Morning sports update: Bruce Arians says Tom Brady’s ‘not getting enough credit for what he’s doing’

The Patriots prepare to play the Dolphins on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game has major playoff implications for both teams, as New England (currently on the outside of the AFC postseason picture) fight to keep hope alive at 6-7.

In news beyond sports, players for the Celtics submitted an op-ed to the The Boston Globe calling on Gov. Charlie Baker to change his view on the usage of facial recognition technology.

“This technology supercharges racial profiling by police and has resulted in the wrongful arrests of innocent people,” read the op-ed’s sub-headline.

The entire Boston Celtics team is calling on the Governor of Massachusetts to stop face recognition surveillance in the state.

Let’s get this done, MA. https://t.co/5iWDz002PM

— ACLU (@ACLU) December 16, 2020

Bruce Arians’s latest comments on Tom Brady: Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians has made headlines in the 2020 season for not being afraid to criticize Tom Brady.

Instead of offering continuous praise and support, Arians has been blunt in press conferences analyzing Brady’s performance. The longtime coach has admitted Brady’s been “confused” and candidly assessed the team’s success comes down to whether “the quarterback plays well or not” during various observations over the course of the season.

Yet after the Buccaneers’ recent win over the Vikings (taking the team’s record to 8-5), Arians appears to have shifted in tone.

“I don’t know why anyone’s criticizing Tom,” Arians said Wednesday. “What he did at the end of the half and to start the second half [against] Minnesota — very, very few teams can score 17 points in a matter of five or six minutes. If we finished the half with 17 points, I don’t [care] how we start. He’s not getting enough credit for what he’s doing.”

Arians also noted that he believes Brady has had a “Pro Bowl year.”

Tampa Bay plays Atlanta at 1 p.m. on Sunday as the Buccaneers continue to push for a playoff spot.

Trivia: Who was Rick Pitino’s first draft pick as coach of the Celtics?

(Answer at the bottom).

Hint: He won a championship in Detroit.

More from Boston.com:

• Former Patriot Joe Andruzzi wanted to ‘smack the smile’ off rookie Tom Brady’s face, and other things we learned from ‘The Tradition’
• Celtics players call for Gov. Baker to end facial recognition surveillance
• Celtics’ Jayson Tatum says he added 10 pounds as body matures: ‘I’m not 19 anymore’
• N’Keal Harry’s trainer says Cam Newton’s inaccuracy has held back receiver’s development
• How Brian Flores’s record stacks up against other Bill Belichick head coaching disciples
• Gordon Hayward suffers fracture in finger, will miss Hornets preseason game
• What oddsmakers are predicting for the Celtics this upcoming season
• MLB tells managers to expect on-time spring training start
• Devin McCourty wants another Patriot to be nominated for NFL’s ‘Man of the Year’ award
• 48-year-old Manny Ramirez set to make Australian Baseball League debut

Bruce Arians and Bill Belichick soundbites from Week 14: Belichick had a blunt assessment for Rams coach Sean McVay after the Patriots’ loss.

The post-game exchange between McVay and Belichick after the #Rams essentially ended the #Patriots chances of making the playoffs.pic.twitter.com/51I9DNIB88

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 16, 2020

Josh McDaniels on Cam Newton his season:

On this day: In 1963, John Havlicek scored 43 points as the Celtics beat the Baltimore Bullets, 131-115. Bill Russell added 14 points and 25 rebounds.

Daily highlight: West Ham United forward Sebastien Haller scored one of the goals of the season on Wednesday in a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.

Trivia answer: Chauncey Billups.