Bill Belichick Sends Clear Message To Patriots Owner Robert Kraft

Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft haven't had the warmest of relationships in recent years and it appears things are still pretty icy between the six-time Super Bowl champ and his former boss.

Not usually one to respond to public statements, the ex-Patriots coach decided to address Kraft's claim that he took a "big risk" even making the move to acquire Belichick from the New York Jets in 2000.

"As I told Robert multiple times through the years, I took a big risk by taking the New England Patriots head coaching job," Belichick shot back via ESPN.com. "I already had an opportunity to be the head coach of the New York Jets, but the ownership situation was unstable."

"I had been warned by multiple previous Patriots coaches, as well as other members of other NFL organizations and the media, that the New England job was going to come with many internal obstacles," Bill continued. "I made it clear that we would have to change the way the team was managed to regain the previously attained success."

Kraft made his comments during an appearance on the "Dudes on Dudes" podcast hosted by former Patriots greats Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski.

"The one that got questioned the most was in 1999," Kraft explained. "I gave up a No. 1 draft pick for a coach that had only won a little over 40% of his games to get him out. ... I think getting Bill Belichick to come to the Patriots in 1999 was a big risk, and I got hammered in the Boston area, but he was with us for 24 years. And we did OK."