It looks like the Tom Brady sweepstakes are coming to a close. The expectation is that Brady will sign with the Buccaneers, sources told Jeff Darlington and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Tampa’s offer is “roughly” $30MM annually, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets, although the duration is unclear.
Rapoport added that the Buccaneers have been confident all day about landing him. It’s not at all unexpected given today’s developments, but it still is a wild conclusion to an unpredictable saga. A couple of years ago we got the first reports that Brady might want out of New England, but nobody at the time could’ve predicted it would end with him teaming up with Bruce Arians in Tampa Bay. It became clear in recent months that Brady leaving was a very real possibility, and earlier this morning the legendary quarterback announced he wouldn’t be back with the Patriots in 2020.
We heard just a little while ago that the Chargers were out of the running, which left the Bucs as the only known team aggressively pursuing Brady. The Raiders had been floated at various points, but they recently signed Marcus Mariota and the same report that had the Chargers out indicated Brady wanted to stay closer to his family on the east coast.
The Patriots were one of the best teams in the league last season, but it was mostly because of the defense and not the offense. Brady had one of his worst seasons statistically, averaging his lowest yards per attempt (6.8) since the 2002 season. The Pats were widely criticized for not providing him with enough weapons, and that won’t be an issue in Tampa.
The Bucs have arguably the best receiving duo in the league, with Chris Godwin and Mike Evans forming a matchup nightmare for any opposing secondary. Their defense also made major strides down the stretch last season under DC Todd Bowles, and they’ll now be considered an instant contender in 2020.
Brady spent 20 incredible years in New England, helping to create one of the most iconic dynasties in sports history. He’ll leave the Patriots at the age of 42, having won six Super Bowls with the team. We may never know exactly what happened the last few years, but it seems clear that Brady wanted a fresh start. His frustration with the offense was evident toward the end of last season, and it culminated in an embarrassing home loss to the Titans in the first round of the playoffs.
As for the Buccaneers, they’ll obviously be moving on from Jameis Winston, who they drafted first overall back in 2015. The game of quarterback musical chairs has almost ended, and there aren’t too many starting jobs left available for Winston to nab.
If he does sign there how long into the season do the media start complaining about Mike Evans and Chris Goodwin by saying they are overrated and he needs more weapons. Then complain about the offensive line saying he needs more help.
He’s good for it but I’m sure he’ll keep his mouth shut because he wants to prove he can win with out bill that’s all this season is going to come down to (for pats fans) is he just as good without bill and if bill is just as good without tom it should be fun
He had legitimately bad receivers in NE. Edelman was a leader in drops as his #1.
He had Edelman, first round pick Harry, traded a second round pick for Sanu. Plus Dorsett, plus 8 time pro bowler Micheal Slater, plus Antonio Brown until things turned bad.
Don’t forget about 2 all pro level guards, a very good RT, a good center, and a above average LT. most quarterbacks would kill for that line.
Above average LT?!?! All-pro “level” guards?!?! It’s not quite a Slater reference but it’s close…
LT was out for half the season and the center missed the whole year. the line last year was not the line from 2018
You know youve gotten to peak of Brady-hating when you use “8 time pro bowler Michael Slater” as evidence that he had “weapons”
He had brown for one game. Lol.
Slater was a huge reach but still Edelman Sanu Harry Dorsett and Brown for a game.
Edelman a future HOF, Sanu was traded in for a second, Harry was a first round pick and Dorsett is a nice third option
Lol yeah you didn’t watch many games if you thought Slater was used on offense. Harry also struggled when he was healthy and Sanu was a major bust after the trade….and Dorsett lol…still not signed yet so that shows how well he’s been….nice try though
Your calling a 30 year old from the third round a bust?
You can’t say they didn’t get him weapons when they traded and drafted a WR to help him. And just you wait Dorsett will get a nice deal
Since when did draft position equate to production?
So all 1st rounders mean they are great?
Take Brown out one game isn’t a weapon.
Where is the RB play to mix up offense?
Not saying he’ll be great in TB but let’s see who’s NE QB before we say who’s season will be better
On the other side of the coin maybe Brady was bad and made those guys look bad. I know that is blasphemy calling the great Tom Brady bad but a different perspective.
So Slater did not catch one pass at all this past year. Harry missed 9 games and Sanu hurt his knee returning a punt in his second game and was never right after that. So the Pats had Edelman and Dorsett and that’s about it. No TE either. Brady will throw at least 30 TDs and for 4,500+ yards in Tampa at the age of 43. Time for the rest of the country to see how good he really is, even this far past his prime.
