Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane revisits Tom Brady’s Super Bowl comments
New England Patriots
“It made me feel sad for him,” Spillane explained on The Greg Hill show.
Back in February before New England’s first Super Bowl appearance of the post-Tom Brady era, its future Hall of Fame quarterback caught heat for comments about the Patriots.
Brady infamously stated that he “didn’t have a dog in the fight” when it came to Patriots vs. Seahawks, despite spending nearly 20 years in New England and winning six Super Bowls with the team.
Current Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane weighed in on those comments at the time, saying that it bothered him hearing Brady make that claim. And on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” Friday morning, Spillane got to expand on those comments.
“It made me feel sad for him,” Spillane said. “Spending 20 years here, obviously went on to do amazing great things not only on the football field but in the community. And to say that he had no care in the world, it irritated me … but at the end of the day, that was just my personal opinion.”
Spillane is only entering year No. 2 in Foxborough, but he embodies what the Mike Vrabel-led era of football is all about. And he clearly took Brady’s comments personally, even if he hasn’t been a long-tenured member of the Patriots.
Spillane was far from the only player, current and past, affected by Brady’s comment. At the time, many former players were stunned to hear Brady make such a claim, and Vrabel himself was very unhappy with it.
Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels also made a reference to that quote, speaking on a different WEEI radio show, “Jones and Keefe” Friday. He was asked if he thought Brady helped the Seahawks prepare for the Patriots, which he responded that he was unsure. When asked if it would bother him if Brady had done that, McDaniels replied:
“I wouldn’t have a dog in that fight.”
Even as next season fast approaches, no player or coach will soon forget Brady seemingly turning his back on the Patriots in his retirement from football. But regardless, New England has returned to competitive form, hoping to make back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since their 11-year playoff streak from 2009-19, with Brady at the helm.
Get the latest Boston sports news
Receive updates on your favorite Boston teams, straight from our newsroom to your inbox.