Richard Sherman didn’t hold back in calling out the New England Patriots on Sunday, but Pete Carroll was a bit more kind to his former team.
The Seattle Seahawks head coach expressed sympathy for Patriots head coach Bill Belichick after an exhausting week surrounding the DeflateGate controversy.
“I never checked on the whole process of how our footballs were handled until this week, and I can empathize with Coach Belichick in that same way,” Carroll told reporters in a news conference Sunday, via NFL.com. “I never have, so I can understand that he never has either.”
Belichick talked at length about that process in an impromptu press conference Saturday, adding that he was “embarrassed” he’s had to spend so much time on DeflateGate instead of preparing for the Seahawks.
Carroll — who coached New England for three seasons from 1997 through 1999 — admitted he wasn’t envious of Belichick’s situation.
“It’s an unfortunate situation that (the Patriots) have to deal with now and I’m sure they are doing everything they can to deal with it properly,” Carroll said. “It’s not an issue for us other than our awareness is increased. This is just another opportunity for us to grow.”
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said Sunday night he expects the NFL to contact him after the Super Bowl, so it appears both teams will spend the next week actually focusing on the task at hand.
Thumbnail photo via Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports Images
