Bedard: Patriots fans again find themselves needlessly in middle of Brady-Belichick/Kraft feud

Tom Brady Sr. wasn't lying when he said seven years ago that the conclusion of Tom Brady's relationship with the Patriots would "end badly."

"It will end badly," he said. "It does end badly. And I know that because I know what Tommy wants to do. He wants to play till he's 70. ... It's a cold business. And for as much as you want it to be familial, it isn't."

Brady retires, at least for now, after 22 years in the NFL — 20 with the Patriots, two with the Buccaneers — with an announcement on Tuesday that was nearly 1,000 words, and not one word was spent on the Patriots, Bill Belichick, the Krafts or Patriots fans.

After just two seasons and one championship, the Buccaneers got a tongue-bath from Brady, and the New England region got bupkis.

Or, unless you count this, hours later.

That's the equivalent of spending a ton of time with your kids before leaving on a lengthy business trip, forgetting about your wife, and then texting, "Oh yeah, love ya babe."

Many Patriots fans are understandably upset. They invested so much in Brady's career, watched him grow up before their eyes, watched him leave but understood he needed to, and even rooted for him from afar in Tampa. When it came time for him to leave the game — and them — for good, they figured there'd be some acknowledgment after spending 90.9 percent of his NFL career with the Patriots.

Instead, they got nothing.

Look, I'm not going to sit here and say Brady owed Patriots fans anything. He was the one responsible for all those moments over the years, not them. And if you really believe when any player — getting paid to play for the Patriots — talks glowingly about this team and the fans, you're setting yourself up for this (what are they going to say, they hate it?).

But the decent thing would have been to give at least the fans a couple of lines.

Brady didn't do that. He certainly has his reasons, but to this I say — again — to Brady, Belichick and Robert Kraft ... grow up already.

We know, or at least have a pretty good guess, why Brady, one of the most brand-conscious and calculating athletes ever, carefully chose to paint his NFL exit this way: he's still ticked off at Belichick and Kraft for making him end his career on anything other than his terms. And, if it wasn't crystal clear before, it is now: Brady never wanted to leave New England. He wanted to stay and would have if the respect he had earned over 20 years in terms of his contract security and partnership in football decisions would have been reciprocated in some fashion.

Belichick would never give Brady the contract extension he wanted, taking him until 45. Belichick let the offensive talent around Brady deteriorate to laughable levels. Put it together and Brady felt he basically had to leave to achieve anything in his final years (he was right, as the Patriots went 17-19 without a playoff win the past two seasons, and have fallen decidedly behind the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East). 

That apparently was at the forefront of Brady's mind as he contemplated retirement. He was left thinking, 'I can't believe this is how I have to go out, on a Bucs team with little hope next season, instead of possibly on top in New England — maybe even going one more year, all because Belichick wouldn't give me the respect I deserved, and Kraft wouldn't stand up for me. Screw those guys.'

Welcome to the legendary Brady Grudge Club. Lloyd Carr, the 49ers and every other team that picked a QB ahead of him in 2000, Roger Goodell et al. are waiting for you to join. Could be waiting a while to get out of the club.

I don't blame Brady one bit. The GOAT did not deserve this. He can be as pissed as long he wants for his treatment — by Belichick and Kraft.

What do Patriots fans have to do with that?

Nothing. And that's where I have my issue. Brady should stop playing coy. Make it as clear as day to anyone that he and Team Brady will always be ticked off at the Patriots' brass for making him end his career with the Buccaneers — Brady should have thanked the Patriots fans and only them in his Instagram CVS receipt. That would have left no doubt. That would have shown a backbone.

To do it this way ... And for Belichick not to release any statement (Kraft did), I go back to what I said before Brady came to town with the Bucs to face the Patriots:

Here's another thing I learned from the Packers and Favre: when you are dealing with two rich, out-of-touch entities who long ago forgot what it's like to be a real person, two supersized egos just start firing missiles at each other, trying to exact revenge and taking care of grudges that really only they care about.

And you know who loses in all of this? The fans. They're like a 10-year-old caught in the middle of a vicious divorce where the parents forget about the kid and how a quick, easy and quiet separation would be best for him or her. These are people who invested a ton of time, money, tears, laughter and whatever else, giving their heart to Brady and the Patriots, and now you're choosing them to take sides.

Why?

Because you need to feel vindicated? Because you are holding onto grudges as you win Super Bowl trophies?

Oh, for crying out loud, grow up.

Two people, Brady and Belichick, whose legacies are secure as the greatest ever at their positions, are now in a pissing match because of their huge egos.

Just shut up and play the game. No one cares outside of your own little "yes" circles. You're only making yourself look small, especially Brady.

This is all beyond childish.

UPDATE: Belichick finally released a statement on Wednesday night. Tom's turn...