TWO-GETHER
Despite static, insiders insist Belichick, Brady still in lock step on Patriots’ march
Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are at odds, right? There has to be some kind of rift between the three-time Super Bowl MVP and his legendary coach. They’re angrily going toe-to-toe over game reps.
At least, that’s been one of the views making the rounds in wake of several recent events including Scissor-gate, Brady’s odd two-day absence to “take care of something,” and his continued lobbying to get into games, even though interim starter Jimmy Garoppolo really needs to play.
It’s doubtful we’ll ever find out the reality of what’s happened behind closed doors at Gillette Stadium the past few weeks. Or what really led to Brady’s appearance Friday night at Bank of America Stadium, where TB12 finally got into a preseason game.
These are two incredibly determined, strong-willed, highly competitive men. They’re bound to clash. But that doesn’t necessarily mean because there’s smoke, there’s fire. A bit of drama doesn’t always equal a five-alarm disaster.
Speaking with several former Patriots players who know both Brady and Belichick well, here’s a little perspective. First off, disagreements aren’t new. During the course of a season, the two haven’t always seen eye-to-eye. The circumstances of preparing to start another quarterback ahead of him are certainly a first, and different for Brady in wake of his four-game Deflategate suspension. But the bottom line remains the same. Former Patriots fullback Heath
Evans last week told the Herald it still comes down to trust. No matter what the issue, no matter if Brady agrees or not with a particular decision, he trusts Belichick’s judgment. Evans said he’d “bet my life savings” the two aren’t feuding or fighting as a result of Belichick sending Brady home prior to the Bears game after he sliced his finger with a pair of scissors.
“Those two don’t waste energy or time or emotional output on things that don’t create wins and losses. I know the respect level between the two of them. I also know the submission to Bill’s authority that Tom operates under,” the NFL Network analyst said. “Despite him being Tom Freaking Brady, he’s never gotten too big where he’d want to implement his own will or his own power, because he knows at the core of the Patriots success, is that submission to Bill’s way or the highway. So no matter how much Tom wants to play — unless something has drastically changed in the last couple weeks, and I know it hasn’t — this is the Patriots we’re talking about. No one knows anything. People are just speculating stupid stuff that never takes place in that building. Period. The end. That’s where I stand on it.” Former Patriots safety Rodney
Harrison, who had to deal with Belichick during a four-game suspension of his own in 2007 after admitting to federal investigators he knowingly obtained and used HGH, also doesn’t buy the alleged turmoil, or anything that would impact the relationship going forward.
While Brady and Belichick have never been portrayed as best friends, they have enjoyed a great working bond that has powered a long and successful football partnership.
“First, it’s a very respectful relationship,” Harrison said. “And knowing Tom, he wants to be out there. He’s a very competitive guy. He feels like the more reps you get, the better prepared you are, and even though he’s not playing those first four games, and even though he’s accomplished so much in his career, he still wants those reps to feel comfortable.
“But it still comes down to Belichick. He’s the head coach and he has to make some tough decisions, and that’s giving Jimmy Garoppolo as many reps as possible. Tom’s had 15, 16, 17 years of reps. It’s time to give the young kid reps, build his confidence, and see what the team’s capable of doing with him.”
Brady hasn’t been shy about saying he hates giving up the reps, even though he knows Garoppolo must start those first four games in his absence, so people are connecting the dots.
“Look, it’s not a rift where Tom’s pissed off at Belichick,” Harrison said. “I think if he sits back, I think Tom would tell you the same thing. He understands the decision Belichick has to make, and that’s something he’s going to live with. And he’s going to be a great teammate and do whatever he has to do to support Jimmy.”
So their incredible 16-year union isn’t going to blow up in smoke over missed reps in the preseason? And Brady isn’t going to carry a grudge?
“Trust me, those two have been together a long time. They’ve accomplished more than any other coach-quarterback tandem in the history of the NFL. They have a mutual respect,” Harrison said. “Bill’s stubborn. Tom’s stubborn. But they have a mutual respect for one another and ultimately, Bill is always going to win out because he’s the head coach and knows what’s best for the team. As good as Tom is, he would not be Tom Brady if not for Bill Belichick. Point blank. Period.”
If anything, with Brady’s appearance Friday night, it looked as if once again, they found a professional way to deal with a thorny issue.
You can debate whether it was best for Garoppolo, or Belichick ultimately bowed to his superstar, but the hooded one has made a Hall of Fame-worthy career looking at the bigger picture and doing what was best for the team.
Said Evans: “In that building, there’s only one right way to do something. And both of those guys (Brady and Belichick) always do it.” Develin’s return critical Even though running back Dion
Lewis won’t be in the Patriots picture for awhile, Evans said it shouldn’t be an overriding concern, and he cited one way the running game has improved from last year. And although he may be biased toward the position, he believes fullback James Develin, who was lost for 2015 after breaking his leg, will make a significant difference.
“The guy is as complete as it gets. But what he’s asked to do is open up gaping holes and he does it with as much success or better than anyone in the league,” Evans said. “These first four weeks, I can see some of those game plans as being really run-heavy where it’s just Develin and LeGarrette ( Blount) and they’re just hurting people, and they’re trying to have four or five schemed runs that they just beat you to death with. And then they try to live on their defense support.”
Evans said Develin has a gift for seeing running lanes well before they develop. That’s why he’s such a good lead blocker.
“You haven’t seen that in a lot of fullbacks ever. He just has real good vision and that instinct to see and sense things and to create, vs. waiting, waiting, waiting, ‘Oh there (the hole) is,’ and go,” Evans said. “I just think it’s an added benefit an added element people have forgotten. I mean, to have LeGarrette and James back to where you can be a physical, ground and pound team, I think probably hasn’t been talked about enough.” Osweiler high on O’Brien
It hasn’t taken Brock Osweiler long to become a card-carrying member of the Bill O’Brien fan club. It didn’t take long for the Texans coach and former Patriots offensive coordinator to win him over.
“I didn’t really set any expectations for what Coach O’Brien was going to be,” Osweiler told the Houston Chronicle. “I wanted to come in with a blank slate, an open mind. That’s exactly what I’ve done. It’s an honor to be able to come to work every single day with him because he’s a hell of a football coach. He’s a great person.
“He really cares about his players and his staff. You see it on a daily basis. He’s somebody that, not only is he a lot of fun to work with and he creates a great atmosphere here, but he’s somebody that you can learn a ton of football from as well.” Turner: AP going strong
Adrian Peterson looks as if he might have taken a page out of Brady’s health and nutrition manual. At age 31, the running back hasn’t shown any signs of age. Typically, the wall for backs is around 30. Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner told the Minneapolis Star Tribune Peterson is dodging Father Time to this point.
“From this camp, I have not seen anything (diminishin),” Turner said of Peterson. “He’s got burst. He’s got such a quick start and we know he’s powerful in breaking tackles and running through. He finishes runs out here. We’ve all seen him take off and run the length of the field.”