Tom Brady rips ESPN article, calls it a ‘poor characterization’

Bill Belichick and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft have already spoken out against ESPN’s bombshell article about an alleged power struggle within the organization, and Tuesday was Tom Brady’s turn.

In his weekly appearance on WEEI’s “Kirk & Callahan Show,” Brady shared some of his thoughts on Seth Wickersham’s reporting. His overall message was that the piece contained many, many inaccuracies. For starters, Brady insisted his relationship with Belichick is as strong as ever.

“I have spoken about this so many times, coach Belichick has been such a great coach and mentor and I certainly could never accomplish anything in this sport without everything that he has taught me,” Brady said. “I have been so lucky to play for this team. There’s been so many great coaches here, players, staff members, Mr. Kraft and Jonathan [Kraft]. I have had such great support here. I think again, to characterize it any differently than how I say it, and again, I could say it a million times and then someone could write one thing. It is really up to whoever is listening that wants to believe it and maybe they want to believe it because that’s what they want to believe. They want to believe things are maybe different, or maybe they want to believe — I don’t know.”

Brady also addressed the claims that his TB12 performance institute refused to treat Jimmy Garoppolo and that the four-time Super Bowl MVP was pleased when Garoppolo was traded.

“I have never denied anybody anything in regards to TB12. I have always found it very flattering when teammates go there,” he said. “Again, I think this speaks to someone whether it is the writer himself, or whoever he spoke to, what agenda they might have in painting some type of picture.”

And whether Brady felt “liberated” when Garoppolo was shipped to San Francisco:

“I think that is such a poor characterization,” he said. “In 18 years I have never celebrated when someone has been traded, been cut. I would say that is disappointing to hear that someone would express that, or a writer would express that because it is so far from what my beliefs are about my teammates and I think I am very empathetic about other people’s experiences. I know those situations aren’t easy.”

Brady also denied that he ever spoke poorly about the Patriots’ training staff as a way to encourage players to follow the advice of his personal trainer, Alex Guerrero. Specifically, Wickersham reported that Brady once quipped that Belichick’s “answer to everything is to lift more weights.” Brady said he is always open to giving advice to other players and sharing his training experiences, but he insists he is “not a divisive person” and would never try to make his teammates choose sides.

As for the “Patriot of the Week” award that Wickersham mentioned, Brady confirmed it exists but would not say whether he has won it this season. He did, however, say he can only shake his head when he hears someone claim that he was upset over not being given the honor.

Belichick said Monday that he feels he has a good relationship with Guerrero, and the coach also shot down one other major takeaway from the ESPN story. If a lot of what Wickersham wrote is untrue like the Patriots claim, it would not be a surprise if the reporting serves as motivation for them as they try to win a sixth Super Bowl.