Tom Brady refutes ESPN report during radio interview

Quarterback Tom Brady refuted an ESPN The Magazine story that said he "seemed liberated" after the New England Patriots traded backup Jimmy Garoppolo to the San Francisco 49ers.

ESPN's Seth Wickersham wrote that "some players and staffers noticed that Brady seemed especially excited, hollering and cajoling."

Brady took issue with that statement on Tuesday during his weekly interview on sports radio WEEI's Kirk and Callahan Show.

"I think that's just such a poor characterization of anything. In 18 years, I've never celebrated when someone has been traded, been cut," the 40-year-old Brady said. "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 teammates.

"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, when Jacoby (Brissett) got traded. I've kept in touch with all those guys. When Matt Cassel was gone. All these guys I've worked with, I felt like I had such 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."

Brady also dismissed the notion of preventing Garoppolo from working with personal trainer and business partner Alex Guerrero.

"You guys obviously know how I feel about Alex and the work we've done together," Brady said. "I just keep doing what my process has been and worked (for me) for a long time."

Garoppolo was sent to the 49ers on Oct. 31 in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft and led the team to a 5-0 record as the starter.

In the wake of the trade, the 49ers released Hoyer who would later latch on with the Patriots.