Patriots Rumor ESPN hitpiece on Patriots (Rift with Brady/Belichick/Kraft) - Merged

[hypotherion]

Reiss touched on it in his weekly mailbag:

"Inner turmoil" would be too strong of a description from my perspective. The Patriots have always had a demanding, challenging work environment. My feeling is that however one describes the dynamic in 2017 -- and I do believe this year has come with its own unique challenges specific to Tom Brady, Belichick, Jimmy Garoppolo, Alex Guerrero, Robert Kraft, etc. -- it isn't anything that can't be overcome for everyone involved to accomplish their goals. Winning can always smooth over some of the turbulence. I also believe it is accurate that some in the building wonder about Belichick's future, and that's partially because he doesn't reveal his intentions to anyone, coupled with some of the unique dynamics from the season.

 

[bormio]

When called about the deal, Kraft said - according to King - that he wanted to think about it. He called Jonathan and then gave the go ahead.

 

[Huckleberry1]

OK I'm not getting in a debate over this little point. If you want to think Kraft has no say on his team and BB cares nothing about his bosses opinions thats fine by me.

It’s not “ a little point,” it’s “the” point. Kraft’s deal with Belichick from day one has been that Belichick has total control over football operations. If Kraft reneged on that to make the biggest decisions facing them Belichick would quit, period.


And if everyone is lying and that actually happened I would blame Kraft 100% for reneging on his agreement with Belichick. I’m as big a Brady supporter as there is but Belichick absolutely has the right to trade him if he believes that was the best decision for the franchise. I wouldn’t like it and I wouldn’t agree with it, but I wouldn’t dispute that it’s Belichick’s prerogative.

I also believe that Beluchick realized keeping Brady was the best decision for the franchise, and that he had run out of time with Garrapolo.

 

[signbabybrady]

Right because that’s what anyone said.

Well why are you giving me crap over the use of the word opinion?

 

[RobertWeathers]

I don’t understand how brissett is even part of this conversation.
He was never going to a good backup here and his play in Indy this year showed that.

He shouldn't but Illegal was going down the why, why, why road. I like him but I didn't think Brissett was a fit for the offense but in another offense I think he could be a good backup/spot starter/game manager. He had value as indicated by getting Dorsett in return

 

[bormio]

Kraft has some say - there are players they will not bring to NE because of issues that Kraft and Myra found disqualifying.

 

[IllegalContact]

Not ideal but the team needed a WR3 in TC and in no way were going to pay Tom and Jimmy a combined $47m in cap space for 2018.



So you believe Bob forced Bill to trade Jimmy? Thats not what Bob told Peter King and Curren, Reiss and Howe substantiate that claim.



He was interested when he was 39. He had the SF job for the taking and declined. If Josh leaves he will have landed a job that he feels is right for him and his family and not because he has become disinterested in coaching Tom.



Of course it smells like the end. Tom is 40. Bill is 65. It will end....but not yet.

You know Tom will give the press nothing,

I don’t believe all of that.....there is still the manner in which both qbs were traded that does not align with the history of the way B.B. has done things

I smell a rat here and I wish that wasn’t the case

 

[signbabybrady]

It’s not “ a little point,” it’s “the” point. Kraft’s deal with Belichick from day one has been that Belichick has total control over football operations. If Kraft reneged in that to make the biggest decisions ion facing them Belichick would quit, period.


And if everyone is lying and that actually happened I would blame Kraft 100% for reneging on his agreement with Belichick.

I don't think BB's insistence on full control ever meant that the owner couldn't give his opinion or not sign off on something. I think it was more about the coach not being the GM too. He didn't want a guy between him and the owner to go up the back stairs to. But we could go all day back and forth on this and I'm done.

 

[IllegalContact]

Kraft has some say - there are players they will not bring to NE because of issues that Kraft and Myra found disqualifying.

Many unsavory players have made their way through here

It’s been a long time since Christian Peter

 

[Kdo5]

Disclaimer: hypothetically speaking if some of this story is true, which I think most of it is highly exaggerated or fabricated.

My opinion on Brady is that this organization has no more than 2 Super Bowls without him at best. He has been incredibly unselfish and put the team first at every turn. Taking less money than above average QB's to help the team via the cap.

He has been nothing but the consummate professional his entire career despite what Seth ****ersham and the media hacks would have you believe.

He is the GOAT and STILL the best QB in the league. He gives us a real legitimate shot at winning the Super Bowl this year and at the very least next season too.

And yet some would have him shipped right out of here after this season. I think that is kind of ****ed up. Belichick may be shrewd and it has helped in the past but Tom Brady has earned the right to end his career here barring the dreaded 'cliff'.

This may not be a popular position from the Belichick school of roster management but I am glad Brady is here.

I believe Belichick is sticking around and at the very worst would retire if all this crap is true (which is highly doubtful).

I will ALWAYS be on the side of Brady regarding this. This organization isn't a quarter as successful as it is now without Brady and Belichick would never be the GOAT coach without his consistent and clutch play or the rare team first attitude he has taken for 17 years.

I can understand Bill's frustration regarding Guerrero if he were being an interference in medical matters but that's the furthest I'd go.

