Once the epitome of success in the NFL, the New England Patriots are now facing a different reality. While they once embodied The Patriot Way—a revered approach prioritizing team over self—the team’s recent struggles have cast a shadow over their former glory.
Former Patriots player and Super Bowl champion, Trent Brown, is shedding light on the team’s need for improvement in player treatment and communication. According to Brown, investing in quality players and retaining them requires financial commitment, a sentiment he shared in an interview with NESN.
“Foxboro is not a vacation spot. You’ve gotta spend some money to get good players, and you’ve gotta spend money to keep your good players in-house,” Brown emphasized. “And once they’re in-house, you’ve gotta treat them with some respect and common decency as a human being.”
Brown pointed out a specific area of concern, highlighting the lack of advance scheduling notices within the organization. Unlike other teams providing monthly or yearly schedules, the Patriots often leave players in the dark until the last minute, impacting financial and time commitments, especially for those with families.
“There’s just no reason why we don’t know our schedules until a day before. That’s just disrespectful to people’s finances and time as far as those with families,” Brown remarked.
Despite these criticisms, Brown, set to become a free agent, remains open to a return to the Patriots. However, he emphasizes the need for resolution and understanding before such a decision can be made.
“I’m not opposed to it,” Brown stated. “I think before that would take place, some things would need to be hashed out and understood.” The Patriots, once a symbol of excellence, now face challenges that demand a reconsideration of their approach to player relations and team dynamics.