There is “The Patriots Way” and there is The Tom Brady Effect.
Chris Hogan played with the Jets in 2020, but he knows what happened in the Super Bowl champion Buccaneers locker room because he experienced the same thing during his three years as Brady’s teammate with the Patriots.
“The people around him — coaches, players, staff — want to do better for Tom,” Hogan told The Post. “I’m so happy for him. What better way to solidify how great of a quarterback you are than to go to a different team and win a Super Bowl in your first year.”
Hogan, 32, is an NFL free agent who is entering the Premier Lacrosse League’s entry draft because he wants to try his hand as a two-sport professional athlete before Father Time catches up. Aging doesn’t apply to the 43-year-old Brady.
“I was blown away by what he was able to do this year, going to a new team during a [pandemic-restricted] time like this and to create that culture down there and bring his winning attitude,” Hogan said. “He’s just different. I knew it when I got the opportunity to play with him. I saw something the other day asking if he was going to play until 50. He didn’t say no.”
Brady’s continued success might be a bitter pill in New England, but Hogan expects a quick turnaround under coach Bill Belichick.
“He’ll have all the pieces there and ready to go,” Hogan said. “It wasn’t their year. Again, it was such a unique year. I don’t ever count the Pats out, especially when he’s coaching.”
Hogan had 107 catches, 1,651 yards and 12 touchdowns in 40 regular-season games with the 2016-18 Patriots. Each of his three seasons ended in the Super Bowl (two wins) — a long way from experiencing a 2-14 season with Jets.
“It wasn’t for a lack of effort,” Hogan said. “Everyone wanted to win. It was not going our way and it was frustrating. The one thing I saw from that team was no lack of fight. With how young that team was, I think they are only going to improve as long as they get the experience. They certainly figured out that the NFL is not easy to win games.”
The no-quit tone, Hogan said, started with Sam Darnold.
“Playing quarterback in New York is not an easy thing to do,” said Hogan, a New Jersey native. “He had to deal with a lot of change and he was battling through an injury. But never did he take the time to say, ‘I’m done. I’m going to rest my shoulder.’ He was trying to get back in there every single week.”
A lot has changed with the Jets since Hogan went on injured reserve in October and was cut in December. The biggest question remains whether to keep Darnold as the starting quarterback or start fresh.
“He’s a young kid with a lot of talent and a lot of fight in him,” Hogan said. “His arm talent and athleticism are awesome. His future is very bright in this league.”