Dude you just named a bunch of meh and has beens. Brown he had for 1 or 2 games? I’m not a fan of him but still, his offense besides the line was trash.
Edelman out of the slot will drop more balls than typical WRs.
Die hard steelers fan and I can’t stand Boston sports/fans but this is crazy. He won 6 rings with no one but gronk. Welker, branch and Edelman were about as high profile as it got. I don’t think they’d be around as long as they were if it weren’t for Brady.
The only thing Brady has left to “prove” is that he wasn’t a system qb. He’s old now. Whatever he does in Tampa tells us nothing about how great he was in NE. It’s pretty crazy a guy with 6 rings still has to prove his greatness
Um Randy Moss, Aaron Hernandez, Ocho Cinco, Amendola, Brandon Lloyd.
If you remove Ocho Cinco and Brandon Lloyd, your list would be more accurate.
Didn’t win a super bowl with moss. I’ll give you Hernandez.
Point being he’s got 6 and didn’t even win won with moss. Could’ve easily been 7. He went 16-0 and set the record for most TDs in a season.
Exactly natsfan.
Brady was terrible last season. Once teams stopped defending over-the-top, his little slants and screen passes didnt work out
LOL
Gee, I guess Tampa can reduce their offer now – I mean, where else is he gonna sign?
Think only other team would be Miami to go after Brady.
Chargers will still get him
Sorry, but no one looks good in those nasty Buc’s unis. Not even Tom.
Bring back the Icicle Orange
Yessssssssss
Their old ’03 SB unis are coming back from what I’ve heard.
We’re getting new uniforms this year, next month is the reveal.
I guess Gisselle wanted Florida since she’s the boss. Get ready to deflate some balls, Tampa!
the bears need to bring Winston in
Is there a Bears in the XFL, because certainly no NFL team needs this rapist. Sorry, “alleged” rapist.
No. Hell No. 1st off… he stinks as a QB. 2nd off… he stinks as a human being. Just say “NO”
Why not try and bring Cutler back? Or Kordell Stewart?
I wonder if he wanted to go there or if it was just about the only place making a serious push
Wouldn’t surprise me if Pats signed Winston and kept on winning.
Would shock me if NE won half their games with Winston at QB
Buccs will need to improve that O Line
Yes they do need to bring in or draft some OL & DL players.
He just thought it was all cool and funky if TB signed with TB.
So I guess the answer to the question who will have more wins if separated Brady or Belichick is answered hands-down will be Belichick.
You realize the Bucs won 7 games last year with a QB that threw 30 int’s, right? Winston also set an NFL record for pick sixes. It’s not unrealistic to believe the Bucs can win 10-12 games next season. As far as the Patriots, we’ll just have to see. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them struggle to win 5-6 games. No weapons and now their franchise QB is gone.
Wonder if Gruden will come back to coach them?
You’re the only one wondering that
Srsly dude are you daft? Gruden signed a 10 yr deal when he returned to coach da Raidas.
As good a place as any for Brady to live out his “Montana as a Chief” era.
I’m so surprised that he’s not signing with the 49ers! PFR had so many articles about it, I thought it was a lock.
Except if you were paying attention the Niners said NO to Tom 2 days ago.
woooooooosh
If any of the 1st round grade OL are there, that’s how the Bucs draft, protect Brady. If not, great year to trade back. Fill more holes.
So Tampa goes from a bust of a QB to a HOF BUST. Can’t wait until Belicheat is 6-10. He can then go hang out with his other “ stable genius” friend and blame everyone else.
At least you acknowledge your lack of sanity in your name.
Still convinced the NFL black balled Pepe Pearson!
Tampa will draft a QB in the first round (either Love or Herbert) and let him learn under Brady’s tutelage. Best of both worlds for Tampa
I’ve been a TB hater almost his whole career. I’ve always thought he was the most overrated QB in the history of the NFL. But honestly even I had to give him some credit for winning 6 SB and been to 3 more? That’s 9 SB’s in his 20 years in NE. And I have to admit even though I want to see him fall on his face what he does anywhere else isn’t going to prove anything. He’s over 40 and way out of his prime. The only way this will prove anything is if he wins another SB there.
Trubisky to the Patriots, it’s happening!!!
Clearly, it’s no longer about “Championships”.
I guess Brady wants E!SPN and FOX Sports to leave him alone. We know that halfway into the season, those networks will stop reporting on him all the time like they had done since Day 1 in New England because he’s now in Tampa instead of Boston. It’s like if LBron would’ve signed with the Bucks, Jazz or Pelicans or if Jeter had signed with the Royals or Pirates.