I have read this a few times. It reads as if Kraft works for Belichick, not the other way around.
Where was Kraft during those last few seasons? As the owner he can be in as much (or as little) communication with BB as he chooses. Kraft could have also communicated directly to Brady many times prior. And ultimately the final decision on anything (including contracts) is Kraft's, not Belichick's. (See Brown, Antonio for example.)
One other very important, but forgotten fact is that in 2019 Brady asked for a clause in his contract that the Patriots could not use the franchise tag on him. Why would he insist on that? Is making $31 million like Dak Prescott did last year is disrespectful? That alone tells me that Brady had already made up his mind (or very close to it) a year prior that he would be moving on after the 2020 season.
Agree with everything here.
But bear in mind Kraft gave Bill full control
of football and player personnel a long time ago. He does not interfere.
Its obviously worked out extremely well over the last 20 years. Kraft knows he had the 2 goats and he needed to tread lightly in this situation. So even if Kraft wanted to step in more forcefully to try and keep Brady, he wouldnt have.
None of us, including the media,knows exactly how we got here.
You may be right that Brady was already
leaning towards leaving in 2019. But it's also likely that he kept the door cracked
open, wanting to hear something positive from Bill. My guess is there were 2 issues
for Tom 1. his contract situation and just as big, 2. how Bill was planning to improve the Patriots big holes at wr and te. He knows Bill tried in 2019, with Gordon and Brown. People seem to forget
the Pats were tearing the league up when they had both. Unfortunately, both players imploded.
Diggs was too high a price to pay, but Hopkins wasnt and he was gettable. I know that pissed Brady off.
It is what it is. What I dont understand are Pats fans on EITHER side of the fence.
For chrissake, theyre both the 2 greatest
of all time. Ive been reading a lot of boolsheet about both in this forum that is not true. Neither one has ever let their ego come before winning. They BOTH are and always have been about TEAM FIRST.
I place a little more blame on Bill than Tom. But that doesn't change the fact that Bill is the greatest coach in nfl history and we dont have 6 rings w/o him.