ”Brate said. “We found a good balance between what the two are trying to do. That was great, for the two of them not to give in a little, but to be together. “