Tom Brady denies celebrating Jimmy Garoppolo trade

Tom Brady has denied celebrating after fellow quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was traded from the New England Patriots to the San Francisco 49ers.

An ESPN report claims Brady "seemed liberated" after the Patriots traded back-up Garoppolo, who had previously been seen as a long-term replacement for the 40-year-old.

Garoppolo was sent to the 49ers on October 31 in exchange for a second-round 2018 NFL Draft pick and Brady has disputed claims he was happy to see him go.

"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 in his weekly radio appearance on radio station WEEI.

"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 team-mates.

"I think I'm very empathetic toward other people's experiences. I know those situations aren't easy.

"I've never been traded or released, but I can imagine how that might feel. I would never, ever feel that way about when Jimmy got traded.

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"I felt like I had a great relationship with all the quarterbacks I've worked with. I kept in touch with basically everybody. So to characterize that as a certain way is just completely, completely wrong."

The report also claimed there was turmoil within the Patriots franchise, leading to rumours linking head coach Bill Belichick with a move to the New York Giants, but the 65-year-old says he will be in charge next season.

Brady is seeking his sixth Super Bowl crown this year as his side prepare for Saturday's playoff game against the Tennessee Titans, live on Sky Sports, and Patriots' tight end Rob Gronkowski insists his team-mates are not distracted by speculation of a rift in the camp.

"The reputation that coach tries to get us to have is just ignore the noise. Ignore the noise from the outside and I feel like that's what myself, a lot of other players have been doing," Gronkowski said.

"You've just got to keep ignoring the noise and just keep our focus on what we've been doing all year and that's preparing hard, studying our opponent, getting ready mentally and physically for the big game.

"The intensity has been high every single week all year long. You've just got to keep on continuing that, keep on preparing how we have been and get ready for the big game."