Patriots: 'We stand united' in wake of ESPN report

Friday
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:29 AM Jan 5, 2018 at 12:57 PM

Mark Daniels Journal Sports Writer MarkDanielsPJ

The Patriots have responded to ESPN's report that depicts a tumultuous relationship between Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and Robert Kraft.

"For the past 18 years, the three of us have enjoyed a very good and productive working relationship. In recent days, there have been multiple media reports that have speculated theories that are unsubstantiated, highly exaggerated or flat out inaccurate. The three of us share a common goal. We look forward to the enormous challenge of competing in the postseason and the opportunity to work together in the future, just as we have for the past 18 years. It is unfortunate that there is even a need for us to respond to these fallacies As our actions have shown, we stand united."

The joint statement from the team's owner, head coach and quarterback follows the ESPN story that rocked Patriots Nation, and the NFL. The detailed report, with the headline — "For Kraft, Brady and Belichick, is this the beginning of the end?" — talks about a level of friction that could end the trio's run together. 

The story cites multiple sources inside Gillette Stadium. In short, the drama surrounds Brady, Belichick and former backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. The bombshell in the report states that Belichick was given a “mandate” by Kraft to trade Garoppolo, which left the Patriots coach furious.

In the piece, the drama between Brady’s body coach Alex Guerrero and Belichick has also fractured the relationship between the star quarterback and head coach. This season, Guerrero was banned from traveling on the team plane and standing on the Patriots sideline during games.

There’s a lot of information to decipher in the story, but The Providence Journal has been told by multiple sources that the story contains multiple falsehoods.

Brady and Garoppolo’s agent Don Yee sent the following statement to The Providence Journal:

“I don’t know know really what to say — it’s tough to have a response since it didn’t appear to me to have one on-the-record quote. All I can suggest is don’t believe everything you read.”

The ESPN story states that Belichick had a meeting with Kraft to discuss the current quarterback situation. When the meeting ended, Belichick had a “mandate” to trade Garoppolo and he did, by shipping the young QB to the San Francisco 49ers at the NFL trade deadline.

Multiple sources deny that ever happened. One saying, it’s simply untrue. Those speaking with The Providence Journal say they’d be shocked if Kraft forced Belichick to trade anyone. One thought is that if that happened, Belichick would resign.

Brady never demanded that the Patriots trade the young backup, either, according to a source. That’s never been the quarterback’s style. He has never demanded that the Patriots sign or trade anyone.

According to an ESPN report, Garoppolo turned down an offer from the Patriots in the range of $17-to-18 million “for reasons that remain unclear.” According to a source, Garoppolo never turned down such an offer because the Patriots never sent Garoppolo a formal offer at any point in the past four seasons.

The ESPN story also depicts a situation that happened with Garoppolo and the TB12 Center. After injuring his shoulder last season, the article states that the quarterback was locked out of the center in Patriot Place, forcing a high-ranking Patriots staffer to call and ask why Garoppolo wasn’t admitted.

When it came to his relationship with Garoppolo, Brady never told Guerrero to not work with Garoppolo. The trainer did work with the young quarterback when he suffered that injury. Sources say that under no circumstance did anything sinister occur between Brady and Guerrero aimed toward Garoppolo. 

ESPN’s story also talks about the Brady-Belichick relationship being severely fractured this season.

That relationship has always been professional in nature. The pair aren’t viewed as extremely close off the field, but the relationship works when it comes to football. That player-coach dynamic has lasted for 18 years, culminating in five Super Bowl championships and survived several controversies (DeflateGate and SpyGate).

Although this season has presented some challenges, we’ve been told that the relationship isn’t so fractured that either would leave because of drama. If either were to step away from football, it’d be more likely that age (Brady is 40 and Belichick is 65) would be the main reason.

Although things can change in a heartbeat in the NFL, expect the Belichick-Brady combo to be back in 2018.

Friday
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:29 AM Jan 5, 2018 at 12:57 PM

Mark Daniels Journal Sports Writer MarkDanielsPJ

The Patriots have responded to ESPN's report that depicts a tumultuous relationship between Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and Robert Kraft.

"For the past 18 years, the three of us have enjoyed a very good and productive working relationship. In recent days, there have been multiple media reports that have speculated theories that are unsubstantiated, highly exaggerated or flat out inaccurate. The three of us share a common goal. We look forward to the enormous challenge of competing in the postseason and the opportunity to work together in the future, just as we have for the past 18 years. It is unfortunate that there is even a need for us to respond to these fallacies As our actions have shown, we stand united."

The joint statement from the team's owner, head coach and quarterback follows the ESPN story that rocked Patriots Nation, and the NFL. The detailed report, with the headline — "For Kraft, Brady and Belichick, is this the beginning of the end?" — talks about a level of friction that could end the trio's run together. 

The story cites multiple sources inside Gillette Stadium. In short, the drama surrounds Brady, Belichick and former backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. The bombshell in the report states that Belichick was given a “mandate” by Kraft to trade Garoppolo, which left the Patriots coach furious.

In the piece, the drama between Brady’s body coach Alex Guerrero and Belichick has also fractured the relationship between the star quarterback and head coach. This season, Guerrero was banned from traveling on the team plane and standing on the Patriots sideline during games.

There’s a lot of information to decipher in the story, but The Providence Journal has been told by multiple sources that the story contains multiple falsehoods.

Brady and Garoppolo’s agent Don Yee sent the following statement to The Providence Journal:

“I don’t know know really what to say — it’s tough to have a response since it didn’t appear to me to have one on-the-record quote. All I can suggest is don’t believe everything you read.”

The ESPN story states that Belichick had a meeting with Kraft to discuss the current quarterback situation. When the meeting ended, Belichick had a “mandate” to trade Garoppolo and he did, by shipping the young QB to the San Francisco 49ers at the NFL trade deadline.

Multiple sources deny that ever happened. One saying, it’s simply untrue. Those speaking with The Providence Journal say they’d be shocked if Kraft forced Belichick to trade anyone. One thought is that if that happened, Belichick would resign.

Brady never demanded that the Patriots trade the young backup, either, according to a source. That’s never been the quarterback’s style. He has never demanded that the Patriots sign or trade anyone.

According to an ESPN report, Garoppolo turned down an offer from the Patriots in the range of $17-to-18 million “for reasons that remain unclear.” According to a source, Garoppolo never turned down such an offer because the Patriots never sent Garoppolo a formal offer at any point in the past four seasons.

The ESPN story also depicts a situation that happened with Garoppolo and the TB12 Center. After injuring his shoulder last season, the article states that the quarterback was locked out of the center in Patriot Place, forcing a high-ranking Patriots staffer to call and ask why Garoppolo wasn’t admitted.

When it came to his relationship with Garoppolo, Brady never told Guerrero to not work with Garoppolo. The trainer did work with the young quarterback when he suffered that injury. Sources say that under no circumstance did anything sinister occur between Brady and Guerrero aimed toward Garoppolo. 

ESPN’s story also talks about the Brady-Belichick relationship being severely fractured this season.

That relationship has always been professional in nature. The pair aren’t viewed as extremely close off the field, but the relationship works when it comes to football. That player-coach dynamic has lasted for 18 years, culminating in five Super Bowl championships and survived several controversies (DeflateGate and SpyGate).

Although this season has presented some challenges, we’ve been told that the relationship isn’t so fractured that either would leave because of drama. If either were to step away from football, it’d be more likely that age (Brady is 40 and Belichick is 65) would be the main reason.

Although things can change in a heartbeat in the NFL, expect the Belichick-Brady combo to be back in 2018.

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