Stephon Gilmore calls out Patriots following trade fallout

Stephon Gilmore gave the Patriots everything and more. In his time with New England, he helped anchor their defense — winning Super Bowl LIII and taking home the 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.

His time with Bill Belichick and company featured great success. However, the way it ended may stain the entire experience for the defensive star.

Now a member of the Carolina Panthers, Gilmore is preparing to face his former team this weekend. Prior to the matchup, the former South Carolina defensive back expressed his disappointment in the way the Patriots treated him at the end.

“I wasn’t ready at the beginning of training camp, I’m going to be completely honest with you. The only thing [was] I just didn’t like how they handled my situation with my injury,” Gilmore said Wednesday, during a media conference call. “A lot went on with that that I didn’t agree with and now that I am here, I am able to do the things I need to do to get me back and be ready to where I need to be.”

At the end of last season, Gilmore injured his quad injury — having surgery in December. However, the team and Gilmore both knew that the Patriots had no interest in Gilmore playing under his current salary, which was $7.5 million. Alas, a trade with the Panthers was struck.

While he may not have liked the way his injury was handled, Gilmore chalks up the contract aspect to simply business.

“It’s a reason also, too, but a lot goes into it,” Gilmore said. “It’s not just one specific thing. At the end of the day it’s a business. [The Patriots] treat it like a business and we made the best decision for each other.”

Gilmore on Belichick: ‘He helped me in a lot of ways.’

When you go to New England, you usually are going for a chance to win the Super Bowl. You’re not expecting a buddy-buddy relationship with head coach Bill Belichick — but Gilmore holds the coach in high regard.

“He is a great coach .. does everything, whatever he can do to help his team win,” Gilmore said. “He taught me a lot of football and how to be a better player and how to prepare. As a coach, he helped me in a lot of ways.”

Stephon Gilmore and the Patriots achieved a fantastic level of success together in New England. While the defensive back hopes to get a victory over his former team this weekend, it’s evident that both wouldn’t trade the success they had together away.