5 NFL franchises that jeopardized their relationship with starting quarterbacks featuring Baker Mayfield, Aaron Rodgers and more
Throughout the history of the NFL, teams feuding with their starting quarterbacks hasn't been such a rare occurrence.
We've seen it recently with the Browns starting QB Baker Mayfield being denied a trade, despite his requests, and even further back with Green Bay Packers superstar Aaron Rodgers seeing his team spend their 2020 first-round draft pick on quarterback Jordan Love, instead of helping Rodgers.
There have been dozens of examples of teams coming to blows with their signal caller, and we are here to run down five of the most infamous examples of recent times.
5 times NFL franchises jeopardized their relationship with their starting quarterback ft Baker Mayfield and Aaron Rodgers
#5 - Tom Brady (New England Patriots)
Tom Brady is undoubtedly the best quarterback and the best player in the history of the NFL, but that didn't stop the New England Patriots from risking their relationship with the GOAT in 2014.
In that year's draft, the Patriots took quarterback Jimmy Garrappolo in the second-round, and head coach Bill Belichick said:
“We know what Tom’s age and contract situation is.”
This didn't go down well with Brady who was quoted as saying:
“Now we drafted Jimmy higher. You know, Coach Belichick referenced my age to me, referenced it to the media. And in my mind, I was thinking, what are you … talking about?"
In Belichick's defense, Brady had just come off one of his worst statistical seasons to date in 2013, passing for just 25 touchdowns to 11 interceptions, but the Patriots still made it to the AFC Championship game.
Brady was reported to have forced the Jimmy G trade to the San Francisco 49ers in 2017 following a rift between Brady, Belichick and Pats owner Robert Kraft.
#4 - Kyler Murray (Arizona Cardinals)
Kyler Murray and his team, the Arizona Cardinals, got into a spat this offseason, and it remains to be seen whether this will have a detrimental effect on the pair's relationship going forward.
Drama was stirring when Murray, a former number one overall pick, deleted all but two photos on his Instagram account, leaving only a photo of his time at Oklahoma and one of himself with Dallas Cowboys receiver Ceedee Lamb at the 2021 Pro Bowl.
There were rumors that this was done as a way for Murray to demand a contract extension following his third season in the NFL, and a statement released by his agent Erik Burkhardt said:
“Actions speak much louder than words in this volatile business."
Murray has since reposted all his missing photos to his Instagram, but there's still no news on a contract extension.
IG watch: #Cardinals QB Kyler Murray has all his photos back up again… https://t.co/HfXCgz8RSw