KRAFT: BILL ‘ABSOLUTELY’ BACK IN 2018
Kraft says Belichick will ‘absolutely’ return
PATRIOTS OWNER Robert Kraft is in full damage-control mode after ESPN’s explosive report about growing friction within his franchise.
The owner of the five-time Super Bowl champion Patriots told The MMQB’s Peter King Saturday that he “absolutely” believes Bill Belichick will be back to coach the Pats next season.
The ESPN report that has the football world buzzing described how the relationship between the powerhouse trio of owner (Kraft), superstar QB (Tom Brady) and legendary coach (Belichick) is falling apart. The feud reportedly pits Kraft and Brady against Belichick.
ESPN said there is “a palpable sense in (Gillette Stadium) that this might be the last year together” for the three.
Kraft denied to King that he ordered the surprising trade of prized backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo at the trade deadline at the end of October. Garoppolo was seen as the future signal caller of the Patriots, but was dealt to the 49ers for just a second-round draft pick and journeyman Brian Hoyer.
“Until Monday at the trade deadline — I believe that was Oct. 30 — the last time I talked to Bill about Jimmy’s situation was in a group with Bill, (team president) Jonathan (Kraft), (director of player personnel) Nick Caserio ... a small group of us, I think in June. That is the last time I talked to Bill about it.” ESPN reported that Belichick and Kraft met during the season about Garoppolo and that the meeting stretched to half a day.
Kraft called that detail of that meeting “total fabrication and fiction.”
Seth Wickersham, the author of the explosive ESPN article, told King that “I absolutely stand by my story.”
The idea of Kraft ordering Belichick to trade away Garoppolo to appease the 40-year-old Brady led to speculation that the Hoodie-loving coach would want out of Foxborough.
That of course led to talk of a possible reunion between Belichick and the Giants.
“I’m sure Bill knows this is his last chance to be the Giants coach,” a source close to Belichick told the Daily News’ Gary Myers Friday. “Bill sees an opening — an opening to get back to the Giants.”
Belichick spent 12 seasons with Big Blue, helping the Giants to their first two Super Bowl titles, and has a soft spot for the franchise.
Kraft did his best to try and damper that enthusiasm of the Big Blue faithful daydreaming about a Big Apple return.
“When you’re lucky enough to have someone exceptional, you let them do their job and you get out of the way,” Kraft told King.
Kraft claimed Belichick brought the trade to him and he was “really taken aback.”
Brady tried to quell the controversy as well Saturday in an interview with Westwood One’s Jim Gray, saying the implication that his relationship with Belichick was deteriorating was “complete nonsense.” The quarterback made no mention of whether he thought there was a chance Belichick might leave, but he did throw support behind his coach. “I have a great relationship with Coach Belichick. We’ve worked together for 18 years. There’s no coach I’d rather play for, and I’ve loved my experience here,” Brady said. “I certainly couldn’t be the player I am today without playing for such a great coach.” When asked if he felt the Patriots were at risk of becoming a fractured group, Brady pointed to the team’s track record. “I don’t think so. Only if we let it,” he said. “And I think, for so long, we’ve proven that we ignore the noise, we do our job, we speak for ourselves, and we focus on what we need to do to help the team win.” The big three of the Patriots also released a joint statement Friday claiming they “stand united.” The statement called ESPN’s report “unsubstantiated, highly exaggerated or flat out inaccurate.” “It is unfortunate that there is even a need for us to respond to these fallacies. As our actions have shown, we stand united.” If there is turmoil within the Patriots off the field, they did a good job of hiding it between the lines. The Patriots (13-3) enter the postseason as the AFC’s top seed and are the oddson favorite to reach another Super Bowl.