No hard feelings toward Bill Belichick. In a media call on Monday, Richard Seymour discussed the much-talked-about 2009 trade with the Oakland Raiders that reportedly blindsided the New England Patriots' defensive lineman.
“That’s just the business side of the NFL. We saw that this year with all [of the Patriots’] guys. So, that’s a part of it. I don’t have any hard feelings or anything like that. That’s just a part of the way the NFL works.”
Seymour refused to report to the Raiders in the days following the trade from the Patriots, but the multiple-time Pro Bowler later had a different perspective upon learning that the silver and black coveted his services.
“[Raiders owner] Al Davis said he traded for me, so that’s the way I look at it. At the end of the day, like I said, the amount of respect I had for Coach Belichick and still have to this day there’s a difference between business and your personal life.”
A three-time Super Bowl champion with New England, Seymour elaborated on the special relationship that he maintains with the Patriots’ head tactician.
“Personally, it was always a ton of respect. Coach Belichick, he would always send a Christmas gift to the kids and little things like that. So, it may have seemed like it was some tension or something, but in my mind, it’s no hard feelings. We talk and we see each other. He’ll shoot me a text. I was down there when the team was here in Atlanta for Super Bowl LI. I was with the team. So, all is well.”
Seymour, the Patriots’ sixth overall selection in 2001, stated in the conference call that he initially did not know what the difference was between the 4-3 and 3-4 defensive formations. New England would later capitalize on Seymour’s versatility and deploy him on both schemes.
“You look at Coach Belichick and what he’s meant to defense, and to be drafted by him says a lot.”
Seymour has 39 sacks and 498 tackles in his eight-year stint with the Patriots.
—
Follow NFL on ClutchPoints on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook. We can also be found on Flipboard where you can subscribe and follow us.
All of our NFL content can be found on the NFL section of the ClutchPoints home page here. For all of our fantasy football content, click here.
Follow Us
Subscribe