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Report: Tension Building Between Brady, Coaching Staff; Garoppolo Could Replace Brady 'Sooner Than Later'

BOSTON (CBS) -- The Patriots' Week 5 game was not scheduled until prime time, but it was anything but a quiet Sunday afternoon in Patriots land during the day.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that there is growing tension between Tom Brady and the coaching staff, as his input on the offensive game plans has been greatly diminished after the loss of longtime offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia and Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins.

"The line now coached by Dave DeGuglielmo is so inexperienced that Brady's input into game plans, personnel groups and pre-snap adjustments has significantly diminished," Mortensen reported. "The circumstances have affected Brady's confidence and performance, sources told ESPN, and the Patriots have had little success providing the talent needed to execute the team's previous approach -- a complex scheme that can change dramatically on a weekly basis."

UPDATE: Brady responded to the report following the Patriots' 43-17 win on Sunday night.

Mortensen added to the report, saying that two sources informed him that when the Patriots drafted Jimmy Garoppolo in the second round of this year's draft, they did not select him simply to be a backup and then a trade chip. They drafted him to be the successor of Brady in New England.

"The move could happen 'sooner than later,'" according to Mortensen, but he added that there's no indication such a change would take place this year.

CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora also reported on Brady on Sunday, saying the 37-year-old quarterback still plans to play into his 40s. Whether that career continues with the Patriots is a question that is now being asked within NFL circles.

"Even broaching the topic of Brady being gone sounds blasphemous to many at first blanch, certainly, but the reality is the Patriots have a long history of shunning sentimentality and making calculated decisions, and if their lack of a supporting cast continues to plague them, options for expediting a roster influx would be limited," La Canfora wrote.

Regardless, it's clear that as the Patriots prepared to host the Bengals on Sunday night, their 2-2 record and embarrassing performance on Monday Night Football last week has the team in various levels of unrest.

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