Are we seeing the first cracks in the Patriots dynasty?
ESPN published a story Friday morning about the contentious relationship that has grown among quarterback Tom Brady, coach Bill Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
The story delved into the rift, interviewing more than a dozen New England staffers, executives, players and league sources with knowledge of the team’s inner workings who said this could be the final year all three are on the same team. The trio’s 16-year run includes five Super Bowl victories in seven trips.
The source of discontent between Brady and Belichick appears to be three-fold: Brady’s well-chronicled relationship with controversial body coach and business partner Alex Guerrero, the vision for backup Jimmy Garoppolo and Belichick’s hard-edged coaching style that hones in on every Brady mistake. Kraft’s unenviable role in the drama will be to try and repair that rift this offseason and salvage the dynasty.
The drama appears to be traced back to 2014 with Guerrero becoming a greater influence both on Brady and the Patriots. The divide has only grown since with both Brady and Guerrero mocking Belichick’s training preferences to other players. It seems to have put newcomers in the position of having to choose their quarterback or coach when deciding how to be treated.
“Tom changed,” a friend of Brady’s told the website. “That’s where a lot of these problems started.”
Also in 2014, the Patriots drafted Garoppolo, who Belichick viewed as the future and Brady viewed as a threat. The story paints an awkward relationship between the two quarterbacks with Brady, 41, unwilling to take on a mentor role. Garoppolo shined in two starts before injuring his shoulder when Brady was suspended for Deflategate at the start of last season. The Patriots made numerous attempts to lock him in long-term — with deals paying him $17-18 million — all of which he quickly rejected.
Brady’s attitude allegedly perked up as soon as Garoppolo was traded to the 49ers at the trade deadline, as Belichick has quietly taken joy in watching Garoppolo succeed with five wins in five starts with the 49ers.
Belichick has also made a point of singling out Brady during film sessions, which has started to grate on the future Hall of Fame quarterback. The breaking point appeared to come after Brady offered a so-so performance in the Patriots’ Divisional Round win over the Texans last season.
“This will get us beat,” Belichick told the team after replaying a Brady interception, according to ESPN.
“We were lucky to get away with a win.”
The issues seem very real, but will it be enough to force one of the dynasty architects out of New England? A December meeting between Brady, Belichick and Kraft was abruptly canceled and re-scheduled for after the season.
Brady has had meetings separately with Kraft and Belichick about playing into his mid-40s. Belichick has balked at a long-term contract, but understands that Brady — an MVP candidate despite showing signs of age and injury this season — is still the best choice to lead the team to another title.
“Bill’s done a phenomenal job of holding the building together,” one Patriots official told the website.
But will he want to do that again next season, particularly with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia potentially fleeing for their own head-coaching jobs?
For now, the Patriots wait on a Divisional Round opponent next week on the quest for a sixth Super Bowl with this dynasty. One that has never been closer to crumbling.