The New England Patriots will have someone to blame in case they lose in the AFC playoffs. According to Colin Cowherd of Fox Sports, the Patriots will have Alex Guerrero, trainer and close friend of quarterback Tom Brady, as a scapegoat if they fail to defend their Super Bowl title. “Alex Guerrero is the scapegoat,” Cowherd said on his show “The Herd," per WEEI.com. Cowherd said he expects to hear some players blame Guerrero if they lose. “I knew from the beginning Alex Guerrero was the issue. He’s pretty good with physical therapy and stuff, but he divided the locker room,” added Cowherd.
Recently, Adam Schefter of ESPN revealed a rift between Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Guerrero. It was later discovered that Belichick stripped Guerrero of some team privileges, including boarding team flights and staying on the sideline during games. According to Matt Burke of Metro, the rift between Belichick and Guerrero could strain the relationship between the head coach and his long-time quarterback.
ESPN article reveals rift within Patriots
An ESPN article, written by Seth Wickersham, detailed an alleged power struggle between Brady, Belichick and team owner Robert Kraft. Wickersham reported that after Brady expressed his intention to play into his mid-40s, Kraft then ordered Belichick to trade long-time back-up quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Despite his objections, Belichick heeded Kraft’s mandate, shipping Garoppolo to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2018 second-round pick. Wickersham said Belichick planned to start Garoppolo sooner than later after Brady turned 40.
Brady addresses relationship with Belichick
However, Brady said his relationship with Belichick is as strong as ever, adding that it remains the same as it was 18 years ago when he joined the team.
The partnership between Brady and Belichick has produced five Super Bowl trophies for the Patriots. In an interview on Westwood One Radio with Jim Gray, Brady declared that there is “no coach I would rather play for.” Brady also credited his long-time coach for the success that he’s currently enjoying in the NFL.
The Patriots will play the Tennessee Titans in the divisional round of the playoffs on Saturday.
The Patriots earned a first-round bye in the playoffs after getting the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a 13-3 mark. The Titans, for their part, defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 22-21, to reach the divisional round.
