Former players: Complaints about Patriots' environment are nothing new

It’s tough playing in New England.

Sure, you win. A lot. But you’re also in a place where the mental grind can wear you down. And the desire to — as Gisele said in the “Tom vs. Time” finale — “feel appreciated”? It’s not always going to be there.

We talked to a handful of former players about the comments that have come out of Foxborough this offseason from the players who have left — as well as reports of discontent between quarterback Tom Brady, tight end Rob Gronkowski and coach Bill Belichick -- to try and get a sense of why this might be happening.

On and off the record, they say it’s no surprise there’s the occasional report of discord, given the environment. Basically, they all pretty much said the same thing: Belichick’s relationships with players have been consistent since he arrived in 2000. He loves to keep them on edge. He wants them to feel a little uncomfortable. And to never have a sense of entitlement. It's only natural there's going to be some tension there.

For a player who is new to the system, the unforgiving nature of the system can be a challenge. And for veterans who have been in the system for an extended stretch, it can create stress between the player and coach.

That could very well be at the heart of the recent reports of disconnect between Belichick and Brady, at least at least at this stage of the offseason. Is Brady's spring absence simply a need to put some distance between himself and Belichick after an exhausting season? Or is it symptomatic of a larger problem? One former teammate thinks it's more of the former.

"He loves football too much to just give it up. I mean, other than his family, football is his life. Knowing Tom and playing with him and understanding what type of competitor he is, I don’t see that happening for a couple years," said wide receiver Donte Stallworth, who was a teammate of Brady's in 2007 and 2012. "Now, when it comes to his future, his time in New England into 2019 and beyond, that’s a little more murky.

"But I’m putting my money on the idea that he’s going to play football for New England this year. The dude just loves football way too much. The only thing he cares more about? His family. Unless there’s something where he wants to spend more time with his family or his Mom or his Dad. That’s different. Football is 1B, his family is 1A. I don’t see him hanging it up, even with all the drama."

Mental gymnastics

In the end, it’s simple: You win championships. You’re among the best in the league on a regular basis. And you’re coached by one of the best in the history of the game. It’s a formula that’s worked for Belichick and the Patriots for almost two decades and five Super Bowl titles.

But it isn't for everyone.

“Especially for a lot of guys who are veterans who have habits that have been ingrained over the years. There’s a literal culture shock that goes on with some guys where they get jolted,” said Damien Woody, who was with the Patriots from 1999 until 2003.

“Bill is unlike any other coach in the NFL. He’s the smartest coach I ever played for. The mental gymnastics he puts you through, they’re not for everyone. But they served me well throughout my career.”

That sort of environment can sharpen focus and help make a middle-of-the-road player into a key piece of a championship puzzle. And, as one player said to me, that “straightforwardness” always helps you know where you stand. As long as you are taking care of your business, that sort of consistency is huge for players, especially those who might be considered as being on the bubble.

“In New England, you show up and do your job to the best of your ability,” said former offensive lineman Rich Ohrnberger, who played for the Patriots from 2009 through 2011. “If you do that, you show up and play hard, you don’t have to worry about being replaced. That’s always been the case.”

“When you set foot in that building, you better be ready. You better be ready to go,” said Woody. “Between the meetings, practices, you were always challenged, not only mentally but physically."

For a new veteran, those challenges usually come in an early team meeting with Belichick. Chad Johnson said his first team meeting with Belichick was like the opening scene in "Full Metal Jacket." Stallworth described his first such experience as a "Holy (expletive)" moment, where he exchanged wide-eyed glances with fellow newcomer Randy Moss after hearing Belichick "MF" Brady.

“When Bill gets up there and starts running the meetings and he calls in you, you better know your stuff," Woody said. "Whether it was Tom Brady, Tedy Bruschi, Willie McGinest, myself, all right on down the line to the 53rd man on the roster. You better know your material. All of it, or it’ll be really embarrassing. They’ll put you through mental gymnastics. Having to know all that is just as tough as all the physical stuff.”

