Bill Belichick’s relationship with 49-year-younger Jordon Hudson is falling under even sterner scrutiny after his dreadful CBS interview – with concern growing among the legendary NFL coach’s cast of famous friends.

Already the source of huge attention, the flames were fanned on Sunday when CBS aired an excruciating interview with the eight-time Super Bowl winnner where Hudson interrupted from off-camera to shut down questions on how they met.

Since then, a string of revelations have come out about Hudson, 24, claiming she stormed out the interview causing a 30-minute delay and that her demands have also stopped the legendary ‘Hard Knocks’ series from filming Belichick’s foray into the college game North Carolina.

And one concerned onlooker is the NBA icon Charles Barkley, who has been friends with Belichick, 73, for over 30 years.

He didn’t hold back in an appearance on The Dan Patrick show, saying: ‘This is a very slippery subject for me because Bill is one of my really good friends.

‘I’m not sure what is going on. He has been a great friend for me for a long time – we’ve been friends since he coached for the Browns (Belichick coached in Cleveland from 1991-1995).

‘I think he has got to be very careful right now, this is starting to be on a very slippery slope. He’s the greatest football coach ever, him and Nick Saban – college, Nick Saban and for Bill, the NFL.

‘From what I’m hearing it is starting to be a very slippery slope and I never talk about people’s personal realtionships. It’s another rule I’ve got.

‘But I will admit I am a little concerned with some of the stuff that is going on and I might actually reach out to him and make sure everything is good. I am concerned with what I am hearing. It is not a good look right now, I will admit that.’

Patrick then responded by saying that Belichick, a notorious ‘control freak’ as a coach, has relinquished all his power over his reputation to Hudson.

‘Yeah, listen man… I am a little concerned, I will admit that,’ Barkley replied. ‘Because he’s my friend through good, bad and whatever and I hope everything is alright.’

Barkley is best known these days for his work as an NBA analyst alongside Shaquille O’Neal on TNT but as a player in the 80s and 90s, he was an All-Star 11 times.

His comments come as the fear for Belichick appears to be growing within his own family, too.

On an Instagram post which shows former New England Patriots star Julian Edelman sticking up for his old coach’s girlfriend by claiming she was merely acting how any PR person would, American comedian Nikki Glaser also defended Hudson in the comments.

‘100% this,’ Glaser wrote. ‘She’s acting as his publicist. Publicists do this during interviews. People are out for blood 

But his daughter-in-law Amanda, who has been married to Belichick’s son Stephen for eight years, shot that down. She wrote back: ‘Publicists act in a professional manner and don’t “storm” off set delaying an interview.’

Stephen Belichick followed his father to North Carolina and works alongside him on the coaching staff.

He spent 11 years as a member of his father’s Patriots staff before enjoying a brief stint as defensive coordinator for the Washington Huskies after his dad’s exit last year.

Belichick himself defended Hudson in a statement on Wednesday, where he laid the blame for the outrage with CBS.

‘I was surprised when unrelated topics were introduced, and I repeatedly expressed to the reporter, Tony Dokoupil, and the producers that I preferred to keep the conversation centered on the book. 

‘After this occurred several times, Jordon, with whom I share both a personal and professional relationship, stepped in to reiterate that point to help refocus the discussion. 

‘She was not deflecting any specific question or topic but simply doing her job to ensure the interview stayed on track.’