Devin McCourty is not willing to answer questions about Tom Brady and how Bill Belichick treated him in Foxborough. But the veteran safety is willing to explain how Belichick treats veteran players — kind of.
In his weekly interview Friday with The Greg Hill Show, McCourty said Belichick handles every player differently, just like other coaches.
“I remember hearing Jimmy Johnson speak my rookie year. He came to visit, and said every player will be treated fair, but not exactly the same,” McCourty said. "Even if you take away age, I think each player is treated differently, because of experience, because of what you lean off of from a signal-caller standpoint, like the quarterback position, middle linebacker, safeties, different guys on special teams, whether it’s the kicker or long-snapper. I think everyone is treated differently based on what the team is counted on to do, and what the head coach needs from you and expects from you.”
Few players have more experience playing under Belichick than McCourty. The two-time Pro Bowler has spent 11 seasons in New England and won three Super Bowls — and made his mark in the community. Just this week, McCourty pressed Gov. Charlie Baker to commute the life sentence of a Brockton resident.
Like any good Patriot, McCourty knows which topics are off-limits, including the Brady-Belichick drama.
“I’ve got nothing for the Tom Brady connections —‘said this, said that,’” McCourty added. “I’m focused on the Saints.”
Belichick may treat players differently, but expect everybody to sidestep the Brady questions over the next week -- just like McCourty.
