It was debated throughout the season.
Even more so now that Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are playing in the Super Bowl LV, while Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots are sitting at home after an unlikely campaign in 2020.
Who is most responsible for the Patriots dynasty: Brady or Belichick?
One could argue that Brady resolved the argument with his stellar performance as a Tampa Bay quarterback. But let’s look at the Brady-Belichick connection through a different lens, especially with regard to the fascination of playing for New England, still coached by Belichick.
For years, NFL players wanted to play for the Patriots, the most successful franchise in the league. Now, this trend may come to a sudden stop with Brady no longer in New England.
Rex Ryan, a former coach of the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills, argued on the Sunday before the Bucs’ NFC Championship Game victory over the Green Bay Packers that Brady, not Belichick, was always the big draw at Foxboro.
“I just need to say this: you are losing. No one wanted to go to New England to be coached by Bill Belichick. They wanted to play with Tom Brady, ”said Ryan on ESPN’s“ NFL Countdown ”. “I mean, part of that is Belichick, but playing with Tom Brady. Because? That is because you will win! And no quarterback was looking to go to New England, I can assure you. “
Is Rex right?
Brady’s arrival in Tampa Bay certainly signaled a positive cultural change for the Bucs organization. Suddenly, the once bad franchise has become a desirable destination. Call it the TB12 effect.
The question is whether, ultimately, the opposite will be said for New England, where Brady’s departure leaves Belichick as the team’s main attraction.
The Patriots squad is in desperate need of a makeover, especially as a defender, and playing for Belichick may not seem as appealing to free agents and potential commercial targets as before.
Miniature photo via Mark J. Rebilas / USA TODAY Sports Images