Tom Brady Sr. predicted years ago that the relationship between his son and the New England Patriots would end “badly,” but the elder Brady considers what happened this offseason to be more of an amicable separation.
In a recent appearance on the “Raising Fame: Sports Edition” podcast with Stephen Curry’s parents Dell and Sonya, Brady Sr. says he doesn’t like to use the word “divorce” to describe what happened with his son and the Patriots. He instead called it a “separation” and spoke about how much respect Brady Jr. has for Bill Belichick.
“I don’t know that it’s a divorce. Twenty years together is a long time. I can’t tell you the hundreds of times Tommy has said, ‘Bill [Belichick] is the best coach in football,’” Brady Sr. said, as transcribed by Nicole Yang of Boston.com. “Tommy sings Bill’s praises. Divorce sounds a little bit harsh.”
If you put the pieces together, it seems obvious that Brady wanted to return to the Patriots but was not shown enough appreciation by Belichick. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers gave Brady a two-year, $50 million deal that is fully guaranteed, while New England wanted to keep going year-to-year with the four-time Super Bowl MVP. Some viewed that as a sign of disrespect, and Brady certainly may have felt that way about it. However, Brady Sr. defended Belichick for doing what the coach thinks is best for the future of the Patriots.
“Bill’s got a lot of responsibilities to keep the Patriots on track,” Brady Sr. said. “That is a bigger responsibility than keeping Tommy under the hood. Both of them are mature individuals. I really respect Bill’s decision and respect Tommy’s decision as well. It’s OK to take different paths. You don’t have to stay joined at the hip.”
Again, Brady Sr. said nearly five years ago that the relationship between Brady and Belichick would not end well. If that meant Brady Sr. believed his son would finish his career elsewhere, he was right. However, it’s possible that the split ends up being beneficial for both sides.
Brady joked not all that long ago that he has banned his father from speaking with the media, but the quarterback should have no problem with his dad’s latest remarks. Even though Robert Kraft came awfully close to blaming Brady for the end of the TB12 era in New England, Brady and his family are clearly taking the high road.
Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski have teamed up yet again! Treat yourself or a friend with this great Tampa Fiesta shirt. You can buy it here.
