Detroit Lions wide receiver Danny Amendola opted to take the side of his former quarterback in Tom Brady when asked about the New England Patriots' situation sans the veteran playmaker.
Amendola delivered a hot take and credited the success of the Patriots in the last decade to Brady rather than Bill Belichick:
"When you see the 'Patriot Way' in the dictionary, it’s got Tom Brady’s picture next to it. None of those coaches caught any passes. … Tom Brady is the 'Patriot Way.' That’s why he’s in the Super Bowl & the Patriots aren’t." — @DannyAmendola pic.twitter.com/XtVd0ntJPc
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) February 1, 2021
Amendola knows a thing or two about the Foxborough-based squad after spending time with the Patriots from 2013 to 2017. He won two Super Bowls with Brady and Belichick at the helm. The veteran wide receiver scored three touchdowns in the playoffs en route to his first Super Bowl victory to cap off the 2014 season. He also had a massive performance in New England's Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
When the future Hall of Fame quarterback decided to pack his bags and relocate to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a 20-year stint with the Patriots, talking heads quickly debated whether Brady or Belichick was truly responsible for the huge success attained by the franchise over the last two decades.
This debate will continue to linger on as long as the two individuals remain in the league, but Brady has certainly made his case this season by taking the Buccaneers to the Super Bowl. Tampa Bay hadn't been to the playoffs since 2007 prior to Brady's arrival, only for Touchdown Tom to make them title contenders immediately.
Meanwhile, Belichick and the Patriots struggled without Brady under center. Cam Newton wasn't the answer at quarterback in place of Brady as New England stumbled to a 7-9 record. It was the first time since 2008 the Patriots missed the playoffs.
Belichick is obviously still one of the best coaches of all time, if not the best, but it's clear just how much Brady meant to the Patriots over the years. Danny Amendola certainly recognizes that fact.
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