Invoice Belichick complimented Patrice Bergeron by evaluating him to Devin McCourty

Patriots

“Nice chief and participant.”

Invoice Belichick chatting with the media in the beginning of Patriots coaching camp John Tlumacki/Globe Workers

After Patrice Bergeron introduced his retirement earlier this week, some notable figures throughout the sports activities world have weighed in to congratulate the Bruins legend on his 19 seasons within the NHL.

Amongst these to supply form phrases was Patriots head coach Invoice Belichick, who was requested about Bergeron’s retirement earlier than a coaching camp observe on Thursday.

“Clearly nice,” Belichick said of Bergeron. “All of the coaches which were right here — Claude [Julien], Bruce [Cassidy] and Jim [Montgomery] now — everyone’s raved about him and what he’s meant to the staff and the group.

“Appears like he was sort of their Devin McCourty,” Belichick added. “Simply did all the things proper. Nice chief and participant. So, congratulations on an amazing profession.”

A Belichick comparability to McCourty is excessive reward. When the 35-year-old security introduced his personal retirement earlier in 2023, the Patriots coach highlighted not solely McCourty’s potential and success on the sector, but additionally for being “a pillar of professionalism, unselfishness, work ethic, preparation, intelligence and efficiency.”

Additionally like McCourty, Bergeron was an more and more uncommon instance of a participant who stayed with the identical staff for his total profession. The 38-year-old Canadian was drafted forty fifth total by Boston in 2003.