Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have finally spoken.

The two connected by phone Tuesday, and their conversation about Brady’s pending free agency “didn’t go well,” per a source.

It was the first time Belichick had contacted Brady about his contract situation, and the Patriots’ plans going forward. The source wouldn’t shed further light on the discussion, or the particulars, other than noting it wasn’t all that fruitful.

While the contract talks appear to be off to a rocky start, it doesn’t necessarily preclude the team from signing its six-time Super Bowl winner.

But starting off on the wrong foot certainly doesn’t help. The market for Brady’s services has been “very good,” according to the source. Multiple teams have expressed an interest. The latest rumors ensnared the San Francisco 49ers and described an almost fairytale finish, with Brady going home to play for the team he rooted for as a child.

A source indicated Tuesday there was definitely something to that speculation in the wake of NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran reporting the Niners were “closing hard on the outside.”

The long-rumored suitors remain involved, too; namely the Titans. The Chargers and Buccaneers are also in the mix. But both the Niners and Titans make the most sense for No. 12, if he opts to leave the Patriots.

The way this is headed, Brady won’t be making his decision until after free agency starts, as the Patriots quarterback is due to become an unrestricted free agent March 18. Related Articles Tom Brady free agency: The best, worst and most bizarre teams he could play for | Callahan

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Teams such as the Titans and Buccaneers both have quarterbacks also set to hit free agency in Ryan Tannehill and Jameis Winston. It makes no sense to go all-in on Brady, then if he goes back to New England, they are left without a quarterback. So teams are treading carefully.

With Belichick being Belichick, that shouldn’t necessarily be a surprise. He’s not the type to be all warm and fuzzy when it comes to business. But in this negotiation, having Belichick not peel back a layer from his all-business side likely didn’t sit well with No. 12. He’s looking for a sign from Belichick that the head coach wants him back.

That didn’t happen.

On an Instagram live stream with UFC president Dana White on Wednesday, Brady once again expressed that he was “trying to be patient through this process.” He also indicated he would be having a “little vacation” with the family and be devoted to family time the next 10 to 12 days.

Speaking with Hall of Fame quarterback and NFL Network analyst Kurt Warner last week at the NFL’s Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, he wasn’t sure which direction Brady was headed. But he thought that would depend on the GOAT’s true mindset.

“I’m sure in Tom’s mind somewhere, there’s a leaning that he has,” said Warner. “Is that leaning, ‘I really want to be a Patriot? I just want to know they’re committed to me.’ Or is that leaning, ‘I want to see what life is like away from Bill Belichick and outside the Patriots organization and I want to see if I can win somewhere else.’ ’’

Right now, it’s leaning toward the latter situation.