Patriots head coach Bill Belichick reportedly 'hates' new jersey number rule

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick spent 20 years together in New England, so it's no surprise the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback and Patriots head coach share a similar opinion about one of the NFL's new policies. 

According to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, Belichick "hates" the league's decision to expand the range of allowable jersey numbers for offensive skill players, linebackers and defensive backs.

"Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Patriots were one of a handful of teams to vote against the rule that dramatically expands the available jersey numbers to linebackers, defensive backs, running backs, receivers, and tight ends," Florio writes. "Coach Bill Belichick, per the source, hates the new rule."

Brady blasted the league via Instagram on Thursday, calling the change "dumb" and insisting it will lead to "a lot of bad football. His argument against the change is focused on the idea that allowing linebackers and defensive backs to wear similar numbers will make it harder for quarterbacks and offensive personnel to identify them correctly. 

Here are the new numbers players are allowed to wear beginning with the 2021 season:

• Quarterbacks, punters and kickers: 1 through 19
• Receivers, tight ends, running backs: 1 through 49, 80 through 89
• Offensive linemen: 50 through 79
• Defensive linemen: 50 through 79, 90 through 99
• Linebackers: 1 through 59, 90 through 99
• Defensive backs: 1 through 49

It's unclear if any Patriots players will change their numbers. It's also unclear if any Bucs players will decide to make the switch.