This year's ESPN hit piece
- Thread starter Dr. Gonzo
- Start date
I don't buy for a tenth of a second that Kraft wouldn't have final say in the decision to trade/cut Brady. Some people like to believe Tom is just like any other player and would be subject to the same kind of ruthless treatment Belichick usually dispenses, but there's zero chance ownership wouldn't be consulted before a decision being made on Brady's future with the team.
The only thing that resonates with me is that things may be getting frayed between Tom and Bill. The AG move was not something I would expect without some tension between the two of them.
The credit stuff seems ludicrous.
I have two concerns. Distraction. And the possibility that this could indeed result in A break-up. I put the odds as being very low on either but even a 10 percent chance is too high in both cases.
ESPN and and Seth Wickersham should die in a fire.
The credit stuff seems ludicrous.
I have two concerns. Distraction. And the possibility that this could indeed result in A break-up. I put the odds as being very low on either but even a 10 percent chance is too high in both cases.
ESPN and and Seth Wickersham should die in a fire.
Now, I don't follow nearly as closely as most of you, but was there ever been any real evidence that these two ever really had anything more than a professional relationship? I just wonder how much of it is our interpretation. There's been plenty said about Brady and Kraft being like family, but I don't know about Belichick.
Belichick always struck me as a "not here to make friends" kind of guy. Penn and Teller, the Mythbusters, both duos that work so well together for years but have no connection with each other in the outside world. I would find it easy to believe if I read that about Brady and Belichick. I've kind of suspected it since BB's first press conference on day 1 of deflategate. They've still been pretty good at football since.
Even if my theory was true, it won't change the narrative, of course. The world cannot handle being rational when it comes to the Patriots.
Belichick always struck me as a "not here to make friends" kind of guy. Penn and Teller, the Mythbusters, both duos that work so well together for years but have no connection with each other in the outside world. I would find it easy to believe if I read that about Brady and Belichick. I've kind of suspected it since BB's first press conference on day 1 of deflategate. They've still been pretty good at football since.
Even if my theory was true, it won't change the narrative, of course. The world cannot handle being rational when it comes to the Patriots.
Tom Brady walks into Kraft's office:
(and I don't mean that Kraft was asking for TB's advice so that he could then give BB orders. Just that it could have come up in a conversation)
Kraft: smalltalk
TB: pleasantries
Kraft; limited shop talk
TB: light shop talk in return
Kraft: Jimmy G?
TB: works hard, great prep, studies, good athlete. JG is great
Kraft: how'r you feeling?
TB: blah blah great!
Kraft: Jimmy G?
TB: etc. etc. I mean, he could be a starter, he deserves his chance, yknow, if we could get something back for him in trade, make the team better, pick up a journeyman emergency backup...
Reporter: "Tom Brady stormed into Kraft's office and demanded that they trade Jimmy G"TB: pleasantries
Kraft; limited shop talk
TB: light shop talk in return
Kraft: Jimmy G?
TB: works hard, great prep, studies, good athlete. JG is great
Kraft: how'r you feeling?
TB: blah blah great!
Kraft: Jimmy G?
TB: etc. etc. I mean, he could be a starter, he deserves his chance, yknow, if we could get something back for him in trade, make the team better, pick up a journeyman emergency backup...
(and I don't mean that Kraft was asking for TB's advice so that he could then give BB orders. Just that it could have come up in a conversation)
I don’t doubt there was some serious discussions internally about the future. I don’t believe for a second Brady gave Kraft an order or else.
Brady and Belichick are on limited timelines. It’s best for both to not blow this thing up which is why I don’t believe the fireworks. I don’t doubt there’s some tension as would be expected.
If I know anything about Bill Belichick, I'd wager if it was true that he wanted to keep Jimmy, but had his hand forced by Kraft to trade him on Brady's request, he'd fucking walk out of the door instantly. Does he really seem to be the kind of person that would tolerate that?
JFC this is insane. BB is on record in hundreds of post game interviews giving credit to the players. Brady is on record many times saying that football is a business and that anybody can be traded. And Krafts statement above speaks for itself.
Ok, I’ll play along. My first question is if disharmony results in 13-3, what does harmony look like?
My guess then is this story will focus heavily on Alex Guerrero.
Also, fuck ESPN for having me here on SOSH in the middle of the night speculating about the contents of an article that might not even exist.
No one would remotely mistake me for a pats, BB or TB fan.
And this is horseshit. I don't give a damn if every friggin sentence and allegation is 110% true. It's still horseshit. And stupid, petty, pointless and 4th grade mean girls asshole bait.
That it was published by ESPN means the day ESPN goes under can't get here soon enough.
And this is horseshit. I don't give a damn if every friggin sentence and allegation is 110% true. It's still horseshit. And stupid, petty, pointless and 4th grade mean girls asshole bait.
That it was published by ESPN means the day ESPN goes under can't get here soon enough.
The thing I don’t understand is, who would be the first to leave from this fractured relationship. B.B. is not going to want to rebuild a terrible team like the Giants at the end of his career. Tom is under contract and obviously has no plans to retire.
I’ve known people who worked a foot apart from each other for forty years and despised each other with multiple lawsuits yet neither let up.
Honestly, I most look forward to Peter Kings praise of the “article” from all of this.
I’ve known people who worked a foot apart from each other for forty years and despised each other with multiple lawsuits yet neither let up.
Honestly, I most look forward to Peter Kings praise of the “article” from all of this.
This whole thing is pure bullshit. I don’t doubt one but that there is/was a bit of tension between TB12 + BB over the personal trainer stuff... but cmon? Seriously?? Fuck ESPN and the colts they rode in on.
I think Green Bay would be an interesting landing spot. They have an open GM position, QB, and have playmakers in both sides of the ball. They can’t drop McCarthy unless it’s an obvious upgrade, but who’d argue against BB?
Some media folks just don't want to buy the story that BB did JG a solid and kept him away from Cleveland, sending him to SF--it has to be drama.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/01/04/espn-story-about-patriots-coming/
PFT saying that story doesn’t include Brady trade demand.
PFT saying that story doesn’t include Brady trade demand.
Well, I'm not on ESPN's side, but perhaps the initial reports about it were wrong. That doesn't mean it's falling apart.
Money shot though:
True, but that’s a huge part of Allen’s leak about the piece that is causing the hysteria.
Yes--so doesn't that mean Allen's tweet is falling apart?
If I report a story contains details on something, and then it comes out the story doesn't, I look bad, not the story. At least not for that reason.
Yes, fair enough. Time to reserve any real judgment until the actual piece comes out.
No worries. I'm sure we'll have plenty to dump on once we see the story. I nominate tims4wins to read it and report back so we don't have to.
Given what we have seen historically, the original story will be proven wrong very quickly, but it will be brought up constantly by annoying fans of other teams for years as though it's true - psi, taping walk throughs.
If that's the cost of being a fan of the greatest run in football history, then I'm fine with it. Whatever.
Who are Brady and Belichick complaining about their relative success to, btw? Do you think at team meetings it comes up? They each privately set aside an hour a week to vent to Kraft about how they are each the one true star?
Isn't he really the one responsible for all the success (at least the last two titles)?
As an outsider/non-Pats fan I'd be pretty pleased about this. Bill will post this thing all over the locker room and use it as Pats v. the world like only he can, Brady will be in fuck you mode the entire playoffs, and you'll likely steamroller your way to another Super Bowl.
One could quibble and say that certainly doesn't say Brady "demanded" a trade at all.