Patrick Chung: Telling Bill Belichick I was retiring was the most difficult conversation I have had in a while

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Patrick Chung and Bill Belichick developed a close relationship during their years together in New England, which made it difficult for Chung to tell Belichick that their relationship was over.

“I just went to talk to Bill,” Chung said, via ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “It was probably the most difficult conversation I have had in a while. I respect him. He respects me. It’s more than a player to train with me and Bill. I felt like I was letting it go, but it was something I had to do for me and my family.

Chung said he will always cheer on the Patriots and especially for second-year safety Kyle Dugger, who has requested Chung’s permission to take the No.23 jersey Chung no longer wears.

“It’s a huge respect. A lot of people don’t need to ask: if it’s open, take it. For him to call and ask, when he didn’t have to, I appreciated that, ”Chung said. “He asked me for the number and I said, ‘Yes, absolutely.’ I told him to take over. I pray to God that he is much better than me, because that will only help us as Patriots. Hopefully it gets to this point. I hope he can. He’s young, he’s raw, he’s got instinct, has all the intangibles, so I’m praying for that.

Belichick would like to see Dugger become the kind of security Chung has been for many years in New England.