Tom Brady, Bill Belichick At Odds: Coach May Leave, ESPN Says

FOXBOROUGH, MA — After 18 years together, is the end near for the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick relationship? A bombshell ESPN report that dropped Thursday night purports to show cracks in the longest-running sports dynasty of the 21st century.

In an article developed through interviews with about a dozen New England staffers, executives, players and league sources with knowledge of the team's inner workings, Seth Wickersham of ESPN writes the relationship between Brady and Belichick is cracking over Brady's use of personal trainer Alex Guerrero, the trade of Jimmy Garoppolo, and Brady's attitude as he enters uncharted territory as a 40-year-old living legend.

In a joint statement released by Kraft, Brady, and Belichick Friday morning, they said, “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.”

Here are some of the highlights of the ESPN story:

Belichick saw in Garoppolo the next quarterback for the New England Patriots, and the coach didn't want to trade away the young QB, but Brady's Super Bowl comeback lifted his status within the team even further. "A year later, after another Super Bowl win -- the Brady-led, historic comeback from 28-3 to defeat the Atlanta Falcons -- Brady's stature in the organization had grown to the point that he was considered management. New players often address him as 'sir.'"

The report says the Patriots offered Garoppolo a rich four-year contract extension, but Garoppolo and his agent Don Yee, who also represents Brady, declined to sign an extension. Two weeks before Garoppolo was traded, Belichick met with owner Robert Kraft for a half day to discuss the quarterback situation. That meeting reportedly ended with a mandate to trade Garoppolo, who was then dealt to the San Francisco 49ers for a second-round pick.

Many young players have been pressured to use Brady's friend and business partner Alex Guerrero at the TB12 Fitness Center at Patriot Place rather than the team's medical staff, according to Wickersham. Those close to Brady say he has changed since working with Guerrero and going in on the TB12 fitness brand, the report says.

Apparently Brady is tired of the negativity from Belichick and wants to work with the power of positivity. Belichick irked Brady when he ripped his performance in a playoff win against the Houston Texans during the 2016 playoffs. Brady, at this point in his career, feels that his accomplishments should be rewarded with less grief.

A meeting to smooth things over between Kraft, Brady, and Belichick was supposed to happen at the end of 2016 but never did. Sources describe a "lingering sadness" around Gillette Stadium as if the end is here. This week, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia will interview for head coaching positions, and other members of the staff may depart the organization. Several coaches and staffers stated that the season finale against the New York Jets could be Belichick's final regular season game.

Across Patriots Nation, fans on Twitter, comment sections, and message boards reacted as one would expect to an article from ESPN: with extreme skepticism and the feeling that it was a hit piece designed to attack the Patriots.

The Patriots said there were "several inaccuracies and multiple examples given that absolutely did not occur." The team declined to name their issues with the story.

Brady's and Garoppolo's agent Yee told The Boston Herald, "I don't really know what to say - it's tough to have a response since it didn't appear to me to have one on-the-record quote. All I can suggest is don't believe everything you read.”

Jeff Howe of the Herald said of the Brady-Belichick relationship: "They work well together, obviously, but have never been best friends. They argue. That’s normal. They didn’t see eye to eye over the Guerrero issue. But it’s not going to yield a divorce."

Image: New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are seen on the field, before the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)