Jacoby Brissett made a trip to Bill Belichick’s office on Sept. 2, 2017.
It got awkward.
Belichick informed Brissett the New England Patriots were trading the young quarterback, a third-round pick in 2016, to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for receiver Phillip Dorsett. Belichick and the Patriots were sticking with Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback (for the time being), and needed help at receiver.
“Yeah, [Belichick] said that, at the time Julian [Edelman] had gotten hurt and we were looking for receivers. And that was pretty much it,” Brissett told the hosts of “Pardon My Take” on a podcast published on July 17. “I just froze sitting in front of him. I wasn’t talking. He wasn’t talking. He told me why, so I just got up and left.”
That’s it?
“[Belichick] was like, ‘Alright, good luck.’ And I was like, ‘Alright I guess. I don’t know what the hell is going on right now.’ And then I had to get on a flight and go to Indy,” Brissett said.
When asked if they have spoken since that conversation, Brissett said that they saw each other at The Kentucky Derby this year, and “it was all good.” Still, that’s a long span of zero communication, especially considering the fact that Belichick regularly texts Garoppolo, who is now with the San Francisco 49ers.
But the trade has worked out well for Brissett, who is now one of the most desirable backups in the NFL. He had a solid season in 2017 when Andrew Luck missed time with a shoulder injury. Brissett finished that season 3,098 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He could be a sought-after free agent, if he hits the open market next offseason when his contract expires in 2020.
