Trouble in Patriots land? ESPN to release article on infighting in New England

[True Dough]

We'll see tomorrow if it's just stirring the pot or whether real rifts are being exposed, and whether this affects how the Pats perform in the playoffs.

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[underpants]

1. Fighting in the castle

as long it isn't the rank and file pissed at Brady/Belichick (what I expected to read here) it's not that bad.

I was wondering why all the talk today about Belichick not canceling practice today was about. Now I know.

[exboyfil]

2. I keep wondering about the Jimmy G. trade

It sure looks like that the Patriots should have moved on from Brady at the end of the year. Both the 49ers and the Packers were willing to do this. Also I go back to just a 2nd round pick? I doubt loyalty to Jimmy G. If you want a friend, get a dog. It seems they could have shaken two 2nd round picks out of the Browns.

The only thing that makes sense is if Jimmy G. Cousins the 49ers (play on the franchise tag). Effectively that frees him up after two years (three on the outside). He can go back to the Patriots at that point. With the 49ers he will actually get an opportunity to hone his craft. With the Browns he would just be a tackling dummy (unless they make major changes).

[dem4decades]

3. three Republicans that can argue over who's the bigger political asshole.

[Yavin4]

15. Are you talking about the Patriots or the Trump admin?

I'm getting confused.

[dem4decades]

16. The New England Patriots, or at least Brady, Kraft and Belichek.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-new-england-patriots-are-team-trump

[left-of-center2012]

4. The three are Trump lovers

[True Dough]

5. Maybe the Patriots will implode

simultaneously as the Trump administration goes up in flames.

[True Dough]

6. ESPN has posted the story already...

THE PROBLEM WITH living your life under the spotlight is that the camera captures only the public eruption, not the months of silent anger. On Dec. 3, when the New England Patriots played the Buffalo Bills, Tom Brady walked to the sideline after throwing late and behind receiver Brandin Cooks on third down, ending a first-quarter drive. Brady was angrier and more irritable than usual, as has often been the case this season in the eyes of some Patriots players and staff. As he unsnapped his chinstrap, Brady passed offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels on the sideline.

"He was wide open," McDaniels said to Brady, referring to Cooks.

Brady kept walking, and glaring at McDaniels, so the coach repeated: "We had him open."

Brady snapped, pivoting to McDaniels and yelling at him, "I got it!" Everyone within earshot, including head coach Bill Belichick, turned to watch as Brady screamed. He removed his helmet, and as a Patriots staffer held him back - and with McDaniels' father and legendary high school coach in Ohio, Thom, in the stands behind the bench - capped off the exchange by yelling, "F--- you!"

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/page/hotread180105/beginning-end-new-england-patriots-robert-kraft-tom-brady-bill-belichick-internal-power-struggle

[JonLP24]

7. Thanks for posting

It is like "Fire & Fury"

[True Dough]

8. Yeah, there are parallels

except Belichick doesn't tweet. He broods. We'll see if he responds publicly to this report or not.

[ProfessorGAC]

9. Something Off About This

How does anybody win a power struggle against the billionaire who owns the fucking team?

[True Dough]

10. Nobody said they'd win, Professor

But inflated egos still clash despite the imbalance of power.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. Then It's Not A Power Struggle

If only one person has the absolute power, this is just an argument, not a power struggle. They'll lose the argument because ONE GUY has all the power. Anybody can be cut or traded or fired. Except the owner.

[True Dough]

12. Fair enough

The Twitter source I posted chose that term. I don't believe it's in the article.

I referred to it as "infighting" in my OP.

[ProfessorGAC]

13. I've Been Hearing Power Struggle Since Yesterday

And the guy who wrote the article (Haberstram?) did use that term in a tweet. I'm picking a nit here, but just because of that one word.

We all know who's going to win this argument.

[Yavin4]

14. Are you talking about Kraft or Trump? n/t

[True Dough]

17. The Pats triumverate have issued a statement to refute this report

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots issued a joint statement from owner Robert Kraft, coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady on Friday, the day ESPN published a story detailing tension among the three.

"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."

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21969416/robert-kraft-tom-brady-bill-belichick-united-amid-reports-tension-new-england-patriots

[True Dough]

18. Report from NY Daily News that Belichick is considering the coaching position with the Giants

Take this one with a huge grain of salt, but it would be one way for Belichick to prove he was the primary reason for the Pats success, or not...

Can Bill Belichick, yes Bill Belichick, be the next coach of the Giants? With a report of turmoil in New England involving him, Tom Brady and Robert Kraft, it certainly seems feasible.

“I’m sure Bill knows this is his last chance to be the Giants coach,” a source close to Belichick said Friday. “Bill sees an opening — an opening to get to the Giants.”

The source has not spoken to Belichick since the story came out, but is very familiar with The Hoodie’s desire to coach the Giants.

The source also said he’s not certain if the reported friction and tension in New England will prompt Belichick to force his way out, but if he does, he said he is certain, “The Giants are the only place he wants to be.”

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/bill-belichick-sees-opening-coach-giants-source-article-1.3739643

[JonLP24]

20. If he really wanted to prove that he should go back to the Browns

[True Dough]

21. Right, Jon!

[Iggo]

19. Aw, poor babies.