Belichick: I've never been instructed to trade a player

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has responded to reports about the genesis of the team's trade of backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

It was reported last week that Belichick was handed a mandate from owner Robert Kraft to trade Garoppolo in an effort to alleviate any concerns star quarterback Tom Brady may have about his future with the team.

"Yeah, we've never done that," Belichick said Monday on WEEI radio. "We talked about things organizationally and make organizational decisions."

Belichick denied that portion of the report and reiterated that he, Brady, and Kraft remain unified.

"I was informed of some of the things that were in the article. Based on some quotes and some things that were pointed out, yeah. I feel they were inaccurate and I am 100 percent with Robert and Tom in that statement. One hundred percent," Belichick said.

- With h/t to Pro Football Talk