Tom Brady doesn’t know where he’ll play next season, but he knows it won’t be with the Patriots. On Tuesday, the future Hall of Famer took to social media to announce that he’ll be signing elsewhere.
“To all my teammates, coaches, executives, and staff, Coach Belichick, RKK, and the Kraft family, and the entire organization: I want to say thank you for the past twenty years of my life and the daily commitment to winning and creating a winning culture built on great values. I am grateful for all that you have taught me – I have learned from everyone.
You all have allowed me to maximize my potential and that is all a player can ever hope for. Everything we have accomplished brings me great joy and the lessons I have learned will carry on with me forever. I couldn’t be the man I am today without the relationships you have allowed me to build with you. I have benefited from all you have given me. I cherished every opportunity I had to be a part of our team, and I love you all for that.
“Our team has always set a great standard in pro sports and I know it will continue to do just that. Although my football journey will take place elsewhere, I appreciate everything that we have achieved and am grateful for your incredible TEAM accomplishments. I have been privileged to have had the opportunity to know each and every one of you, and to have the memories we’ve created together.”
There’s been talk of Brady leaving the Pats for more than a year, but many believed that the two sides would ultimately resolve their differences and come to terms on a new deal to cover the rest of his career. Ultimately, that was not the case – Brady found lots of suitors, and greener pastures, when the league’s legal tampering period opened this week.
Beyond the obvious reasons, Brady’s departure will sting the Patriots badly. Thanks to his revised deal from last summer, Brady will count $13.5MM in dead money against the Patriots’ cap – while he plays elsewhere. The Pats may be able to spread that hit out over the course of two seasons, but it’s a blow to their limited flexibility nonetheless.
Brady’s next destination remains a mystery, though the Buccaneers and Chargers have both made strong offers, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. He has not reached a handshake (elbow-bump?) deal with any clubs, either: he’s still exploring his options, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets.
The Dolphins, long rumored to be a potential suitor for Brady, did not make a major play for him, according to Rapoport. And, according to previous reports, the same goes for the Giants, Colts, Titans, and 49ers.
It’s not clear where the Patriots will go from here, but history suggests that they will not replace Brady with a similarly high-priced quarterback. By the same token, it’s hard to imagine the Pats relying on a rookie QB as their Week 1 starter. Instead, the Patriots could bypass the star signal-callers and acquire a less glitzy veteran via trade – Bengals QB Andy Dalton, perhaps.
Brady has been the Patriots’ starting quarterback for the past 19 seasons, entering the fray in 2001 after a frightening Drew Bledsoe injury. He grew from sixth-round pick to a game manager-type role in his early years to one of the most legendary players in NFL history, being tabbed for an NFL-record-tying 14 Pro Bowls.
The New England icon does not lead the quarterback pack in MVPs or All-Pro honors (three and three, respectively), but his postseason resume dwarfs his peers. And his nine Super Bowl appearances will be difficult for future passers to match. He will attempt to book a 10th big-game outing in another uniform, however.
As a lifelong Bills fan, YES
Haha congrats
Is this real life?
I’m shocked
Wow. LA it is then.
Bucs
No way they were going to be able to afford him
i thought most years the PATS were way under the hard cap ?
they were, but brady also always took very team friendly deals so they could put good players around him
WHATTT TF
I hope Dalton is the replacement for Brady.
Wowwww
Just kidding. Lmao.
The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. I think Tom will regret this.
yes he very well might. we may also but all I can say is thanks for the memories Tom I will be happy to beat you in games in the future.
Brady has one more good season left in him and one more okay season after that. There’s not much time or place to regret. Throwing to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin should temper any feelings of homesickness.
Better be practicing his long ball though.
this sux really bad!!!!
Bob Kraft comes in at the last moment and gives him a 5% ownership stake.
That’s what it would have to take at this point.
seems like kraft maybe has some regerts for making bb trade jimmy g.
Kraft is certainly accustomed to happy endings.
Yawn…
Speechless….
I can’t wait for the prop bet of who wins more games between Brady’s New team vs the Patriots
I will take Brady’s new team all day
you forget the wins that BB did with Cassell and Jimmy and Brisket
and now Bridgewater
I bet it’s Tampa unless LA is willing to give Brady the keys to the city.
so he’s going to the chargers or bucs. well good luck going through the saints and chiefs TB12.
seems like you will always be in Peyton’s shadow
Lol what? I think all of those SB trophies put Peyton in the shadows
Lol. Peyton can hide in the shade of those trophies.
