Fallout continues as the Patriots bumble their way through the first quarter of the season. Following last Monday night's 41-14 loss to the Chiefs, everyone and everything has been questioned, including the two thought-to-be untouchable names in the organization: coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady.
On Sunday, CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora wrote that Brady, who has been with the team since 2000 and has three Super Bowl rings, could finish his career elsewhere. A short time later, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that Brady's role in the offense has been diminished and he's understandably not super-pumped about it.
"Several players, coaches and former players have rendered an unsettling picture that all does not look well with Tom Brady and the Patriots and there's a reason for it," Mortensen said during Sunday NFL Countdown. "Even though Bill Belichick chuckled when asked Monday night about Brady's status, others close to the team now believe that when the Patriots used that second-round pick (in 2014) on Jimmy Garropolo that they were, in fact, choosing Brady's successor, perhaps sooner than later.
"Sources say Brady is uncomfortable with the personnel and coaching changes, the consequences have led to tensions between Brady and the coaching staff, with Brady's input into gameplans, personnel packages, formations, pre-snap adjustments being significantly diminished.
"Has the staff lost faith in Brady? Or is it simply the residue of shaky personnel decisions, including the undeniable fact that since 2002, the Patriots have used 11 draft picks on wide receivers and only two -- Deion Branch and Julian Edelman -- have made any impact."
If the Patriots beat the undefeated Bengals on Sunday night this will all go away. But based on what we've seen over the first month of the season, things could get worse before they get better.
