tonyto36 Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/page/hotread180105/beginning-end-new-england-patriots-robert-kraft-tom-brady-bill-belichick-internal-power-struggle Learned to take what I read lightly from ESPN, but most of it makes sense and goes along with the smoke we've been seeing. And really it only takes some of this to be legit for it to be setting off alarms. Quote Brady and Guerrero's training beliefs introduced an unspoken pressure in the building, with players wondering where they should work out. In August, receiver Julian Edelman blew out his knee, costing him the season, and there was "hyper-sensitivity" among players, in the words of a Patriots coach, over who would take his place. New players felt the surest way to earn Brady's trust was to join Rob Gronkowski, Danny Amendola and others by seeking advice from Guerrero at his TB12 clinic -- and not team doctors, which Belichick preferred. Guerrero says he wasn't pressuring players to adopt his approach. "Players have always decided to come or not come on their own," he says now. But according to multiple sources, players openly discussed with Patriots coaches, staff and trusted advisers whether to follow Brady or the team, leaving them trapped: Do we risk alienating the NFL's most powerful coach or risk alienating the NFL's most powerful quarterback? Quote As Brady gained power, so did Guerrero, who became an even more divisive force in the building. One player visited TB12 under what he perceived as pressure, and declined to allow Guerrero to massage his injured legs. Instead he asked to keep treatment limited to only his arm, out of fear that one of Guerrero's famous deep-force muscle treatments would set back his recovery. The Boston Sports Journal would report on another player who was told by Patriots trainers to do squats but later instructed by Guerrero to not do them. Brady would tell teammates, "Bill's answer to everything is to lift more weights" -- a claim that many staffers and players felt was unfair, given the team's dedication to soft-tissue science and a healthy diet. Quote But several players told staffers and coaches that Guerrero gave them the impression that Belichick would no longer allow them to work with him. In the view of many Patriots, it was an example of Guerrero trying to split the organization by turning players against Belichick. Quote At the same time, as his age has increased, Brady has become an advocate of positive thinking. Belichick's negativity and cynicism have gotten old, Brady has told other Patriots players and staff. He feels he has accomplished enough that he shouldn't have to endure so much grief. Patriots staffers have noticed that, this year more than ever, he seems to volley between unwavering confidence and driving insecurity. Brady has noted to staff a few times this year that, no matter how many game-changing throws he makes, Belichick hasn't awarded him Patriot of the Week all year. Quote But after Garoppolo was knocked out of his second start with a shoulder injury, he set up a visit at TB12. As he later told Patriots staffers, when he arrived, the door was locked. He knocked; nobody was there. He called TB12 trainers but nobody answered. He couldn't believe it, Garoppolo told the staffers, and that night ended up visiting team trainers instead. Guerrero vehemently denies ever refusing to see any player, and Garoppolo was eventually treated at TB12 -- but it was two weeks after he showed up for his original appointment, and only after a high-ranking Patriots staffer called TB12 to inquire why Garoppolo hadn't been admitted. Quote Several times this past October, Brady met with Kraft to discuss playing longer. That same month, he also met with Belichick, who was skeptical of a long-term contract extension but was content to start Brady as long as he was the best quarterback. Belichick understood how much Brady had meant to the franchise, and had always insisted privately that he wouldn't move on from Brady unless he could convince the coaching staff of it. But the reality was that no quarterback has ever played at a championship level into his 40s. The meeting ended in a "little blowup," according to a source. Quote The Patriots repeatedly offered Garoppolo four-year contract extensions, in the $17-18 million range annually that would go higher if and when he succeeded Brady. Garoppolo and Yee rejected the offers out of hand, for reasons that remain unclear, and the Patriots knew they couldn't make any promises to Garoppolo about the timing of a transition at quarterback without it getting back to Brady. Quote Two weeks before the Nov. 1 trading deadline, Belichick met with Kraft to discuss the quarterback situation. According to staffers, the meeting ran long, lasting half the day and pushing back Belichick's other meetings. The office was buzzing. The meeting ended with a clear mandate to Belichick: trade Garoppolo because he would not be in the team's long-term plans, and then, once again, find the best quarterback in the draft and develop him. Belichick was furious and demoralized, according to friends. But in the end, he did what he asks of his players and coaches: He did his job. One morning in late October, Belichick texted San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and asked him to call. Quote It was a steal, leaving Patriots staffers stunned and confused. Why would the game's shrewdest long-term strategist trade two backup quarterbacks in a two-month span when his starter was 40 years old and banged up? And why did Belichick practically give away a quarterback whom the coaches saw as a potential top-10 player for much less than he could have gotten last spring? Big notes -Patriots offered JG, 4 years ~70-72 million -Confirms alleged riff forming because of Guerrero -A lot of hints and rumors propped by Bedard are being validated by more sources @1ForTheThumb -Brady allegedly has been grating against Belichick -All reports to seem to be Brady being the wrong doer who is messing with the flow of things Speculation of the end of the Brady/Belichick era. It appeared Belichick was trying to jettison Brady for JG this offseason - like what many including myself speculated months ago. And Kraft really did step in and stop it from happening and force Belichicks hand @1ForTheThumb. It is also worth noting it implies Belichick is still very angry about how it unfolded and it seems plausible that he retires - leaving the Patriots/Kraft with Brady and Alex Guerrero while he and most of the staff take off. That would be a nightmare scenario. