‘The Dynasty’ docuseries offers glimpse at Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s broken relationship
"They are both alphas. A collision was inevitable."
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Breakups are never easy.
Especially ones that end the most successful sports dynasty of all time. This Valentines Day, Patriots fans got a sneak peek at what caused the split between head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady following the 2019 season.
In the new Apple TV+ docuseries “The Dynasty,” which explores the Patriots dynasty from 2000 to 2020, Brady reveals why he really left the Patriots.
“Me and coach Belichick, we did what we loved and competed for 20 years together,” Brady said, according to The Athletic’s Chad Graff, who got to screen the show ahead of it’s release on Friday. “But I wasn’t going to sign another contract (in New England) even if I wanted to play until (I was) 50. Based on how things had gone, I wasn’t going to sign up for more of it.”
For nearly four years, fans assumed that Brady left New England over contract disputes, not a fractured personal relationship with Belichick. ‘Dynasty’ clears up that theory – Brady’s demand for a two-year, $50 million contract — and Belichick’s reluctance to give Brady that contract — wasn’t the primary reason he left.
Graff’s synopsis of the series makes Brady’s departure sound like a planned escape, in fact.
Patriots players, some still on the roster, detail their experiences playing under the Belichick reign. Matthew Slater described it as “brutal,” while Rob Gronkowski said he used to dread going to work every day.
Wes Welker went so far as to describe Brady as an abused dog for returning to work for Belichick every season, per Graff.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft spoke about a fundamental difference between his head coach and quarterback.
“Tommy is very sensitive,” Kraft said. “He was always looking for Bill’s approval, almost in a father-son kind of way. And that’s not Bill’s style ever to give that.”
Despite their unparalleled success – six Super Bowl titles over two decades – Belichick and Brady’s relationship suffered towards the end of his time in New England. According to Graff, the last four episodes of the 10-part series dive into the fission between the legendary head coach and quarterback.
“They are both alphas,” the show’s trailer teases. “A collision was inevitable.”
The first two episodes of “The Dynasty” premieres Friday on Apple TV+.
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