INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 18: Head coach Bill Belichick and Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots congratulate each other after the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 18, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Patriots defeated the Colts 34-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Patriots owner Robert Kraft made a puzzling statement on Tom Brady, Bill Belichick ahead of AFC title game

The reported rift between quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick took over NFL headlines in early January, but all seemed to be well in the leadup to their playoff run.

On Sunday morning, Patriots owner Robert Kraft was asked about how important it was to keep the band together. His answer, was a bit puzzling:

The story went that Brady forced the trade of Jimmy Garoppolo and went above Belichick's head to get it completed. The Patriots, Kraft, Brady and Belichick all released statements in the coming days talking about unity, expected to return the next season and downplaying any issues in the locker room.

While Kraft was being honest with his answer on Sunday morning, his need to include the bit on egos and getting it together seems like an odd thing to do hours ahead of the biggest game of the season. Or maybe Kraft knows what buttons are ok to press when it comes to the quarterback-head coach duo he's worked with for more than a decade now.