"What was he thinking?" – Shannon Sharpe rips Bill Belichick for failing to keep Patriots afloat after losing Tom Brady

When Tom Brady left Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, it was one of the most shocking transactions in NFL history.

While Brady was starting to age, it was a tough decision for head coach Bill Belichick and the team to move on from the legendary quarterback.

On Undisputed, analyst and former NFL player Shannon Sharpe criticized Belichick for the Patriots' lack of success since Brady left, and thinks their Super Bowl-contending days are over.

Sharpe said:

"They're not going to win the AFC East, that's over. The days of them being the first or the first or second team favorite to win the Super Bowl. That's over them being one of the two or three best teams in the AFC every single year. That's over.

"It's about to be a struggle for the simple fact that guy is now in Tampa. Now, he might not be in Tampa this year, but he's in Tampa currently."

Sharpe continued:

"He's no longer in New England and he's not coming back anytime soon. Yes, they should have it. Bill Belichick, what was he thinking? He thinks his genius is so great that I can take this guy in. In the NFL, I could take a guy that's never called an offensive play in NFL in his life. Put him over there, we're going to be just fine."

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Tom Brady has multiple playoff wins and a Super Bowl victory since leaving New England

Tom Brady Super Bowl LV

Sharpe may have a few valid points. Since Brady left the Patriots, he has made the playoffs in each of the three seasons.

Belichick and the Patriots have only had one playoff appearance since Brady's departure and that was last year as they finished 10-7 and earned a wildcard spot. The Bills have won the AFC East for the last three years and seem to be the new juggernaut of the AFC East.

Brady and the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl in 2020, his first year with the team as they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs.

They lost in the divisional round of the playoffs last year to the Rams. On Sunday, they will face the Dallas Cowboys in the wildcard round for the third-straight year of making the playoffs.

If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Shannon Sharpe, Undisputed, and H/T Sportskeeda