IF Bill was pissed about having to trade JG (and I'm absolutely not saying it was the case because this is Wickersham), I'd say Bill can cry us a river. He has it pretty damn great here and he wouldn't have had it without Brady. Boo hoo he has to ride the next two or three seasons with the GOAT QB.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

I guess what’s killing me is I can’t fathom why, after the agony and the egg on the faces of ESPN after defame gate, why would they do this again? There’s zero credibility to anything they say ever again. I honestly loathe them

They are obsessed w the Patriots like Ahab's white whale or Capt. Queeg's strawberries and they won't be happy until they bring down the franchise......truth be damned....

 

[n1997y]

The thing to keep in mind is that for all the non Pats fans, this is their only hope. Look, we love the Pats but there is definitely Pats fatigue among the other 31 teams and fan base. The hope was that the Pats dynasty would eventually end. They tried with the camera scam and the air pressure fiasco but nothing worked. And Brady is looking as good as ever. So what do the 31 have to look forward to? Another 3-5 years of Pats dominance. And I bet they are not happy with that.

What is sad is the Pats excellence should be a model and something that is viewed upon in a positive way. Their success is the result of hard work and a desire to be the best. But instead it is viewed in a way that is representative of our modern world, with jealousy and envy and something that has to be destroyed.

Sad but true. Makes sense. Which is easier, competing by following that model or destroying it? Seems obvious to me it's easier for the other 31 to drag the Pats back down to their level to beat them at their own game. Or at least it will seem that way to them.

 

[Ring 6]

Kraft told King he was “taken aback” by the JG trade. That he thought it would be dealt with at the end of the year and BB then called him with the proposed deal.

I think anyone with some objectivity can look at the facts and see clearly what happened.

No one moves in from the GOAT playing at MVP level. It doesn’t matter who the other QBs is. Any thoughts of that were always inane.

Brady is 40, you are competing for a SB and you have a backup you like.
You don’t trade him before the season because if brady is injured you need him. Insurance for a Sb Run is more important than a little more return.

That leaves 3 choices, based upon keeping him as long as you can.
1) trade him at the very last minute under his contract (as was done)
2) franchise him after the season then trade him (this comes with the risk that his value is reduced by having a 24 mill cal hit and little proof in the field of what he can do in a an heavy draft year)
3) let him walk and get a comp luck MAYBE in 2 years.

When B.B. said he look at every possibility and found this to be the only way, he is saying, assuming 3 is not a real option, that he was deciding between 1 and 2 and as time went on 2 seemed unrealistic.

Factors why 2 could be unrealistic:
Projected cap. If you use all your cap,even cutting players to get there just to make a trade you tie your hands. Jag would have to agree to a long term contract to get more than a high 2nd anyway, so now he is running the trade and the longer it takes the more you hamstring your franchise with resigning players or signing free agents.

As the college season wore on, the amount of 1st round QBs available looked high. Trade your 1 for a guy you have to give franchise money at 26 with 1 1/2 games of experience or draft one? However you see it, that limits trade value.

Alex Smith, Tyrod Taylor, Drew Brees, Eli Manning, all could be free agents, again starters that you can sign for free are competition to trading.

This was obvious to me in the spring, I just don’t see what anyone else expected.

Trading after franchising clearly became too risky an option and probably would have ended up with rescinding the tag and losing him for a possible comp pick or nothing at all.

 

[Ring 6]

Well why are you giving me crap over the use of the word opinion?

Why are you incapable of understanding why that’s an inaccurate description?

I’m not giving you crap, I’m correcting you.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I don’t believe all of that.....there is still the manner in which both qbs were traded that does not align with the history of the way B.B. has done things

I smell a rat here and I wish that wasn’t the case

These circumstances were unlike anything else we've seen here the last 17 years. The only thing close was 08 when TB12 tagged and traded Cassel for a 2nd even though Tom was coming off an ACL and they cut KOC and kept rookie Brian Hoyer instead.

I don't know what to tell you about smelling a rat. There is no question the Guerrero flap has added a layer to this story which gives this all the makings of a soap opera and the media is running with it.

 

[Ring 6]

He shouldn't but Illegal was going down the why, why, why road. I like him but I didn't think Brissett was a fit for the offense but in another offense I think he could be a good backup/spot starter/game manager. He had value as indicated by getting Dorsett in return

He had value because Indy had no qb not the state that could even look the part.
Brissett showed that yes you can put him in the field and not have Ryan leaf but damn if you have to put himself the field you are in big trouble.

 

[Jackson 2]

They are obsessed w the Patriots like Ahab's white whale or Capt. Queeg's strawberries and they won't be happy until they bring down the franchise......truth be damned....

There's no doubt it's an obsession.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

He shouldn't but Illegal was going down the why, why, why road. I like him but I didn't think Brissett was a fit for the offense but in another offense I think he could be a good backup/spot starter/game manager. He had value as indicated by getting Dorsett in return

Was higher on Bisquick on the Pats but now with many starts albeit under adverse circumstances, at best he has a QB2 ceiling.
I was worried about JAGs playing health because of his style (NOT physique) but he has exceeded QB1 expectations for 2017.
2018 will be a telling year with a full training camp acclimation vs DCs having lots of game film.

 

[Dingleberry]

It won’t be long before the dingleberries blame kraft for everything......again

I was pretty pisssed at Kraft over DefameGate, but never over the top.

And it's singular. Dingleberry. I hang alone.

 

[RobertWeathers]

He had value because Indy had no qb not the state that could even look the part.
Brissett showed that yes you can put him in the field and not have Ryan leaf but damn if you have to put himself the field you are in big trouble.

There was speculation he and Dorsett were going to both be cut so they helped each other out. I think if both were cut they would be picked up so it worked out for both clubs