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadpulse Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 This is sensationalist writing to make already reported on things seems new and prompt sky is falling responses. None of this is new news. A lot of it is conjecture. Whether any of it is true or not is irrelevant. The Guerrero stuff is not new news, and shouldnt surprise anyone. The rest of it points out, again in a sensationalized way, what everyone with half a brain should be able to realize. Kraft/BB/and TB12 are all old. This trio will not last too much longer. If this story breaks that to you, I am sorry you were living in denial so long. Also, side note. The mention feature IS NOT meant to be used to call out posters. This isnt twitter, don't at me bro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChazStandard Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Unnamed sources reporting gossip means absolutely nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LD696 Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Instructing people not to do squats should've been an instant reason to kick that charlatan out of the building . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1ForTheThumb Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 The Pats are about to make another playoff run and ESPN comes out with a hit piece, color me shocked.... @Deadpulse couldn't have said it better myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1ForTheThumb Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Wow, Belichick, Brady and Kraft are old and things might be coming to end soon. Shocking! Wow, Belichick has yelled at Brady's in meetings before and doesn't give him special treatment. Groundbreaking stuff! This has never been reported before. Wow, Belichick wanted to hang onto Jimmy. Definitely didn't know that before! Wow, Belichick is "grinding harder before, like more than a 6th championship is at stake" Awful news for us Patriots fans! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter2_1 Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 I'm just bored. It's gotten to the point where I question whether I'd give up our standing and success just to be out of the cross-hairs of everyone. I don't consider it for long, mind you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1ForTheThumb Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 My last comment on this garbage article- the author is the same guy who wrote the "warm gatorade" hit piece from ESPN. #ESPNLies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter2_1 Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Brady is actually a bit of a maverick, according to a few accounts I've read, and listening to Mayo. He was the best at downing a pint, he was the first to chat to girls in bars and he angers quickly etc. That he's come up against BB on occasions is NOT news, and it's OBVIOUS. It's good that despite being the greatest player ever, he still isn't afforded a longer leash by BB. This is part of the Patriot Way and why we are the most successful franchise in 20 years. Deadpulse, just out of interest, everytime 1FTT posts, do you get notified because you're in his sig? Lol just wondered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1ForTheThumb Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 ^Also Jimmy's agent. But Greg Bedard, Michael Felger, and ESPN told me otherwise! Lollollololol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter2_1 Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 This is just another in the line of ammo to use. When will everyone learn? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1ForTheThumb Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 10 minutes ago, Hunter2_1 said: This is just another in the line of ammo to use. When will everyone learn? It's unbelievable. It's literally like clockwork. The fact that people believe non-sense, hearsay rumors from ESPN who's continually put out hit pieces/clickbait articles against the Patriots, and professional trolls like Felger, Mazz, Bedard vs. sources close to the situation and the team, is truly unbelievable. Use your brain and don't be so naive to believe everything you here. Belichick and Brady have never been best friends. They have a working relationship. That's ALWAYS been the case. Everyone already knew this Guerrero stuff. Makes sense that Guerrero and Patriots trainers buttheads. They have completely different methods and beliefs. And everyone already knew that Belichick didn't want to trade Jimmy, and held out as long as he could. It was an unfortunate situation, timing wise. The rest of this "report" is trash. Kraft didn't make Belichick trade anyone. Brady didn't make Belichick trade anyone. Brady's feelings aren't hurt because Belichick hasn't picked him as player of the week or called him out about interceptions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter2_1 Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 9 minutes ago, 1ForTheThumb said: It's unbelievable. It's literally like clockwork. The fact that people believe non-sense, hearsay rumors from ESPN who's continually put out hit pieces/clickbait articles against the Patriots, and professional trolls like Felger, Mazz, Bedard vs. sources close to the situation and the team, is truly unbelievable. Use your brain and don't be so naive to believe everything you here. Belichick and Brady have never been best friends. They have a working relationship. That's ALWAYS been the case. Everyone already knew this Guerrero stuff. Makes sense that Guerrero and Patriots trainers buttheads. They have completely different methods and beliefs. And everyone already knew that Belichick didn't want to trade Jimmy, and held out as long as he could. It was an unfortunate situation, timing wise. The rest of this "report" is trash. Kraft didn't make Belichick trade anyone. Brady didn't make Belichick trade anyone. Brady's feelings aren't hurt because Belichick hasn't picked him as player of the week or called him out about interceptions. They "believe" it because they already hate us and welcome the opportunity to use it as a bullet for their already dialled in guns. I find the whole "hate the pats, let them burn" mentality very juvenile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1ForTheThumb Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Referencing the 2015 "warm gatorade" piece. But this piece validates what Felger and Bedard were talking about. Pleaseeeeee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everlong Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 My unnamed sources tell me that Seth Wickersham is really a pedophile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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