The New England Patriots have taken certain privileges away from Tom Brady’s private trainer and associate, Alex Guerrero, further proving there’s possible tension between Guerrero and Bill Belichick.
Bill Belichick stripped Tom Brady’s trainer of team privileges and won’t explain why
Alex Guerrero used to travel with the team and be on the sideline. For whatever reason, that’s not allowed anymore.
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When he was asked about the change, Brady said via the Boston Globe, “I don’t have any comment on that other than to say Alex, it’s been well-documented, has been a huge part of what I do and I’m so fortunate to have him not only as a friend, but with everything that we’ve been able to do together.”
“Alex has been a huge, huge reason why I’m still playing,” Brady said.
Belichick, on the other hand, declined to comment on the changes in Foxborough.
Their relationship really began in 2008
Guerrero didn’t just start working with Brady. According to the Boston Globe, he started working with then-Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest in Southern California over 17 years ago.
McGinest then recommended him to teammates, and he’s worked with guys like Lawyer Milloy, Ty Law, Troy Brown, Wes Welker, Aaron Hernandez, Julian Edelman, and Danny Amendola over the years.
After Brady suffered his knee injury in 2008, his relationship with Guerrero took off. “He was pretty much ever-present before, during, and after the surgery,” Dr. Neal ElAttrache, a Los Angeles orthopedist who performed Brady’s knee operation, told the Boston Globe in 2015.
It’s been more than just training and treatment. Guerrero has helped build the TB12 brand with The TB12 Method book, a nutrition manual, snacks, protein, meals, and, of course, TB12 apparel.
Belichick never really trusted Guerrero in the first place
When Brady and Guerrero launched their TB12 therapy center, Belichick indicated he already trusted the medical staff the Patriots had in place, and credited them with the Patriots winning their first three Super Bowls, according to the Boston Globe.
However, Belichick allowed members of the Patriots to spend time training at the TB12 center. While there, players also received treatments with alternative methods, while billing the Patriots for the procedures.
The relationship got to a point where Belichick permitted Guerrero to have his own office near the Patriots’ locker room, travel with the team, and be credentialed for the sideline every game.
Under the new rules, he can no longer board Patriots flights, be on the sideline, or treat anyone other than Brady.
The reason it took years for it to get to this point? According to the Globe’s report, Belichick told a source, “Tom wants him. What am I supposed to do?”
There have been questionable things surrounding Guerrero
Prior to them becoming business partners, Guerrero was sanctioned by federal regulators for “falsely presenting himself as a medical doctor and deceptively promoting nutritional supplements” according to the Boston Globe. State regulators in Massachusetts also intervened, believing he was practicing physical therapy without a license. He would later be cleared of wrongdoing in 2014.
He also used to sell a drink called Neurosafe, where he claimed it could protect the brain from sports-related traumatic brain injuries and the damage suffered by them. After the FTC declared those false claims, he pulled the drink and offered refunds to customers.
Brady said on WEEI in 2015 that Guerrero has acknowledged making mistakes and has expressed regret for them.
“That’s part of growing up and understanding there are certain things that happen in life that you wish you didn’t do,” Brady said.
“Everyone thinks I’m a kook and charlatan,” he said.
There’s no telling what was the tipping point for Belichick, especially after previously saying he couldn’t get rid of him because Brady liked him. Perhaps we’ll find out in the near future.
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