Amid growing criticism over the Patriots’ disappointing season so far, longtime coach Bill Belichick is retorting to a disparaging comment from former Jets and Bills coach Rex Ryan.
On Monday’s episode of The Greg Hill Show on WEEI-FM in Boston, Belichick was asked to respond to a remark Ryan made about New England last month. Following the Patriots’ 10—7 loss to the Giants in late November, the ESPN analyst said on Get Up, “This team plays like they’re exhausted, and the ‘Patriot Way’ … it exhausts these kids.”
Belichick brushed off Ryan’s criticism and insinuated that the former Hard Knocks star didn’t know what he was talking about.
"Rex has never been with the Patriots, I'm not really sure what that means either"
— The Greg Hill Show (@TheGregHillShow) December 4, 2023
Bill Belichick reacts to Rex Ryan's comments regarding the 'Patriot way' pic.twitter.com/AIRTGpi8e0
“I’m not really sure what he’s talking about,” Belichick said. “Rex has never been with the Patriots. I’m not sure what [the Patriot Way] means either. Look, we’re going to do the best we can to prepare the team and compete every week, so that’s what we’re going to do, whatever that is.”
Ryan coached in the AFC East for eight seasons prior to becoming an ESPN analyst and had first-hand experience of facing Belichick’s then-dominant Pats team from 2009-16. Now, as the Patriots (2—10) slog through their worst season of the Belichick era, Ryan and others are heaping criticism on a team that has taken a mighty fall from the top of the AFC East.
Belichick can let his six Super Bowl titles as a head coach do the talking, which could explain why he didn’t feel the need to overtly bash Ryan. Legacy aside, however, Belichick’s long-term future in Foxborough remains unclear.
Following Sunday’s 6–0 loss to the Chargers, the 71-year-old coach was asked whether he wanted to stay and keep coaching the Patriots. True to his brand, he replied, “I’m looking forward to this week and playing the Steelers.”
The Patriots will face the Steelers (7–5) on Thursday Night Football this week. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, and the TV broadcast is on Amazon Prime Video.
