For the majority of the Buccaneers Super Bowl run, a subplot has involved the Patriots and how Tom Brady leaving the team after 20 seasons all went down.
Bill Belichick has obviously been brought up as well, with many pointing to Brady "beating" Belichick by winning a Super Bowl in his first year with Tampa Bay.
Around the Super Bowl, Arians told Sports Illustrated: "I think personally, too, [Brady is] making a statement. You know? It wasn’t all Coach Belichick.”
A week later, appearing on Showtime with Ray Lewis, Arians explained he's never said anything bad about Belichick, and one of the reasons Brady wanted to join Tampa Bay was to "try a different way."
"I think his competitive spirit is so strong that he wanted to do it," he said, via JoeBucsFan.com. He wanted to show people. I’ve never said anything bad about Bill Belichick; I know everybody tries to say I do. His record speaks for itself. He is probably the greatest one ever. But I think [Brady] wanted to try a different way."
The quarterback, who will turn 44 years old prior to next season, is signed for one more year, but he said during Super Bowl week he could envision himself playing past 45, which could mean a contract extension could come this offseason.
