An ESPN report published last week has sent shockwaves through New England. 

Suggestions of unrest within the Patriots franchise have led to head coach Bill Belichick being linked with a move to the New York Giants. That's something, of course, he denies.  

And it's not just Belichick who has been targetted. The report claimed that quarterback Tom Brady "seemed liberated" after the Patriots controversially traded backup Jimmy Garoppolo to the San Fransisco 49ers. 

Garoppolo was seen as a long-term replacement for 40-year-old Brady and Belichick was desperate to keep him, even turning down a potentially huge trade deal from the Cleveland Browns in order to ensure he stayed in New England. 

But the decision was eventually made by owner Robert Kraft that the Patriots were to trade Garoppolo and the 49ers got a very sweet deal for him, offering only a second-round 2018 draft pick in return. 

Kraft's decision to ship the 26-year-old backup off in October has been rumoured to have been made to keep Brady happy. 

With tensions at an all-time high in New England, the player at the centre of it all has moved quickly to address the report and rumours that have followed it. 

Speaking on his weekly radio appearance on WEEI, Brady denied celebrating Garoppolo's trade, criticising those who suggested such behaviour. 

"That's just such a poor characterization of anything. In 18 years, I've never celebrated when someone has been traded, been cut," he said, per Sky Sports. 

"I would say that's disappointing to hear that someone would express that, or a writer would express that, because it's so far from what my beliefs are about my team-mates."

He went on to say that despite never being traded or released, he feels empathy for those, like Garoppolo, who have to endure that situation. 

"I think I'm very empathetic toward other people's experiences. I know those situations aren't easy.

"I've never been traded or released, but I can imagine how that might feel. I would never, ever feel that way about when Jimmy got traded."

Brady ended his response by claiming he's always had a great relationship with other quarterbacks and that the way he's been portrayed recently is completely wrong. 

"I felt like I had a great relationship with all the quarterbacks I've worked with. I kept in touch with basically everybody. So to characterize that as a certain way is just completely, completely wrong."

Despite moving quickly to quell any rumours of unrest, the report comes at a terrible time for the Patriots. 

They're preparing for Saturday's playoff game against the Tennessee Titans, looking to book a place in the AFC Conference Championship. 

With so much on the line, and Brady himself looking for a sixth Superbowl crown, distractions like this are going to be very unwelcome in the Patriots camp.