After rumors of a rift between New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady’s trainer and business partner, Alex Guerrero, surfaced, there were few details surrounding it. Even Adam Schefter of ESPN failed to mention the cause of the feud when he first revealed it. Now, a recent report from Bob Hohler of the Boston Globe is shedding more light on the issue: “For reasons he has declined to explain, Belichick weeks ago stripped Guerrero of his special team privileges,” Hohler said in his report, per information from people familiar with the Patriots’ internal operations.

According to Hohler, Belichick has reduced Guerrero’s role with the team, not allowing him on team flights and not allowing him to stay on the sideline during games. Belichick’s move was aimed at restoring a measure of tradition to the team’s medical and training operation, per Hohler’s sources. Guerrero will not be allowed to treat players other than Brady at his exclusive office in Gillette Stadium. Sources told Hohler that the decision has created some tension with the team, especially between Belichick and Brady, who did not publicly address the situation. In previous interviews, Brady and Belichick both refused to talk about Guerrero’s reduced role with the team.

Rift might boil over?

Earlier, Schefter reported that there is a brewing rift within the team after Guerrero was not on the sideline during the Patriots’ close win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Matt Burke of Metro.us said that if the situation boils over and affects the relationship between Brady and Belichick, team owner Robert Kraft might side with the quarterback. If that occurs, Belichick might decide to leave his job with the Patriots and possibly join the New York Giants. Belichick is a close friend of Giants team owner John Mara and consults him from time to time regarding coaching decisions.

Four Patriots make it to Pro Bowl

Four members of the Patriots, led by Brady, have made it to the 2018 NFL Pro Bowl. Aside from Brady, fullback James Develin, tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receiver Matthew Slater will represent the Patriots in the Pro Bowl, which will be played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida on January 28, 2018.

At least four Patriots have been selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the last nine seasons. In his 18-year career, Brady will be seeing action in the Pro Bowl for a franchise-best 13th time, while Develin has earned his first career Pro Bowl appearance. Gronkowski is headed to his fifth career Pro Bowl, while Slater was selected for the seventh straight time as a special teams player.