Rex Ryan: Tom Brady, not Bill Belichick, attracted players to Patriots
The Patriots made a habit of attracting big-name players during their 20-year reign of dominance. Rex Ryan thinks one person — not two — had something to do with that.
Ryan, appearing on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown, made some interesting comments about the Patriots dynasty. There has been a long debate as to who deserves more credit between Tom Brady and Bill Belichick for New England’s success. Ryan, who faced the Patriots quite often when he coached the Jets and Bills, believes Brady is the reason why players wanted to play for the Patriots.
“No one wanted to go to New England to be coached by Bill Belichick, they wanted to play with Tom Brady,” Ryan said.
Ryan added that Brady’s ability to win at such a high rate is what attracted players to sign with the Patriots.
It’s hard to determine who deserves more credit for the Pats’ success. Brady has solidified himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time. Belichick, meanwhile, has proven that he has one of the best coaching minds the sport has ever seen. Both made significant contributions to the Patriots’ long run.
With Brady and Belichick on separate teams for the first time this season, the argument has found new life. Brady’s Buccaneers have advanced to the Super Bowl, while Belichick’s Patriots finished 7-9 and failed to make the playoffs with a lackluster roster.
Ryan, meanwhile, went 4-12 against Brady, Belichick and the Patriots when he was head coach of the Jets and Bills. Clearly, Ryan believes Brady had more to do with that than Belichick.
