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“People Get Divorced”: Two-Time Super Bowl Winner Unveils True Reason Behind Tom Brady’s Patriots Departure

Published 04/02/2024, 10:10 PM EDT

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Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s relationship has been intensely scrutinized for years. Many blamed Belichick for Brady’s departure from the New England Patriots. Later, Brady himself confirmed the long-held speculation. He disclosed that he departed in 2020 because of his tense relationship with the head coach. Despite this, he expressed gratitude for his time with the team. However, there was no doubt that their relationship had been deteriorating for years, even amidst Super Bowl victories.

Recently, on The Dan and Ninko Show, former Patriots star Rob Ninkovich revealed that Belichick may have intentionally damaged his relationship with Brady in pursuit of winning. The two-time Super Bowl-winning linebacker even equated Brady’s exit to a divorce.

Rob Ninkovich reveals what drove away Tom Brady

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In a recent interview, Rob Ninkovich shared insights about his teammate Tom Brady and their time with the Patriots. Rob didn’t mince his words when discussing a common frustration among those playing. He pointed out that many players, including Tom Brady, often feel underappreciated despite their sacrifices on the field. His direct comparison to Brady’s situation was stark: “I don’t think Tom felt appreciated for what he did. That’s what tears relationships apart.”

Rob’s analogy of divorce to explain the situation is a metaphor and a reflection of the harsh realities in sports. “You know why people get divorced sometimes? Because one person says, ‘You don’t appreciate what I do on a day-to-day basis. You don’t acknowledge that I’m sacrificing my effort, my time, and I’m committed to this relationship.'” He then connected this to sports, emphasizing, ‘The same thing in sports – if you don’t recognize what people sacrifice, and you don’t recognize the effort,’ it breaks things down. Thus, Rob offered his perspective on the rumored reasons behind the QB-coach split.

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The reason behind the Brady-Belichick breakup

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick were once an unstoppable duo, leading the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl victories. But their legendary success ended in a surprising split. Reports suggest Belichick struggled to accept Brady’s growing stardom and wanted to maintain control, leading to a rift in the locker room. But it didn’t stop there. Things got worse when reports surfaced that Belichick doubted Brady’s abilities as he got older. This was a major blow to the 42-year-old quarterback, who felt deeply unappreciated. This likely played a big part in Brady’s decision to leave.

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Later, Brady joined the Buccaneers and proved he still had what it takes by winning another Super Bowl. He even retired after that victory. Despite their differences, Brady and Belichick have maintained mutual respect and seemingly made peace after retiring. However, their story reminds us that player under-appreciation remains a major problem in many franchises. In the comments below, share your thoughts on how teams can better value their players.

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Written by:

M.R. Jenifer

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Jenifer Martin is a college football writer for EssentiallySports. Recently, her coverage has focused on the latest developments in college football, including the transfer portal phenomenon and its impact on team dynamics. Before joining ES, she was a part of Pinkvilla as a fitness and sportainment writer.
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Edited by:

Shubhankar Adhikari