If there's one thing you need to read while we all continue to get stuck at home amid the crippling COVID-19 pandemic, it's the book about the New England Patriots, entitled “It's Better to Be Feared.”

Written by ESPN senior reporter Seth Wickersham, it peered through the curtains of the dynastic yet controversial reign of the Patriots, led by coach Bill Belichick and star Tom Brady.

It was no secret that Belichick was almost replaced numerous times, with the Patriots brass reportedly growing tired of his antics. In fact, according to Wickersham, Patriots owner Robert Kraft even called Belichick the “biggest f****** a**hole in my life.” The tension was felt across the NFL, Bill O'Brien wanted to get fired by the Houston Texans so he could get a shot at replacing Belichick (via ESPN).

“The plan was fanciful, but O'Brien heard about it. He was in a power struggle of his own in Houston, fighting with general manager Rick Smith, a ‘dysfunctional' and ‘toxic' situation, according to the Houston Chronicle. The leaks from O'Brien's camp, claiming he wanted out, were so aggressive as to be suspicious, as if he knew he had a golden parachute. In the end, though, the (Texans) chose O'Brien over Smith, giving the coach more control over football operations. O'Brien later joked to a confidant that it was a somewhat empty victory. ‘I was trying to get fired,' he said.”

As we all know, O'Brien's sly plan didn't push through, and Belichick remains as coach of the Patriots to this day. Despite his idiosyncrasies, he's the architect of the Patriots' six Super Bowl titles.

On Sunday, Belichick will face off against Brady for the first time as the Patriots host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.