Patriots: New details emerge of Tom Brady and Gisele’s friction with Bill Belichick
By Jerry Trotta
Former Patriots QB Tom Brady nearly left the franchise after the 2017 season.
Patriots fans are likely riding high right now, and understandably so. All reports out of training camp suggest that Cam Newton is not only balling out, but being his animated self while doing so.
Furthermore, both Sony Michel and Lamar Miller have been activated off the physically unable to perform list, which provides some needed positive news regarding the outlook of the running game. On top of that, the pressure of camp has actually been bringing the best out of certain young players, many of whom are shaping up to contribute in a big way this season.
We hate to drive a nail into the good vibes, but this story is so noteworthy that it deserves the time of day. What if we told you that Tom Brady nearly left New England after the team’s shocking loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII?
In “The Dynasty,” which chronicles the rise and fall of the Patriots historic 20-year run of dominance, author Jeff Benedict notes that Brady was exhausted by the trials and tribulations of the 2017 campaign and asked owner Robert Kraft to honor a verbal agreement the two made back in 2010: To let the three-time MVP leave if his relationship with head coach Bill Belichick had become too fatigued.
Benedict notes that tensions between the two Patriots legends came to a head when Belichick banned Alex Guerrero, Brady’s fitness coach and TB12 business parter, from being on the sidelines in the middle of that season. Additionally, the former was becoming fed up with the “exceptions that Kraft felt were necessary to accommodate the transcendent star.”
How did the Patriots owner respond? By sitting the legendary duo down and forcing them to talk out their differences.
"“Kraft ushered them into his living room,” wrote Benedict. “Belichick took a seat on a chair to Kraft’s right and Brady sat on a couch to Kraft’s left. Hoping to facilitate some constructive dialogue, Kraft told them how important they both were to him. Belichick was diplomatic. Brady was respectful. But the distance between them was obvious.”"
We know how the story ended (Brady stayed), but not before his wife, supermodel Gisele Bundchen, called out Belichick and the Patriots for not appreciating the 14-time Pro Bowler as much as they should during the couple’s own meeting with Kraft.
"“She also pointed out how ridiculous it was that after all these years, Belichick still treated Brady like “f****** Johnny Foxboro,” Benedict continued. “It was bad enough to never voice approval. It was bullsh*t to still be dressing down the most accomplished quarterback in league history during team meetings and treating his personal trainer and best friend like some kind of outcast.”"
For starters, Gisele is an absolute legend for that quote.
Now, to say we’re shocked that it’s only taken less than six months for details surrounding the split between the six-time Super Bowl champions to surface would be an understatement. At the rate folks are reading “The Dynasty,” don’t be surprised if more juicy nuggets become public knowledge before long.
We obviously didn’t think it was all sunshine and rainbows between Brady and Belichick for 20 consecutive years. However, the fact that the former was worried that the latter would try to find his replacement way back in 2010 speaks volumes to his insecurity and really suggests their relationship wasn’t as impenetrable as we were led to believe.