'Go To The Couch!': Hall of Famer Warren Sapp Trashes New England Patriots' Bill Belichick

Hall of Famer Warren Sapp laid into New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, blaming the coach for riding Tom Brady's coattails.

Amidst the New England Patriots' worst season in a quarter-century, legendary coach Bill Belichick is under heavy fire.

After guiding the Patriots to six Super Bowls, Belichick is considered by many to be the greatest coach in NFL history. More recently, though, that status has been called into question with the Patriots about to miss the postseason in three of four seasons since the departure of legendary quarterback Tom Brady.

The latest to beat that drum is Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp, a former star for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders. In an appearance on Fearless With Jason Whitlock, Sapp claimed that Belichick's success isn't due to his own merits, but rather those of the legendary players he has coached.

"Tom Brady is the reason why you're Bill Belichick. Lawrence Taylor is the reason why you're Bill Belichick," Sapp said. "Maybe the greatest football player on offense and maybe the greatest football player on defense to ever be in the National Football League.

"Bill, that's who you owe that to. All of the 'Patriot way' (bleep) is out the window. Ask Bill O'Brien. Ask Romeo Crennell. Ask Josh McDaniels. Ask any of them. It's out the window."

Hall of Famer Warren Sapp took dead aim at the "Patriot Way" and Bill Belichick / AP

That wasn't all, though. With rumors about Belichick potentially leaving for another team after this season, Sapp made it clear that he doesn't believe Belichick will have any more success elsewhere.

"And you can't go recreate it [the 'Patriot Way'] somewhere else because no one cares about it," Sapp said. "No one respects that but you and the old-school football guys.

"It's time to go to the couch. The game is over."

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Once the envy of the league, Belichick and the Patriots have fallen to the NFL's basement. Regardless of how true Sapp's comments are, it seems apparent that change is needed in New England.

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