FRICTION IS ‘FICTION’

OWNER SAYS BILL WILL BE BACK; BRADY CALLS REPORTS ‘NONSENSE’ /

Tom Brady has spoken. In an interview with Westwood One Sports host Jim Gray, the Patriots quarterback suggested that Friday’s report of a growing rift between the team’s powerful trio — Brady, coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft — is misguided and has not changed his expectation to finish his career with the organization.

“I think for a long time we’ve done a great job of winning games, and it forces people to be creative with what they talk about,” Brady told Gray. “So speculating on relationships or what my feelings are to- wards my team or my organization or players or coaches, you know, I can only speak for myself. And really my relationships with everybody that I deal with, I feel are so positive, to think anything differently of that is complete nonsense.

“[Mr. Kraft] is a great person, man. He has been like a second father to me in so many ways. 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. I certainly couldn’t be the player I am today without playing for such a great coach. So I see these as all positive things. A lot of people … that obviously doesn’t sell many newspapers, but, to me, I have such gratitude toward my time here and I’ve loved my experience. I continue to love my experience.”

Brady doubled down on a previous statement that his hope is to always be a Patriot.

“Well, in that aspect I haven’t changed at all,” he said. “And, you know, I love this team, I love this organization, and hopefully we can go out and make everybody proud by finishing the season the right way.”