Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A deep dive into the modern New England Patriots, the most successful NFL franchise of the past 20 years. As a quarterback, Tom Brady has always been known for his public face, one of confidence, optimism, and overall good cheer. There are darker moments, writes ESPN correspondent Wickersham, and numerous episodes where team player Brady showed an overinflated ego. “Fans knew little about his demons and insecurities,” he writes, “and the fact that low-rung staffers—invisible servants—seemed to hold a level of contempt for Brady not only revealed him as a perfectionist who couldn’t handle mistakes, but also as a man keenly aware of the discrepancy in stature.” That discrepancy owed to a long, tortuous relationship with head coach Bill Belichick, emotionally aloof even as Brady was emotionally needy, and of a mindset that held that football players, no matter how brilliant, were mere employees. For all the head-butting, Brady and Belichick crafted a team that, though not without problems, developed an enviable record. Wickersham’s fly-on-the-wall accounts are fascinating, but he’s at his best when he explains, carefully and evenhandedly, how the business of football works. He also serves up the best account of “Deflategate,” the scandal whereby it was revealed that Brady, or at least his handlers, played with a game ball that was outside league specifications. Brady paid for the transgression with public humiliation, and so did Belichick, who traversed two narratives: “One said he was football’s smartest and most prepared coach; the other held that he would cross any line to win.” Brady’s anger that Patriots management didn’t shield him was one of many reasons that he left the team in 2020. As Wickersham suggests, now the narrative will turn to which of the two was most responsible for the Pats’ phenomenal run. Exemplary sports journalism that examines the front office and dueling egos as much as the gridiron. Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

How does a college quarterback judged too “skinny and slow” by most NFL scouts emerge as the NFL’s G.O.A.T.? How does an assistant coach overcome a brutal head coach’s humiliations to become head coach of the team that has won the most Super Bowls? This enthralling behind-the-scenes tale of the New England Patriots is a piece of journalistic excellence from ESPN’s Wickersham, who performed countless hours of interviews and observations with Patriots' and outside management, coaches, and players, especially quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick. Wickersham describes abundant, often surprising incidents, such as the time Belichick, who was notoriously dour and guarded in press conferences, regaled a roomful of dignitaries and reporters with lessons from The Education of a Coach (2005), which he coauthored with David Halberstam, receiving a standing ovation. Of course, Wickersham’s book also explores the dissolution of the Patriots dynasty, surmising, “There was no Patriot Way. There was only Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.” Patriots fans will revel in all the little-known backstories, while all football fans and readers seeking astonishing success stories will relish this, too.

Library Journal
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The last 20 years of pro football history have been dominated by the thorny dynasty of the New England Patriots, headed by the triumvirate of owner Robert Kraft, coach Bill Belichick, and quarterback Tom Brady. This history of the team is based on two decades of interviews and research conducted by ESPN.com journalist Wickersham. The author contracted to publish this book whenever Brady or Belichick left the Patriots; in the meantime, he wrote it as a summation of the team and an era. Wickersham strives to reveal the essence of each of the main characters. (Brady, Belichick, and Kraft declined to be interviewed.) Though Brady is the major focus, the book also delves into Kraft's desire for recognition and Belichick's systematic devotion to hard work and hard coaching. Wickersham presents Brady as the ultimate team leader, whose rigorous training regimen put strain on his family, and who grew tired of being underappreciated by his coach. This book covers the era's major events and finds fresh perspectives that make the lengthy volume a joy to read. VERDICT A skilled journalist analyzes the success of the NFL's premier team over the last two decades, in both its laudable and unsavory aspects; will be of interest to all sports fans.—John Maxymuk, Rutgers Univ.-Camden Lib., NJ