Belichick's style 'could run a player down'

But oftentimes, those continued "mental gymnastics" over an extended amount of time can create a finite shelf life for a player in that environment. Witness the statements from Danny Amendola and Nate Solder, two players who had been in the New England system for an extended stretch (Amendola since 2013 and Solder since 2011) but both of whom spoke of the difficulties that come from playing in New England.

“The guys who have been there for a long time, like Danny, and like Nate … those guys, I could see how Bill’s coaching style could run a player down,” said Stallworth.

“Ultimately, you want to have fun, make money and win. Sometimes, you can’t have those three things.”

“Danny and Nate aren’t wrong. I thought that what Danny said, he was refreshingly honest. He was being matter-of-fact about it,” Woody said. “It’s not an indictment of how the Patriots operate. It’s just how they are.”

Of course, it was easier for Amendola and Solder to say what they did when they did.

“This is not a shot at Nate or Danny. I played with Nate, and he’s a hell of a player. So is Danny. But it’s easy for those guys to say that now,” explained Stallworth. “They’ve left with Super Bowls and a lot of dough. I’m happy for them.

“Again, I’m not disparaging what they said. But it was just easy for them to say what they did after they left.”

Grass is greener ... for a bit

Admittedly, this storyline is an easy one in the wake of the Super Bowl, when there was a stark contrast between the fun-loving Eagles and the all-business Patriots. In the wake of the game, Philadelphia offensive lineman Lane Johnson said “we'd much rather have fun and win a Super Bowl than be miserable and win five Super Bowls” while adding the Patriots were a “fear-based” organization.

While Johnson’s broad-brush explanation was over-the-top simplistic, there is some truth there.

“In retrospect, the happiest time in my career were the years after my time in New England. I didn’t really appreciate it there until I left,” said Ohrnberger. “That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy any of it. I enjoyed winning. I appreciated the (approach) of the Patriots’ organization. You always knew exactly where you stood. And I always knew that it was team above everything else. Nothing matters more than the team.

“But you always had to remember that this could be your last day. If you weren’t producing, you were gone. It’s a tough environment, and it that type of setting, it’s sometimes hard for some guys to succeed.”

One thing that’s important to note is that while there’s an unfeeling picture painted of the organization, below the surface, there are different stories. Solder told the touching story of his family receiving tremendous support and compassion from the franchise, while Woody also got a behind-the-scenes boost from the organization as well.

“Everyone always hears stories of Bill as a brutal dictator or Bill is tough to play for. But there are a lot of stories about how Bill would help guys behind the scenes,” he said. “I really haven’t told this story, but I had a weight problem, and Bill helped me. He sent me to North Carolina for like three weeks, and the team paid for it. They paid for everything. I just went down there and solved some of my issues, and I’m forever grateful to him for that. Whether it was Bill or Mr. Kraft, there are a lot of stories like that.”

In the end, it’s worth noting that none of the players I spoke with think this is the sort of approach that’s going to doom Belichick and his team-building style, with one player noting that the Patriots rarely lose out on free agents they target. And the players who did sign with New England this offseason spoke in glowing terms about the possibility of joining the Patriots’ culture.

“When I got here, (I) pretty much knew instantly that this is the place I wanted to be. I just really loved the culture and everything about this place,” said tight end Troy Niklas, who signed with New England earlier this offseason. “It really wasn’t a question.”

Ultimately, the takeaway from all of the former players I spoke with is that if there’s an aspect Belichick needs to adapt to survive when it comes to coaching, he can navigate that balance. He’s been able to steer the franchise through some rocky waters before, having overseen multiple roster makeovers while trying to stay a step ahead of the rest of the league. Given his track record, there’s reason to believe he’s capable of doing it again.

“No one adapts better than Bill,” Stallworth said. “I think Bill has proven he can adapt. Again, it’s helped to have someone like Tom as a quarterback, but Bill can change offenses. He can change defenses. He can spot changes in the game before others. If anyone can adjust to the things that are required of being a head coach in 2018 and into the next decade, it’s him.”