Trent Brown, who’s about to play in his first Super Bowl, said he quickly learned after being traded to the Patriots that “all the bullcrap that people say about this place” wasn’t true.
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) January 23, 2019
“It is fun here. ... Everyone in building enjoys each other.” pic.twitter.com/b8Z7xzuwZn
By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Shocker: someone who has actually worked for the Patriots knows more about the organization than the right tackle on another team who has not.
Trent Brown had a clear message for anyone who’s been spreading “bullcrap” about the inner-workings of the Patriots. He doesn’t reference anyone in particular, but the left tackle is ostensibly referring to the Eagles’ Lane Johnson, who described the Pats before last year’s Super Bowl as a “fear-based organization” that pressure players into acting like “f***ing robots”.
Add him to ESPN’s Seth Wickersham, who wrote a sweeping feature story about tension within the organization that openly wondered if 2017 would be the final season together for Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and Robert Kraft. That last part, anyway, did not come close to being true. And for that matter, many fans would point to our own airwaves where Felger & Massarotti spent many hours in the offseason dissecting Wickersham’s story and others, discussing what they purported to be serious issues or impending doom among the Patriots’ power trio.
Even if a lot of the details that came out were true, they obviously didn’t stop the Patriots from getting back to the Super Bowl. And they certainly didn’t paint the organization in an accurate light, if you ask Brown.
“Of course I knew you got a chance to win here, but the other thing that popped in my mind was all the bullcrap that people said about this place,” said Brown (via Zack Cox). “I’ve always been a man that forms my own opinions. When I got here, I quickly found out that it’s nothing like anybody says. To me it’s fun. The guys in the locker room enjoy each other. Everybody in the facility enjoys each other. We go out there and play for each other every time we touch the field. It’s a great feeling. There’s no selfishness in the locker room, no egos. It’s one.”
Jan 20, 2019; Kansas City, MO: New England Patriots offensive tackle Trent Brown against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game at Arrowhead Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Brown is playing in his first career Super Bowl after playing some excellent left tackle in two playoff games for the Patriots. He’s been a big part of the Pats keeping Tom Brady clean (zero sacks, three QB hits in two games) and getting the run game going. He’s been a seamless transition from the departed Nate Solder, clearly buying in to the organization’s culture of hard work and camaraderie that leads to on-field success. And he will be an important piece of the O-line’s final test against Aaron Donald and the Rams.
As someone who’s spent a lot of time in the Patriots locker room over the course of the 2018 season, I can confidently say the players have been virtually tension-free based on my experiences. If there’s been underlying problems, they’ve done a good job hiding them. And the proof is certainly in the results, as the Patriots are a win away from their sixth Super Bowl title.
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.