Devin McCourty Concerning Take Compares Mike Vrabel Scandal To Bill Belichick

NBC Sports analyst Devin McCourty

Devin McCourty Concerning Take Compares Mike Vrabel Scandal To Bill Belichick originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The scandal concerning New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel having an alleged extramarital relationship with a reporter hit fans in Foxboro so hard because it is not the character that the head coach has preached since he took the job 15 months ago.

Inside the locker room, he preaches a family-like environment that thrives on honesty and accountability. It only works if everyone trusts that the person next to them is pulling in the right direction.

This is the main reason that Patriots great Devin McCourty gave for why this scandal is so different than the others that have hit Robert Kraft's Patriots.

"These guys, they care about each other. They believe in each other. They formed a great bond," McCourty said on "PFT Live," as quoted by Chris Mason of MassLive. "With Coach (Bill) Belichick, it was about winning. What do we need to do to win? How do you figure out how you can help the team?"

It was all business with Belichick; you didn't have to be in the locker room to know that. As an athlete, you have to believe the messaging coming from the top. McCourty believes this scandal could hinder the team's ability to do so, especially among younger players.

"Some older guys in that locker room who are maybe married with kids, you have a different understanding and an experience in life of, hey man, we’re all living a journey. He’s going through whatever he’s going through. I’m not judging. I’m here to work," McCourty said. "But I think it’s different when you’re younger. I think younger guys, when you come into situations, you have this thing where you put people on pedestals, or you think of somebody a certain way, and you don’t want that to be tarnished.