According to former New England Patriots star Julian Edelman, there was a lot of tension in the air before Netflix’s Roast of Tom Brady began.
Edelman appeared on the latest edition of the “Games with Names” podcast with Drew Bledsoe, who was the Patriots’ starting quarterback before Brady took the reins. The two former NFL stars, who both attended the roast, detailed the seemingly tense pre-show moments.
Edelman said former coach Bill Belichick initially enjoyed his time in the green room and is “excited” to meet his former players.
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Julian Edelman speaks on stage at the ‘GROAT The Greatest Roast Of All Time: Tom Brady for the Netflix is a Joke Festival’ held at the Kia Forum on May 5, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images, Netflix)
“We’ll be in the dressing room before the show, Randy.” [Moss]Drew [Bledsoe]myself, [Rob Gronkowski]”Bill was opening up, he was having fun, he was telling stories about the war, he was talking about the new guys. We were just hanging out there,” Edelman said. I know what Bill is thinking, but he doesn’t have a job anymore, so he’s excited to meet a guy, so it was kind of amplified. ”
Super Bowl champion admits ‘old-school thinking’ kept Bill Belichick from zingers during roast
But Belichick’s relaxed demeanor quickly disappeared once longtime team owner Robert Kraft came on board.
“But the tension in that room could cause the glass to break,” Edelman said. “It was very awkward. … I just thought, ‘Oh, this could be fireworks.'” I just walked away. “
Edelman with No. 12 Tom Brady of the New England Patriots after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter of an AFC Wild Card Playoff game at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts on January 4, 2020. No. 11 Julian Edelman will be watching. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Bledsoe described the awkwardness as “a little crazy –” and hinted that the tension was “very, very real.”
However, Bledsoe noted that Belichick and Kraft were able to have a brief conversation.
“They hit it off and were together for at least 10 minutes, the two of them,” the former Patriots quarterback said.
At one point during the roast, comedian Kevin Hart encouraged Belichick and Kraft to have a drink of alcohol to show goodwill.
Bill Belichick, Kevin Hart and Robert Kraft attend ‘GROAT’s Greatest Roast of All Time: Netflix’s Tom Brady Jokes’ held at Kia Forum in Inglewood, California on May 5, 2024. Give a lecture on the festival stage. (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images, Netflix)
“I want to say this is the greatest coach in the history of the game who accomplished something that no one has ever done,” Kraft told the audience. “Tom Brady and having him there was the greatest honor the good Lord could give me.”
Belichick left the Patriots earlier this year after 24 seasons of outstanding play. The Patriots announced that the team and coach have “mutually agreed to part ways.”
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But the relationship between Belichick and Kraft seems to have especially deteriorated in recent years. Belichick didn’t take on a new coaching job after leaving New England, and Kraft may have played a role in that.
During April, ESPN reported After Belichick’s interview for the head coaching job in Atlanta, Kraft reportedly contacted Falcons owner Arthur Blank and indicated that he did not trust the coach.
Belichick led the franchise to six Super Bowls during his tenure. However, the Patriots mainly struggled after Brady’s departure. After Brady left, Belichick never won a playoff game, and New England finished the 2023 season with a 4-13 record.
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