Patriots quarterback Tom Brady joined Kirk & Callahan Tuesday morning to discuss the recent ESPN story about a power struggle within the Patriots organization between him, Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick. The 40-year-old disputed many parts of the piece. Listen to the full interview by clicking here.
Brady said he hasn't read the entire story, but like Belichick, was briefed on certain parts, so he has a good understanding of many of the things contained in the piece.
"Well, I think there's a lot of things that are said," Brady said. "I think you can go about your life, certainly here with this team, and try and do what I have always done for a long time and that's be a good teammate, work as hard as I can to help the team win, and then somebody can write something to contradict that and it's up to everybody to believe what they want to believe. I don't put too much thought into it, really. I think I have a great relationship with my teammates, and if others don't feel like they have a great relationship with me, that is one thing, but I try and do what I have always done and be the best teammate I can be. I don't think that has ever really changed in my mind."
Like other Patriots on Monday, Brady confirmed the Patriot Player of the Week award exists, but said he has never expressed being upset over not winning it.
"No, I think things like that, I can't imagine me ever saying that, or me talking about that," he said. "It's hard to even answer that question."
Brady added: "I have won it plenty of times. Again, it's hard to even answer that question. There's really no basis for it. It's hard to — I don't know. I just shake my head."
There was also a story of Jimmy Garoppolo going to the TB12 Sports Therapy Center to get treatment on his shoulder last year, but the door was locked and no one would answer the phone. It wasn't until two weeks later and a member of the Patriots called that Garoppolo was actually treated.
Brady debunked this as well.
"Again, it's hard to even answer those questions," he said. "It is so far from any truth that I know, or any characterization of my relationship with my teammates. I have never denied anybody anything in regards to TB12. I have always found it very flattering when teammates go there. 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.
"I think Coach [Belichick] always says speak for yourselves and I have always tried to go by that. Like I said, I have a great relationship with all my teammates. I certainly did with Jimmy. I loved working with Jimmy. We had a great time together. I wish him nothing but the best, like always. Just like all my teammates, really. I think that is just how I feel about him."
The same can be said for the notion Brady was "liberated" following Garoppolo being traded.
"I think that is such a poor characterization," Brady 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.
"I have never been traded or released, but I can imagine how that might feel. I would never feel that way when Jimmy got traded, or Jacoby [Brissett] got traded. I have kept in touch with all those guys. When Matt Cassel was gone — all these guys I've worked with. I feel like I have had such great relationships with all the quarterbacks I have worked with. I have kept him touch with basically everybody. To characterize that as a certain way is just completely wrong."
Brady's personal trainer Alex Guerrero was mentioned in the story, as well. The piece states Brady would tell teammates, "Bill's answer to everything is to lift more weights," which seemingly would go against Guerrero's methods.
The 40-year-old disagreed with that, too.
"Again, I am not a divisive person," he said. "I don't speak about things like that, and again, I think we've talked for a long time about how I feel about training and my preparation. Again, people come up to me whether it is my teammates, or other guys and say, 'Hey, what are the things that you do? What are the things that have worked for you?' I can just convey that certain message. Whether that is how I train, or how I eat, or sleep, or drink, all those things. I just try and give them the answer that works for me. It certainly doesn't have to work for everybody. Every player, it is up to them to either listen to what I am saying and either use it or not use it. It's their career. It's not that I couldn't care less. I want everyone to experience the things I have experienced as I have gotten older. That is just what I try and convey."
Like Belichick said Monday, Brady appreciates the time he's spent working with Belichick over the last 18 years and couldn't imagine it any other way.
"Again, I have spoken about this so many times and even this last weekend I did a show, 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.
"I can only say and speak for myself and act how I have always acted. I think you guys know me pretty well. I have spoken to you guys every week for a long time. I think you guys can probably disseminate a lot of information yourself without me even saying it."
When it comes to the piece as a whole, Brady has learned over the years not to take what he reads seriously, and it is harder on the people who care about him when they read it.
"I think that is a big part of what goes on in some of these articles. That is why I never take anything too seriously anymore," Brady said. "I think I have been apart of a lot of articles over the years that I disagree with. People can write whatever they want to write. This is a free country. You can say what you want to say. I am evaluated on my job, I am sure other people are evaluated on their jobs. I think it is just being in my position and I understand there's 31 other cities where people aren't Patriots fans or Tom Brady fans. Here there's a lot competition within our media. I have been apart of that for a long time, too.
"I think you just have to take the good with the bad. It's probably harder on the people who care about me because they are the ones that write me. They read it, probably like a lot of other people, you read it and when we grew up, what you read in the paper was the truth. I think now you just have to take everything — it's just a little bit different now."
