A new report suggests that ESPN is readying a new story that will detail a potentially destructive “power struggle” between Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and Robert Kraft.
Bruce Allen of Boston Sports Media Watch tweeted on Thursday night that ESPN’s Seth Wickersham will publish a new investigative report on the Patriots at 8 a.m. on Friday. The story reportedly centers on a “power struggle among the trio as to who deserves the most credit for the dynasty.”
(UPDATE: The story is live.)
Allen continued that the story “claims that the rift is so severe many Patriots feel this is the last year together” for Belichick, Brady, and Kraft in New England. He also said that the story will say that Brady “went to Kraft to force Belichick to trade” Jimmy Garoppolo to the 49ers.
The article claims that the rift is so severe many Patriots feel this is the last year together for the trio. Also that Brady went to Kraft to force Belichick to trade Jimmy G. ESPN is planning a full day of promotion tomorrow for the article and its author @SethWickersham
— Bruce Allen (@bruceallen) January 5, 2018
Multiple follow-up reports suggested that the story will not make claims about Brady forcing Belichick to make the trade. Allen later tweeted part of what he said is an internal memo at ESPN to prepare staffers for the story. Here’s what the memo read:
“One key battle was over backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo. According to Seth’s reporting, Brady reportedly met with Kraft to discuss playing into his mid-40s. Kraft eventually gave Belichick a mandate to trade Garoppolo. Belichick was furious; Brady was liberated. ‘He won,’ a Patriot staffer told Seth of Brady.”
LISTEN: Adam Jones & Nick Cattles on ESPN’s Patriots Story
Whatever the story ultimately contains, you can be sure to hear plenty more discussion about it on 98.5 The Sports Hub on Friday, starting with Toucher & Rich at 6 a.m. Rich tweeted earlier on Thursday that he’s spoken to members of the Patriots about the story and that the team was not aware of it.
