Tom Brady's trainer speaks out: 'I have never tried to create divisiveness or conflict'
Friday’s ESPN report detailing a rift in the New England Patriots organization among its key figures, most notably owner Bob Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady covers a lot of ground.
The most noteworthy revelation is the reported disagreement and power struggle over the Jimmy Garoppolo trade in which Kraft appeared to favor Brady’s wishes over Belichick’s desire to keep the backup quarterback on the roster.
One of the juicer subplots of the story involves Tom Brady’s trainer, Alex Guerrero, whose unorthodox training regimen criticized for not being based in science has drawn widespread ridicule. He settled with the Federal Trade Commission in 2015 over dietary supplements he allegedly claimed would cure cancer, for example.
Belichick kicked Guerrero off the team sidelines and plane earlier in the season and restricted players not named Brady from using his services at team facilities.
Guerrero had set up camp near the team’s locker room and was treating several of Brady’s teammates. He has worked with Brady since 2004. Brady has stated repeatedly that he plans to play well into his 40s while receiving treatment from Guerrero.
The ESPN report details accounts of players being pressured to visit Guerrero and receive treatment they were wary of. Guerrero also reportedly reached out to several players after Belichick had banned him, offering to treat them at the offsite TB12 Sports Therapy Center while giving the impression that they didn’t have Belichick’s blessing to do so.
Guerrero was accused of trying to drive a wedge in the Patriots locker room with those actions, which he responded to with a statement Friday evening.
“I have always tried to be respectful of the staff each player answers to, and I have never tried to create divisiveness or conflict,” the statement reads. “My ultimate goal has always been to do my very best to help the player get back on the field and help their team. I have never had any motive other than that.”
The Patriots released a joint statement from Kraft, Belichick and Brady Friday challenging the details of ESPN’s report.
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