One of Bill Belichick’s longtime rivals went after him during Monday’s edition of ESPN’s “Get Up” program.
ESPN analyst and former New York Jets and Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan went up against Belichick twice a season from 2009 to 2016 and once in the postseason (the 2010 AFC Divisional Round, with the Jets winning 28-21).
Ryan fueled the Jets-Patriots rivalry with his trash talk and shots at Belichick, but the latter obviously got the biggest laugh with those three Super Bowl championship banners in the 2010s decade.
On Monday, it was finally Ryan’s time to turn back and laugh at his old nemesis.
During “Get Up” (h/t Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post), Ryan went off on Belichick and claimed that Tom Brady was the reason for the Patriots’ success. Ryan also took a shot at “The Patriot Way”, stating that it’s becoming tiresome for the kids.
“Can I just say this: Bill Belichick, please stop. Just name your dang starter. It doesn’t matter, they both stink. Whether it’s Zappe or Peashooter Jones, we don’t care. They stink. Just go ahead and save the drama. Like we care about your team. Your team stinks…This team plays like they’re exhausted.
And the Patriot Way, that’s it, it exhausts these kids. Tom Brady was the only reason you won anyway, alright? I’m just telling you the difference…I said they would never win again when that guy trotted down to Tampa…because I know how draining it is to those kids.
And, that is what you’re facing right now. You pick all the players, you do all this. Bill Belichick — greatest in history — I will never dispute that, OK? I had my a** kicked by him a million times. But if you think for a minute that it wasn’t about Tom Brady, you’re absolutely crazy.”
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Belichick and the Patriots fell to 2-9 following Sunday’s ugly 10-7 loss to the New York Giants. They have now clinched their third losing season in four years and will have failed to win a playoff game for the fifth straight year.
Many expect the Patriots to move on from the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach after the season. If that ends up happening, Belichick should be the most sought-after coach for the next hiring cycle that’s just around the corner.
