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NFL notebook: Brady denies he was thrilled about Garoppolo trade

[January 10, 2018] There was no celebrating backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo being traded by the New England Patriots in October, Tom Brady said on Tuesday.

Brady denied he was "excited, hollering and cajoling" at the team facility when he learned New England shipped his heir apparent out of town in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers, which is contrary to a report published in ESPN The Magazine.

"I think that's just such a poor characterization of anything. In 18 years, I've never celebrated when someone has been traded, been cut," Brady said Tuesday on WEEI radio in Boston. "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 teammates. I think I'm very empathetic toward other people's experiences. I know those situations aren't easy."

Brady, 40, was allegedly at the nexus of a rift involving coach Bill Belichick, owner Robert Kraft and the Patriots' 17-year starting quarterback. As outlined by ESPN, Kraft demanded a trade of Garoppolo to appease Brady. Belichick obliged, receiving only a second-round pick from the 49ers in return. Garoppolo, 26, went 6-0 as San Francisco's starter and is entering free agency in March.

--Offensive coordinator Mike Shula and quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey were fired by the Carolina Panthers.

Shula served on Ron Rivera's coaching staff the past seven seasons, working as quarterbacks coach for two seasons before becoming offensive coordinator in 2013.

The move comes as a mild surprise after Rivera signed a two-year contract extension through 2020. He indicated this week all coaches would return when asked if he foresaw any changes to the staff.

The Panthers were eliminated from the playoffs this season by the New Orleans Saints in the wild-card round last weekend. Shula's offense was No. 1 in the NFL during the 2015 season, when the Panthers started the season 14-0 and advanced to Super Bowl 50 but Carolina finished 19th in total offense (323.7 yards), fourth in rushing offense (131.4), 28th in passing (192.3) and averaged 22.7 points per game (12th) in 2017.

--Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan did not practice with the team Tuesday because of an unspecified personal matter.

It was believed to be the first practice that Ryan has missed since an injury in 2009.

Ryan was in the team facility early in the day for meetings before leaving while the Falcons continued preparations for Saturday's NFC playoff game in Philadelphia against the Eagles. Team spokesman Brian Cearns said the Falcons did not plan to give a reason for the quarterback's absence, and said Ryan would address the matter when he meets with reporters Wednesday "if he decides to do so."

--Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews underwent a "cleanup" procedure on his knee shortly after the season ended last week, according to a report from ESPN's Rob Demovsky.

Which knee the procedure was performed on isn't specified.

Matthews missed two games during the season -- one because of a groin injury and the other because of a hamstring injury. The 31-year-old is scheduled to make $11.4 million in salary and bonuses in 2018, the final season of his five-year, $66 million contract. It's expected that the Packers could look to at least restructure his deal this offseason.

--Dallas Cowboys right guard Zack Martin and defensive tackle Maliek Collins have each undergone minor surgeries, according to a report from ESPN's Todd Archer.

Martin's surgery was on his right elbow and will keep him out of the Pro Bowl, while Collins' operation was to fix a bothersome left foot injury.

Left tackle Tyron Smith is expected to miss the Pro Bowl after he ended the season on injured reserve because of a sprained lateral collateral ligament in his right knee, according to the report. Coach Jason Garrett said the day after the season ended the hope is Smith could avoid surgery.

--Jon Gruden made his return to the Raiders official on Tuesday, announcing at a news conference in Oakland, "I'm all in."

Gruden coached the Raiders to a 38-26 record from 1998-2001. He spent the next seven seasons coaching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 57-55 record and a Super Bowl title after the 2002 season.

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"I never wanted to leave the Raiders, I never thought I'd be back," Gruden told reporters. "But here I am and I'm ready to get to work. ... I love football. I love the players that play it. I love the preparation, I love the journey, I love football."

--Matt Nagy was introduced as the 16th head coach of the Chicago Bears at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Ill.

As offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs, Nagy's season ended with an upset loss against the Tennessee Titans on Saturday night. Nagy, 39, replaces John Fox, who finished last in the NFC North each of his three seasons and won only three games against division opponents.

"We set out to find the best leader of our franchise," general manager Ryan Pace said. "This is about more than our quarterback (Mitchell Trubisky). Matt's a proven leader. He's a winner. He's intelligent. He's an innovator. ... I'm proud to be able to pair with Matt and attack our plan for success together."

--Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane suggested a "misunderstanding" could be at the heart of a dispute over whether guard Richie Incognito aimed racial slurs at Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue during Sunday's AFC playoff game.

"There was definitely an exchange," Beane said Tuesday in the Bills' season-ending news conference. "I think there is a misunderstanding of what was said."

Ngakoue tweeted his accusation Sunday and repeated his account of events to Jacksonville reporters on Monday. Incognito did not show up to the scheduled media availability Monday as the Bills cleaned out their lockers but teammates Eric Wood and Dion Dawkins told reporters they did not hear Incognito use racial slurs.

--The Kansas City Chiefs promoted running backs coach Eric Bieniemy to offensive coordinator.

He replaces Nagy, who was introduced earlier in the day as the coach of the Chicago Bears.

"I've known Eric a long time, both as a player and a coach," Kansas City coach Andy Reid said of the 48-year-old Bieniemy in a statement. "He's done a phenomenal job with our running backs and has been involved in every aspect of our offense over the last five years. He's a great teacher and has earned this opportunity. I know he will do a good job."

--The Baltimore Ravens announced that linebackers coach Don "Wink" Martindale will be promoted to fill the shoes of the retired Dean Pees as defensive coordinator.

"'Wink' has earned the promotion to defensive coordinator," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said in a statement. "His aggressive mentality will serve to take our defense to new levels. He is obviously respected by players, many of whom have already benefited from his direct coaching at the linebacker position. He knows the ins and outs of what we have been about on defense and has been an important contributor to our success on that side of the ball.

The 54-year-old now inherits a Baltimore defense that ranked 12th in the NFL in yards allowed (325.1) and sixth in points (18.9) per game. Mike Macdonald will replace Martindale as the team's linebackers coach, and Sterling Lucas will be a defensive quality control coach.

--New York Giants safety Landon Collins has been one of Eli Apple's biggest critics but said he remains a supporter of the cornerback.

"My relationship can be repaired with him," Collins told the New York Post. "Our relationship can be mended. I don't know what his mindset is right now. He's kind of all over the place right now. You can see that with his Twitter rant. We got to have an understanding why he's playing football, because you got to be playing football to be one of the best players, not to be on the team and blowing your opportunity."

Apple was disciplined by the Giants for the final game of the season for a heated exchange with coaches and played in only 11 games in 2017. Collins labeled Apple "a cancer" in response to Apple saying Collins' claim that he was assisting Apple through his struggles was false.

--Field Level Media

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