For nearly two decades, they have been the personification of greatness — the partnership of a coach, a quarterback and an owner that will go down as the most accomplished in professional football history. The Bill Belichick-Tom Brady-Robert Kraft triumvirate has done brilliant work with the Patriots, who have been to seven Super Bowls since 2001 and have five rings.
But as the Patriots prepare for what might be a sixth championship run, there is palace intrigue the likes of which we haven’t seen in an organization known for its spectacularly efficient ability to coexist and survive the myriad challenges associated with running an NFL franchise.