It got here to gentle that there was some rigidity between Tom Brady and Invoice Belichick forward of the 2018 NFL playoffs. The Patriots’ quarterback and head coach have been working by means of some points together with proprietor Robert Kraft.
Nothing got here of the story instantly. Nevertheless, it did function the start of the top of Brady’s time with the Patriots, and a part of the problem was associated to one in every of his private buddies and trainers, Alex Guerrero.
Guerrero wasn’t employed by the Patriots, however he labored carefully with Brady and had a presence inside the group. Nevertheless, Belichick sought to reduce that presence in 2017 as some points cropped up round his group, and that was a contributing issue to his fraying relationship with Brady.
What was the TB12-related drama that got here to a head in the course of the 2017 Patriots season? This is every little thing to learn about Guerrero and why he and Belichick butted heads throughout that season.
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Who’s Alex Guerrero?
Alex Guerrero is Brady’s “non secular information, counselor, pal, diet advisor, coach, therapeutic massage therapist and member of the family,” based on a narrative by The New York Times. He’s the godfather of Brady’s son Ben.
Guerrero reportedly has a grasp’s diploma in conventional Chinese language medication from SAMRA College in Los Angeles. The varsity closed in 2010.
Guerrero now helps run TB12 with Brady. He has labored with a wide range of skilled athletes throughout his profession, together with LaDanian Tomlinson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and a number of other members of the Patriots.
His profession has not been with out controversy. Guerrero is barred from being referred to as a physician by the The Federal Commerce Fee. This got here after he claimed a complement referred to as “Supreme Greens” might function an “efficient remedy, remedy and preventative for most cancers, coronary heart illness, arthritis and diabetes, and as a method of reaching substantial weight lack of as much as 80 kilos in eight months,” per Boston Magazine. Supreme Greens is a mix of greens, herbs, vitamin-rich grasses and MSM.
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What was the drama between Invoice Belichick and Alex Guerrero?
The Belichick and Guerrero drama got here to a head in the course of the 2017 season. The coach stripped Guerrero of group privileges the Patriots had beforehand granted him.
This included the next, based on The Boston Globe:
- Guerrero was banned from boarding the Patriots’ group jet.
- Guerrero had his game-day sideline entry revoked.
- Guerrero might not deal with gamers apart from Brady at his Gillette Stadium workplace.
Guerrero was by no means an worker of the Patriots, however he had served as a group marketing consultant and was given “free rein” across the constructing, per ESPN. Nonetheless, this example created some rigidity between Belichick and the TB12 tag-team of Brady and Guerrero.
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Why did Invoice Belichick strip Alex Guerrero’s group privileges?
Belichick’s resolution to strip Guerrero’s group privileges was primarily a part of an influence battle. Belichick needed to “completely make clear Guerrero’s position” and “draw sharp boundaries” round him, as ESPN detailed.
What led to that call? In response to the ESPN story, it needed to do with mounting strain to work with Guerrero to earn Brady’s belief.
New gamers felt the surest method to earn Brady’s belief was to affix Rob Gronkowski, Danny Amendola and others by looking for recommendation from Guerrero at his TB12 clinic — and never group medical doctors, which Belichick most popular. Guerrero says he wasn’t pressuring gamers to undertake his method. “Gamers have at all times determined to return or not come on their very own,” he says now. However based on a number of sources, gamers overtly mentioned with Patriots coaches, employees and trusted advisers whether or not to comply with Brady or the group, leaving them trapped: Will we threat alienating the NFL’s strongest coach or threat alienating the NFL’s strongest quarterback?
Guerrero additionally started instructing sure gamers to not comply with the recommendation of the Patriots’ medical group. That led to him changing into a strong however “divisive power” within the Patriots’ constructing.
Belichick determined to nip that within the bud by revoking his entry to the power in an effort to “restore a measure of custom to the group’s medical and coaching operation,” per The Boston Globe.
Belichick made it clear that Guerrero might nonetheless deal with Patriots gamers that sought out the TB12 technique; it simply needed to be on the TB12 facility.
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How did Tom Brady react to Invoice Belichick’s resolution?
Brady did not say a lot about Belichick’s resolution till earlier than the 2018 NFL season. He was requested in regards to the state of affairs with Guerrero in an interview with radio station WEEI. He hung up after then-host Kirk Minihane requested just a few questions on Guerrero.
Brady had beforehand been requested about Guerrero, who had flown with the team and stayed on the Patriots’ lodge in the course of the 2018 NFL preseason. The quarterback did not wish to talk about the stress that took place in 2017.
“I don’t wish to carry on any drama this yr,” Brady said to reporters. “I’m simply targeted on what I wish to do, be an excellent soccer participant for this group. Attempt to be a superb instance within the locker room. Present nice management. That’s the place my focus is. I do know we wish to usually concentrate on a variety of different issues, however I simply wish to stick with soccer and concentrate on being one of the best I may be for this group.”
Brady was additionally requested if he was proud of the preparations the Patriots and Guerrero had forward of the 2018 season. Apparently, all events have been proud of the plan.
“Yeah. I’m a reasonably mentally powerful man,” Brady stated. “I’ve handled a variety of circumstances over a protracted time frame — 18, 19 years. I’m excited for this season. I’m actually excited the place we’re at.”