Lol yeah 6 SBs to 2… and tell me when was the last time Saints didn’t disappoint? When they beat this dude in the SB named Peyton
the only reason he would be in Peyton’s shadow is because of Peyton’s giant HGH infused head. let’s be real now, Brady is the best to ever do it
That’s funny
Most ignorant statement today
Live in Payton’s shadow? Congrats you win Tool of the Year award with that ignorant statement.
Maybe the Bills could pick him up as a backup
Wow! would have bet my right leg he was returning to NE.
Dude no way
We need Teddy now
Don’t know why such an icon would tarnish his legacy by leaving his team. As a Steeler fan I can’t help but love it!
Remember that time Emmitt went to the Cardinals.
to be fair emmitt was on a major decline 3 years before he was literally on fumes for years
well, next best case scenario? Tank the season with Stidham, get the first pick, draft Lawrence. Woo Hoo!!!
Must be forgetting the last time they ‘tanked’ without Brady…won 11 games with a guy who hadnt started since high school.
Over a decade ago . . .
And they went 16-0 they year before
Patriots would have a better record than the Lions without adding any QB….
LOL, True. Just hoping guys, i know its not a reality. I dont see BB tanking ever for any reason.
as a frustrated cowboys fan that just overpaid Prescott, I say now that he is tagged, trade his 2nd tier ass and add Brady for 2 years
Dak had 1,000 more yds passing qbr 99.7>88 and 6 more td passing and a lot better runner. If Brady was 15 million I would agree but if he makes 30 mil a year I’m good with Dak
How many playoff games has Daaaaaak won?
brady won’t demand 30 and has alot better credentials than just last years stats…btw Pat’s made playoffs last year, the boys didnt! and add insult brees signed for 25m per year, is dak better than brees now too?
‘20 Prescott > ‘20 Brady
Maybe the Bears?
No
Yea i mean why would we ……. lol we no QBs like i know girls
And I’m fat and ugly
sleeper team is the Miami Patriots. Watch him end up there
All along I thought Brady and his agents were just posturing to force NE’s hands. I am now truly starting to think he might not re-sign. I still think this could be more of the same, but it is certainly starting to look like the real deal.
It would be HILARIOUS if Andy Dalton came in there and led them to a Super Bowl. Man, I hate the Patriots, but that would make them winning again worth it.
The worst year ever continues
The Bears.
It’s highly unlikely that he’ll go to a situation where he has as good a chance of winning as he would have had with the Pats**…
Announcing that he’s leaving without having signed somewhere else is a shocker to me, though. All I can think is that he’s really really really REALLY mad at some combination of Belechick, Kraft and/or New England in general… or that this is the ultimate “up your offer” ploy, which seems like a very remote possibility.
**For the record, I’m not a Pats fan.
Belechick wants a new quarterback. Dates back four years when TB hit 40 and Belechick had Garopolo ready and had to trade him instead.
This is the saddest announcement I’ve read on here.
I hope the Pats and whoever Brady’s new team is don’t win a game
so much salt
loser talk.
What an awful way to end the dynasty
Browns fans said the same thing in 1951.
The Chargers need to fill a new stadium. They should give him whatever it takes. I never thought he would really be available. Go bolts
Could it be the browns because they jack Conklin as right tackle and they have a lot of weapons( Beckham, Landry, Chubb, an Hooper)! They have the money to do this and make sense! They can just trade mayfield
Who cares, not the end of her world. Prolly sick of the cold, wants warmth and all. But whatever hes old and rusty anyway. Patriots messed up by not having a backup plan. Shocker.
BB had a back up plan with Jimmy G and Kraft killed it.
Should have listened to his idol Montana and stayed in New England.
But I think it’s best for the Pats.
brady won’t demand 30 and has alot better credentials than just last years stats…btw Pat’s made playoffs last year, the boys didnt! and add insult brees signed for 25m per year, is dak better than brees now too?
If Brady said all that in a tweet then it would appear to be over inflated. Perhaps Goodell should conduct an investigation.
Hopefully he isn’t being a prankster and replies with SIKE in a few hours