'The Dynasty' author discusses Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick, Tom Brady relationships

Jeff Benedict's book "The Dynasty" is the basis for the upcoming 10-part Apple TV+ documentary series about the rise and fall of the New England Patriots dynasty that claimed six Super Bowl championships from February 2002 through February 2019. 

During an appearance on the latest edition of the "Eye on Foxborough" podcast, Benedict referred to Patriots owner Robert Kraft, former head coach Bill Belichick and retired quarterback Tom Brady as "three really complex men" and "really different people" who enjoyed a plethora of success together across two decades. 

"Robert, as a student, Robert as a business college student, Robert as a young businessman, Robert as a new owner in the NFL, and each step of the way, vastly underestimated, which, was so much to his advantage," Benedict explained, as shared by Karen Guregian of MassLive. "But it also drove him."

Benedict noted that only Kraft and legendary head coach Bill Parcells believed in Belichick as a head coach after Belichick's Cleveland Browns finished the 1995 NFL season with a 5–11 record. That fall, Browns owner Art Modell confirmed his plans to relocate the franchise that became the Baltimore Ravens following the campaign. Modell never gave Belichick a chance to coach the Ravens. 

"We all know his underestimation story," Benedict said about Brady falling to the Patriots via overall pick No. 199 of the 2000 NFL Draft. "And Tom loves that. He’s kept that mounted chip on his shoulder his entire career. And I think they worked together so well because of that common bond they had together, that they were underestimated all the time. And then the unique drive they have."

Thanks to early reviews of "The Dynasty" series, it's now known that Brady "wasn't going to sign up for more" of working with Belichick after the 2019 season. Brady left New England as a six-time Super Bowl champion, signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March 2020 and then guided that team to a title in February 2021. 

Meanwhile, the Patriots missed the playoffs three times in four years following Brady's departure until Kraft and Belichick "mutually" agreed to part ways in January. 

"I think probably none of us should be in the sense that you’re taking the greatest quarterback of all time off your team at a time when the position of the quarterback is more vital than it’s ever been in the game," Benedict said about the end of New England's dominance, per Guregian and Lauren Campbell of MassLive. "And so it shouldn’t be surprising that when you remove that guy from the chessboard, the whole game is going to change for the Patriots. And, I mean, how do you replace that?"

Benedict was sure to credit "the partnership between Bill and Tom" for the Patriots dynasty. That's fair, but the records show Belichick never recovered from Brady's exit, one the coach apparently didn't see coming at the time. 

"The Dynasty" series premieres on Friday.