The New England Patriots have had their own way of doing business for over a decade now, but it seems that blueprint has finally caught up to them and star quarterback, Tom Brady.
The offense is a wreck, and the pundits are questioning if Brady is declining. According to a report from Chris Mortensen of ESPN, Brady isn’t thrilled with the direction the team has taken recently.
Per @mortreport: Tom Brady is 'uncomfortable' with #Patriots' coaching + personnel changes this year
— Kimberley A. Martin (@KMart_LI) October 5, 2014
According to Mortensen, Brady is “uncomfortable” with some of the changes to personnel and the coaching staff. His level of input into the offense — things like game planning, pre-snap adjustments and personnel packages — are now nonexistent.
The Patriots offense line and receiving corp have failed Brady misrably so far, and that falls in the lap of head coach Bill Belichick who believes anyone can flourish in his system.
Executives around the league believe this is more about the weapons around Brady, and less about his decline.
One AFC personnel exec said, “You can mask a couple of problems, but when it comes to protection and you are a pocket QB, those problems can be hard to overcome. And the receivers have to get open, but thereâs no deep threat there and without the vertical element, the defense can play tighter.” An NFC pro director was more blunt: “He needs a better supporting cast.”