By now everyone knows Matthew Stafford was traded to the Rams over the weekend and he reportedly said he would be willing to go anywhere but New England.
Appearing on Ordway, Merloni & Fauria Wednesday, ESPN analyst Tedy Bruschi was asked about Stafford and he did not hold back.
“He’s not tough enough to play here. He’s just not tough enough,” he said. “I don’t think he’s tough enough to be coached hard. Do you realize the mental toughness that Tom Brady had to have for 20 years to deal with Bill Belichick and that type of coaching? I mean, constant pressure every single day. Does Stafford sort of grab you as a guy who could handle that? I just don’t think so.
“He went to Sean McVay and his little best friend relationship and go have fun over there. That’s fine.”
Based on Stafford’s comments, some looked ahead to free agency and wondered if New England is still a draw for players?
Bruschi believes it won’t be as easy as it was with Brady, but there’s still reason to play for the Patriots.
“I think it does make [it] harder because Tom Brady was a big factor in getting guys to come here and continue to win here. You’ve got Tom Brady, and so you want to come play with him,” he said. “However this is what I will say about last year, how do you think Cam Newton felt about his experience here in terms of playing for Bill Belichick? I only heard Cam talk glowingly and positively on how he was coached. Cam Newton and Tom Brady couldn’t be more opposite.
“Like I was saying, Bill Belichick finding a connection with Cam to get a lot out of him and then also that reconnection with his locker room -- I think he did through the pandemic and the social justice issues and all of that went through the NFL.”
The Patriots should be very active this offseason with a number of needs on the roster and having the fourth-most salary cap space in the league.