Former Patriots Rival: 'Trash' New England Must Fire Bill Belichick, 'Start Over'
After two decades of dominance, the New England Patriots have fallen on some very hard times.
Since legendary quarterback Tom Brady left in 2020, the Patriots have been a middling team with just one brief playoff appearance in three seasons. In 2023, though, the Patriots have had a brutal start to the season with a 1-4 record, the first time they've had such a mark since 2000. Their last two games include a 38-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys and a 34-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints, the two worst defeats of coach Bill Belchick's career.
Over the past few days, the calls for the Patriots to move on from Belichick after nearly a quarter of a century have been growing louder and louder. From talking heads to former players, these calls are coming from every angle. On Monday, former NFL safety Bernard Pollard, who Patriots fans know and hate for taking Brady out for the entire 2008 season, was the latest to join the growing chorus of voices.
"It's going to have to be a new coach," Pollard said on OutKick's "Hot Mic", via Fox News. "And that's the crazy thing because we've seen this team be so dominant, winning the [AFC] East every single year.
"But I'm seeing an organization, I'm seeing a football team that's terrible. I don't know if this is the way Belichick wants to go out or wanted to go out, but I think this is going to be the way he goes out."
Belichick donning his iconic hoodie during a Patriots practice.
Pollard even went a step further, claiming that the "Patriot Way" has faded away. For the uninitiated, the "Patriot Way" was a term popularized during the team's dynasty that emphasized New England's team-first mentality, among other key characteristics. With the departure of Brady, Rob Gronkowski and other key players to the Patriots' success, though, Pollard believes that mantra no longer holds true.
"I don't know if that – you talked about the New England way, the ‘Patriot Way,’ I don't know if that is a thing anymore," Pollard said. "They're looking trash … this is terrible. They've got to start with a new coach, they've got to get something fresh in there to start this thing over for New England. They've been good for a long time, hats off to them, but it's time to start over."
Pollard played nine seasons in the NFL, spending time with the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans. He earned the nickname "Patriot-Killer" due to his involvement in several notable injuries. In addition to Brady's injury, Pollard was also involved in Wes Welker's torn ACL in 2009, Gronkowski's high ankle sprain in the 2011 AFC Championship and Stevan Ridley's concussion in the 2012 AFC Championship.
As much as Patriots fans may hate Pollard for his past transgressions, he's far from the only one making these claims now.
