Stephon Gilmore explains frustration in last few days with Patriots

The New England Patriots not only have one of the best defenses in the entire league, but they have managed to accomplish this feat without Stephon Gilmore as one of the main contributors. Gilmore, a former Defensive Player of the Year under Bill Belichick, was traded to the Carolina Panthers for draft capital during the middle of the season.

Gilmore didn’t play a game for the Patriots this season, as he was recovering from an injury. With JC Jackson emerging as a star in this league and role players like Jalen Mills stepping up, Belichick felt comfortable enough in his defensive back room to part with Gilmore and leave it to Carolina to extend him.

While Gilmore is playing well in Carolina, his team has started to fold due to their uncertainty at quarterback. Despite that, Gilmore appears to be happy now that he’s free from a team that he believes mismanaged his injury in the immediate aftermath.

In an interview with The Athletic, Gilmore claimed the Patriots were trying to speed up his rehab, overworking him to the point where he didn’t feel comfortable. Gilmore claims the team made him run 3,000 yards in three days right before trading him.

Stephon Gilmore was irritated at the New England Patriots’ recovery plan.

"“I felt like they were doing more workouts than rehab, more working out like someone (who) was 100 percent healthy and in the offseason program,” Gilmore said. “But I was rehabbing, coming back from surgery. So that’s different. I think you should take steps to come back and play.”"

Without a mole on the inside to see just how strenuous New England’s processes were, it’s difficult to assess which party may have been in the wrong here. However, Gilmore clearly wanted out, and New England managed to get something for him rather than letting him bolt in free agency.

Gilmore has been his usual quality self in Carolina. His passer rating when targeted remains impressively low, and he’s already intercepted two passes despite playing just five games and adapting to a new defensive scheme.

New England’s defense has moved on without him, so at least all parties appear to have come out of this trade with some positives.

Gilmore was one of the best DBs to ever suit up for the Patriots, and he contributed to a championship roster, but the messy way in which he left is always going to be brought up when his legacy is discussed.

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