Brady downplays reported dissension within Patriots

Tom Brady attempted to defuse rumors of a power struggle within the New England Patriots' organization between him, head coach Bill Belichick, and owner Robert Kraft in a Saturday interview with Westwood One.

"I see it as I've seen it for the last 18 years, that we're all there to do a job, and that's to go out to do our best and help the team win," Brady said, as transcribed by ESPN's Mike Reiss. "That's been very consistent here. That's been a big reason why our team has been so successful, and I don't see that any different going into this week."

A report from ESPN on Friday claimed the trio has been at odds throughout varying points of the season. Among the issues to supposedly plague them has been the involvement of Brady's personal trainer, Alex Guerrero, with the rest of the team, the trade of backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who had been groomed to succeed Brady in New England, and Belichick's criticisms of Brady during film sessions.

The three of them quickly denied any bad blood between them, and Brady said Saturday it's been business as usual during the Patriots' playoff bye week.

"I think in so many ways, adversity that our team has faced over the years only makes us stronger," said Brady, who's been named MVP of the Super Bowl in two of the last three years. "Everything is a great opportunity and we have a great opportunity as a team."

The 40-year-old led the Patriots to the top seed in the AFC playoff picture and could be in line for his third regular-season MVP award after another Brady-esque campaign in 2017.

"I think for so long we've proven that we ignore the noise, we do our job, we speak for ourselves, and we focus on what we need to do to help the team win," he said.