Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY Sports
Is there trouble in Foxborough?
On Friday, ESPN’s Seth Wickersham published a report that states a power struggle in New England may soon end the dynasty of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
According to the article, the power struggle between Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Belichick and Brady has been brewing for years, with it hitting coming to a head in October of 2017 when Wickersham states Kraft forced Belichick to trade backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to the Forty-Niners.
Although there are many “secrets’ that Wickersham attempts to unfold in the story about the internal struggle within the team, one main focus seems to be around Garoppolo. According to the piece, Belichick wanted to keep Garoppolo with the team in order to prepare for a future without Brady. Once Brady was ready to retire, the transition would be easy and the Patriots had their franchise quaterback of the future.
However, Brady felt threatened by Garoppolo and wanted him gone.
With Brady stating that he would play until he’s 45 (and he appears to not be slowing down), Belichick may not agree. The head coach may have wanted to play it safe and move forward with Garoppolo as early as next season. To hand the reigns over and work towards the future. Which meant he and the Patriots would trade Brady in the offseason.
This is where the supposed power struggle comes in.
Kraft, who’s always publicly stated how much Brady has meant to his family, area and franchise would not allow Brady to play in another uniform and is loyal to a fault. Apparently, Kraft gave Belichick a mandate that he must trade Garoppolo before the Nov. 1 deadline.
And if this is the case, Belichick complied and we’re here now with this supposed rift in an organization that saw the head coach and hall of fame quarterback bring five championships over a 17 year span, with a great chance for a sixth this season.
There’s much more in the report, from things as major as Belichick growing increasingly annoyed with Brady’s training regimen at TB12 and things as trivial as Brady feeling slighted for never winning the Patriot of the Week Award. Yeah, I know.
Check out the report for yourself and interpret it as you may. The comments to the public have been that the article is exaggerated and things are fine in Massachusetts. The only way to find out the truth is to wait it out and see how things unfold this offseason.
