New England Patriots

Support from Saints coach ‘means a lot’ to Bill Belichick

Sean Payton said he understands what Tom Brady and the Patriots are going through.

Bill Belichick and Sean Payton shake hands following a game between the Patriots and Saints. Stew Milne/AP

Facing the controversial suspension of his team’s quarterback, Bill Belichick took time to recognize the support the Patriots recently received from another NFL head coach.

In a press conference on Thursday, Belichick voiced his approval of a gesture made by Saints coach Sean Payton, who tweeted a picture of Brady on the Gillette Stadium lighthouse:

Payton, who was suspended for an entire 2012 season due to the so-called “Bountygate” scandal, told ESPN radio show Mike & Mike that he’s in a uniquely good position to empathize with Brady.

“There aren’t a lot of people that can understand what Tom’s going through,” said Payton. “I’m one of them.”

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While Belichick plainly admitted that the amount of time he spends on Twitter is “none,” he still acknowledged Payton’s support with a telling quote:

“Yeah, I mean I have a good friendship with Sean,” Belichick explained. “We go back quite a ways. We’ve had a great working relationship, great professional relationship and a good personal relationship. So, I always appreciate his support. He has had ours, we’ve had his. You can’t say that about everybody but certainly he has been a good friend and a good supporter.”

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