New England Patriots ‘stand united’ amidst rumors of organizational unrest
As the New England Patriots prepare for another playoff run, reports have surfaced that the may be battling some internal turmoil.
The New England Patriots power trio of owner Robert Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady have been top of the NFL for almost two decades. With the team in the midst of another Super Bowl run, a recent report by ESPN’s Seth Wickersham suggests a possible tension within the organization that can sink the dynasty sooner rather than later.
In the report, Wickersham touches on a number of disagreements between Kraft, Belichick and Brady that could ultimately lead to a breakup of the three in some fashion.
One of those disagreements included the team’s long-term quarterback plan which eventually resulted in the trade of former backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
The surprising trade that took place just ahead of the NFL trade deadline came out of nowhere. Given the fact that ESPN Insider Adam Schefter was more than adamant the Patriots would never trade Garoppolo, the timing of the trade didn’t make sense, especially with the team only receiving a second-round draft pick from the 49ers in exchange.
Following the move, Belichick uncharacteristically explained the reasoning behind the deal suggesting that it wasn’t something he wanted to do but had to do. There was also a suggestion that Brady, not Garoppolo was the quarterback Belichick planned to move on from.
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Unfortunately for Belichick, Kraft didn’t have the same outlook and was more loyal towards Brady. According to Wickersham, the end result was Belichick “demoralized” that Kraft made the demand to trade the 26-year-old quarterback in favor of the 40-year-old quarterback who has found the fountain of youth.
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The Garoppolo deal was just one of the issues the report touched on. It also included the drama surrounding Tom Brady’s trainer and business partner Alex Guerrero and Brady’s lack of receptiveness to Bill Belichick’s coaching style.
While it all appears to be the beginning of the end for a great run by the trio of Kraft, Belichick and Brady, they all released the following statement of a united front:
"“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.”"
Whether details in the report are true or not, this latest suggestion of a demise may be exactly what this team needs to make another Super Bowl run. It is typically these moments, when the team faces public ridicule, that they rally together and show just why they have been a dominant force for so many years.
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However, if that tension is truly there and is just building up, it could explode on the football field leading the team into a demoralizing ending to the 2017 season and perhaps life as New England Patriots fans have grown accustomed to.