Sports

Sure looks like Belichick really is why Brady bolted Pats – Toronto Sun

Published

5 years ago

March 20, 2020

Owner Kraft once again all but points the finger at head coach

If you’re still wondering why Tom Brady chose not to re-sign in New England for a 21^st season, to instead throw in his lot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for two years, you’re sure not alone.

It’s still the talk of the NFL town, so to speak.

And for a second time this week, Patriots owner Robert Kraft on Friday as much pointed the finger of blame at his head coach and football czar, Bill Belichick.

Shortly following Tuesday’s bombshell announcement by Brady that he would not return to the Pats, Kraft said in his first interview, with Tom Curran of NBC Sports Boston, that “this is not the way I wanted it to end. He gave the reason that “I just don’t think (Brady) was going to be happy staying in our system at this point.”

On Friday, NFL Network’s Foxboro correspondent Michael Giardi tweeted that Kraft, in an interview, “made this analogy about Tom Brady’s departure: ‘Think about loving your wife & for whatever reason, there’s something — her father or mother — that makes life impossible for you & you have to move on, but you don’t want to.”

There’s a first time for everything, and that might have been the first earthly comparison of Belichick to a mother-in-law, if not the first time someone has called him a compound word with “mother” in it. Ahem.

Then came this captivating little news-drop on yet another busy day of league news, from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport: The Patriots “likely would have done” the same contract with Brady, but “Brady never came to them with his desire to return. So there was no offer from (New England). In the end, only the Bucs and the Chargers made offers.”

That jibes with speculative reports from earlier this week, and especially with a riveting piece from Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, in which he strung together events since October 2017 and, with sourced confirmations, concluded that the departure by a miffed Brady was inevitable.

Miller theorizes with convincing evidence that Brady came to the decision he some day was going to leave New England upon learning in October 2017 that Belichick counter-offered HIM as trade bait to the San Francisco 49ers, in the hours leading up to the trade deadline. The Niners had merely inquired for the umpteenth time with Belichick that year about trading for Brady’s backup, Jimmy Garoppolo.

Kraft had to step in to block that attempted move, as has been reported but never confirmed by principals.

“A Patriots source confirms that’s how it went down,” Miller wrote this week, “and a 49ers source close to (GM) John Lynch says the first-time general manager couldn’t believe his ears when he heard the counter-offer.”

Belichick eventually did trade Garoppolo that month to the Niners, for shocking little in return — just a second-round draft pick. But the damage to Brady’s relationship with Belichick was done.

“Brady, Belichick and Kraft haven’t been the same since,” Miller quoted a source close to Belichick as saying. “Tom learned that Bill was ready to get rid of him. And that lit a fire under his ass.”

It also apparently lit a desire in Brady’s heart to leave Belichick high and dry at some point.

“Every move of Brady’s since that late October (2017) meeting of the Patriots holy trinity,” Miller wrote, citing a former Brady teammate as source, “has been preparing for this moment.”

Remember, that particular trade discussion in 2017 went down only eight months after Brady led the Patriots to the greatest Super Bowl comeback win in history, in a season in which he was named NFL MVP.

Who trades away the reigning Super Bowl MVP in the middle of a season in which he would be named league MVP?

That Belichick could even consider trading him away, even if he was 40 at the time, must have hurt the uber-proud Brady to the core.

“Belichick, Brady and owner Robert Kraft were left in a triangle of frustration that led to this week’s development of the greatest quarterback of all time leaving his NFL home of 20 years,” Miller wrote.

That Kraft keeps all but saying Brady’s poisoned relationship with Belichick is the reason he wanted out of Foxboro tells you the relationship between the owner and his top football man isn’t exactly in perfect lock-step, either.

Otherwise Kraft would shut up about the reasons for Brady’s bolting, to protect Belichick.

More on this is sure to spill out. It has been since fall 2017, beyond Miller’s column this week.

Perhaps Kraft’s view of Belichick in relation to Brady’s departure is similar to what the owner said several weeks following Belichick’s controversial, still inexplicable and unexplained benching of starting cornerback Malcolm Butler in the February 2018 Super Bowl — a narrow loss to the Philadelphia Eagles that prevented New England, it turned out, from winning three straight Super Bowls.

“So as a fan,” Kraft told reporters at the 2018 NFL annual meeting in Orlando, “I can question some of (Belichick’s) moves. As someone who’s privileged to be the owner of this team, I encourage him to keep going with his instincts and keep doing what he thinks is right.

“There’s no doubt in my mind, even if he made an error — and this is true of any of our managers — that if they’re doing it for the right reason, then I support them 100%. And I have never had one instance in the 18 years where Bill hasn’t done what he believes is in the best interests of our team to help us win games.”

And at almost any cost, as we have come to learn time and again. Even at the cost of disenfranchising Tom Brady at the zenith of his career.

Belichick is the greatest NFL head coach ever. But he works in mysterious ways, people.

Tom Brady and at a joint practice with Detroit Lions in Allen Park, Mich., in August 2019.

JOHN KRYK /

Postmedia

Brady contract details: It’s only $50 million base over two years

Tom Brady not only isn’t making $30 million a year on his new NFL contract in Tampa Bay, he can’t even earn that much with incentives.

Details leaked out Friday morning, shortly after Brady posted to social media a photo of him signing his new deal with the Buccaneers, along with a message saying the usual things about being super happy to be a Buccaneer, and can’t wait to meet his new team, etc.

According to NFL Network, ESPN and Sports Illustrated it’s a two-year contract, with clauses forbidding the Bucs to either trade or franchise-tag the former long-time New England Patriot.

The 42-year-old is due to earn identical remuneration in 2020 and 2021: particularly, a fully guaranteed $10-million roster bonus and $15-million salary, with $2.25 million in incentives for finishing in the Top 5 in the league in passer rating, TDs, yards, completion percentage and yards-per-attempt, plus another $2.25 million in incentives tied to playoffs and playing time.

In all, it’s a base $50-million, two-year deal whose earnings could rise to a maximum of $59 million.

JoKryk@postmedia.com

@JohnKryk

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Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

AP cricket:

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Sports

Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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