Last week when the Patriots traded wide receiver Demaryius Thomas to the Jets for a 2021 sixth-round pick, the deal made history.

It meant Bill Belichick has now traded with all 31 other teams in the NFL, as that was his first ever with the Jets.

Of course, in 2000 Belichick resigned from being the head coach of the Jets after one day and became head coach of the Patriots.

Speaking on a conference call Tuesday, Belichick explained the deal after being asked if he was surprised a trade with the Jets came together?

"No. I would say there was a certain period of time when there’s no way this transaction would have happened. But, during other periods of time, yeah. Again, we don’t want to help the Jets, they don’t want to help us. We’re in the same division. They aren’t the easiest trades to make, but if the trade is good for both teams and ultimately what we’re trying to do is improve our team. We have 14 other games to play besides the game against the Jets, so do we want to help them? Do they want to help us? No and no, but in the end if it helps us in the other 14 games and it helps our team then it is worth considering.

"Look, we’ll try and help our team in any way that we can. Not saying a trade within the division you don’t have to analyze a little bit more closely, but we’ve done it before certainly with Miami with a player like [Wes> Welker, or Buffalo and a player like [Drew> Bledsoe. Those weren’t insignificant players at that time. In the end, I want to do what is best for our football team and I don’t want to try and help our opponents that much, but you have to give up something to get something. You have to look at each situation and do what is best for your team.”

Thomas made his debut with the Jets Monday night, but left after just a few plays following re-injuring his hamstring.