Sports Bill Belichick defends salary cap stance, says Patriots 'sold out' for recent Super Bowl success

The post-Tom Brady era in New England could be going better.

After Sunday's defeat to the Buffalo Bills, the Patriots have lost four consecutive games — their worst losing streak in 18 years. New England is on the fast track toward missing the playoffs for just the third time in the past two decades.

In his weekly radio interview on WEEI in Boston, Patriots coach Bill Belichick got defensive when asked about his comments from a Sirius XM NFL Radio interview last week citing the salary cap for his team's depth issues.

From NFL plays to college sports scores, all the top sports news you need to know every day.

What if the Patriots didn't trade Jimmy Garoppolo to 49ers? An alternate history of Jimmy G and Tom Brady

Here's a look at four alternate timelines if the 49ers-Patriots trade in 2017 hadn't happened.Almost three Halloweens later, Garoppolo is the starting QB for reigning NFC champion San Francisco, while Brady is trying to dethrone that team as the new starting QB for Tampa Bay. Meanwhile, New England, after netting fourth-round QB Jarrett Stidham in the trickle-down picks from the Garoppolo deal, is trying to stay in the AFC playoff hunt with Cam Newton.

General manager Bill Belichick can’t bail out head coach Bill Belichick . Maybe that’s why Belichick went on Sirius NFL Radio last week, providing a New England Patriots strong safety Malcolm Butler was the hero of Super Bowl XLIX, intercepting a pass intended for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver

New England Patriots ' head coach Bill Belichick is regarded as one of the best leaders in the Under his direction, the Patriots have made nine Super Bowl appearances, including this coming He says the quote from Sun Tzu's military classic captures his philosophy on preparation: "You [have to] know

"I didn't say it as an excuse. I never said that," Belichick said. "Look, we paid Cam Newton a million dollars. It's obvious we didn't have any money. It's nobody's fault.

"That's what we did the last five years. We sold out and won three Super Bowls, played in a fourth, and played in an AFC championship game. This year we have less to work with. It's not an excuse. It's just a fact."

WEEK 8 WINNERS, LOSERS: Mike Tomlin has Steelers looking like legitimate Super Bowl contender

OPINION: These 6 NFL contenders show potentially fatal flaws

NFL NEWSLETTER: Sign up now to get football news delivered to your inbox

Brady's departure to Tampa Bay was just the start of an offseason exodus in New England. No team was hit harder by players opting out of the 2020 season due to concerns of the coronavirus pandemic. The Patriots had eight players opt out, including Pro Bowl linebacker Dont'a Hightower, veteran safety Patrick Chung and starting offensive tackle Marcus Cannon.

Opinion: Cardinals had every reason to lose to Seahawks but didn't. Maybe that's a sign of growth.

Nothing about Cardinals' overtime victory was textbook, unless you are studying chaos theory. QB Kyler Murray made mistakes, and so did the coach.As running back Chase Edmonds said after the game, you know Seattle is going to be playing in the offense, so "this is one of those games where you find out how real are we?"

As the Patriots embark on their eighth Super Bowl appearance this century, let's examine the most Before Belichick and Josh McDaniels imported the shotgun spread attack from the college ranks to Perhaps the ultimate example of Belichick 's penchant for squeezing Indian summer seasons out of

The Patriots will face the Rams in Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta in two weeks, for a shot at a sixth title between the best coach and quarterback in the After a penalty wiped out an interception, Brady hit Rob Gronkowski for a 25-yard completion, and then Rex Burkhead scored from 4 yards out on the

The Newton signing, hailed as a potential stroke of genius in late June, hasn't exactly panned out as expected. A positive COVID-19 test sidelined the former Carolina Panthers star and 2015 NFL MVP for a Week 4 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, which New England lost, and the Patriots haven't won since his return.

Newton's passing numbers for the season (2 TDs, 7 INTs, 190.5 yards a game) have been mediocre. In a crucial moment in Sunday's game, with his team in position for a tying field goal position and still driving for a potential winning score, Newton fumbled the ball on a scramble, handing the Bills a rare victory over the Patriots.

If you enjoy talking football, we have the perfect spot for you. Join our Facebook Group, The Ruling Off the Field, to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders. Do the right thing, sign up now!

Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians says Antonio Brown has 'matured' for second chance

Antonio Brown is still serving eight-game suspension for multiple violations of NFL's personal conduct policy. But Bucs coach says he has "matured."Brown previously signed with the New England Patriots last year before being released after one game following a Sports Illustrated report that he sent threatening text messages to a woman who had accused Brown of sexual misconduct.

Bill Belichick knows why he’s losing his breakup with Tom Dinsick: This is the highest-leverage game on the slate, as a win would put the Patriots back in The Bills are rightful favorites but will be hard-pressed to win by more than a field goal based on my numbers, so the Patriots are a solid play at +4.

Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick breaks down how the Pats are preparing for the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII.

© Winslow Townson, USA TODAY Sports Bill Belichick's Patriots are 2-5 for the first time since 2000, his first season as head coach of the team.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bill Belichick defends salary cap stance, says Patriots 'sold out' for recent Super Bowl success