Trouble In Paradise??

[Maxie the Taxi]

Great article on dueling primadonnas in New England...

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/page...power-struggle

THE PATRIOTS ARE in uncharted territory. They haven't just won games and titles. They've won at an unprecedented rate and over an unprecedented span, which makes the feelings of entitlement creeping inside Gillette Stadium unprecedented as well. The Patriots, in the only statement anyone associated with the team would make on the record for this story, responded to specific questions by saying that there are "several inaccuracies and multiple examples given that absolutely did not occur," though they declined to go into detail. But according to interviews with more than a dozen New England staffers, executives, players and league sources with knowledge of the team's inner workings, the three most powerful people in the franchise -- Belichick, Brady and owner Robert Kraft -- have had serious disagreements. They differ on Brady's trainer, body coach and business partner Alex Guerrero; over the team's long-term plans at quarterback; over Belichick's bracing coaching style; and most of all, over who will be the last man standing. Those interviewed describe a palpable sense in the building that this might be the last year together for this group.

Brady, Belichick and Kraft have raised expectations and possibilities so high that virtually no other team in the Super Bowl era could truly comprehend what it's like to be them. Brady and Belichick weren't only pushing the boundaries of what a team could accomplish. They also were challenging basic understandings of how a group of high achievers escape the usual pulls of ego and pride. For 17 years, the Patriots have withstood everything the NFL and opponents could throw their way, knowing that if they were united, nobody could touch them. Now they're threatening to come undone the only way possible: from within.

[beveaux1]

You mean the Patriots are not infallible?

[Pugger]

IMO they really screwed up here shipping Jimmy G to SF. Jimmy looks like the real deal and Brady is going to be 41 years old this summer. If what I heard that it was Kraft was behind the idea to trade Jimmy this would be like Murphy telling Ted to trade Rodgers to keep Favre happy. I'm sure Brett could see how good Aaron is and no doubt Brady could see the talent in Garoppolo. More than one Patriot fan I know down here were not happy to see him traded to SF.

[pbmax]

The part of this article that is funny is that the author and the participants want you to believe there was never a problem with egos until this year.

Then the article does on to describe events leading to the Super Bowl win versus the Seahawks.

This kind of stuff happens to all teams at all times.

Though at this point it does seem that Tom Brady has gone for the full Favre.

[Carolina_Packer]

The Patriots were in a bind. Sign Jimmy G. to a long-term deal and wait out the Tom Brady era? Franchise Jimmy G. for over $20 million which would be on top of Brady's cap number? How much roster shedding would they have needed to do in order to fit those two contracts under their cap?

Had they gone the Packer way, they might have traded Brady after last season to pre-empt the whole off-season debate and let him catch on with another team, presumably one that is ready to win now. Denver maybe? I know they were a dumpster fire this year, but going in they had a decent D. Would Patriot nation have lost their collective minds if Kraft had traded Tawmy? Uh, yes! What do teams do in that case? Did Favre do the Packers a favor with his waffling? I'm sure it was tiresome, so he gave them an excuse not lock the gates behind him.

I'm not sure what you could have done differently than trade Jimmy G. Thoughts?

[Cheesehead Craig]

They had to trade him, there was no keeping him. Kraft is going to ride Brady until Tom wants to call it quits. The way the trade was handled was stupid. Frankly, they should have just let him walk and get a 3rd round pick.

[pbmax]

Trade him when Cleveland offered two better picks. Failure to anticipate being put in a bind by Yee (who could easily play one side off the other) was a failure of imagination.

If Billy talks to Kraft to gauge his reaction to pissing off Brady, he knows he has to make the trade. Everyone expected it except Bill because Bill is always right.

[3irty1]

I don't think good problems to have constitute trouble in paradise.

[denverYooper]

I did get a sniff of divorce proceedings reminiscent of Favre and the Packers but Brady is coming off a Superbowl comeback and at the end of a potential MVP season. He also has not equivocated on retiring. Kraft saw how difficult that was in Green Bay and Brady's recent run of success has kept him in the milk for now. It's pretty hard to break off that relationship with one of the faces of the franchise under those circumstances.

[mraynrand]

ESPN is a joke

[Maxie the Taxi]

NY Post reports Patriot denials in two stories:
https://nypost.com/2018/01/06/patrio...ichick-dreams/

The Patriots have entered full-on damage-control mode.

One day after ESPN reported the team has reached a breaking point amid strife among owner Robert Kraft, coach Bill Belichick and star quarterback Tom Brady, Kraft told The MMBQ the story is wrong, calling major parts of the report “a total fabrication and fiction” and saying Belichick “absolutely” will coach the team next season.

Kraft’s version of events is in direct opposition to the ESPN report, which says the owner pressured Belichick to make the move to appease the franchise quarterback. It furthers says Belichick was reluctant to let Garoppolo go and has been bitter over the move ever since.

Kraft's version of events smells like Patriot BS.

https://nypost.com/2018/01/05/patrio...nternal-fight/

The three targets of the bombshell ESPN report published early Friday challenged the findings as “unsubstantiated” and rooted in “fallacies.” The investigate piece detailed a deep-seated rift among owner Robert Kraft, coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady — the three centerpieces of the Patriots dynasty over their 18-year run together.

“For the past 18 years, the three of us have enjoyed a very good and productive working relationship,” the trio said in a joint statement. “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.”

Yeah, right.

[Tony Oday]

Yeah deep rift when he paid Billecheats fine...