In a wide-ranging two-hour interview with Howard Stern on SiriusXM Radio, new Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady discussed his first foray into free agency, his decision to leave the Patriots, his journey to Tampa Bay, and his future in the NFL. Let’s take a look at the highlights from Brady’s sit-down with the King of All Media:
- Brady said he had a strong feeling he’d leave New England before the beginning of the 2019 NFL season, as James Palmer of NFL.com tweets. “I don’t think there was a final, final decision until it happened,” Brady said. “But I would say I probably knew before the start of last season. I knew that, it was just, our time, you know, our time was coming to an end.” Brady signed a renegotiated contract in August 2019 that prevented the Patriots from franchise tagging him in 2020, so the tea leaves regarding a possible departure were in place.
- Brady indicated he heard from “a lot” of interested teams when he reached free agency, tweets Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. However, Brady said he wrote down a list of 20 factors that would play into his decision, including location, wide receiver talent, and coaching, per Palmer (Twitter link), which helped lead him to the Buccaneers.
- While leaving the franchise he played for his entire career couldn’t have been an easy decision, Brady said he wasn’t concerned about tarnishing his NFL legacy. “I never cared about legacy,” Brady said, per Greg Auman of the The Athletic (Twitter link). “I could give a s— about … that’s not me, that’s not my personality. Why would I choose a different place? It was time. I had accomplished everything I could with an incredible organization.”
- Although he’s now entering uncharted territory as a mid-40s NFL quarterback, Brady doesn’t seem to be considering retirement any time in the immediate future. “You don’t tell a musician to stop singing, you don’t tell a great painter to stop painting at 42,” Brady said, per Auman (Twitter link). Brady, of course, inked a fully guaranteed two-year contract with Tampa Bay that will take him through his age-44 season.
- Despite reports of friction between Brady and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, the future Hall of Fame quarterback said he doesn’t hold any resentment towards the future Hall of Fame coach, as Jenna Laine of ESPN.com tweets. “No absolutely not,” Brady said. “To have him allowed me to be the best I can be. So I’m grateful for that. And I very much believe he feels the same about me…”
Brady is so full of crap re: legacy. Guy is an overflowing narcissist.
So by saying he doesn’t care for personal accomplishments, that makes him a narcissist? Seriously? If he clamored about himself being the best, etc etc etc, THAT makes someone a narcissist.
I suppose he trounced whatever team you follow so many times you cannot count that high
Bingo!
Says a guy whose every stupid comment shows his narcissism.
Bingo!
Except singing and painting don’t require a human to: a) Be in the absolute best physical condition you can push yourself to be in, and b) Rely so heavily on your surrounding cast to be successful. Brady and New England proved that last year.
Father Time is the only opponent no athlete has ever defeated.
Yeah really. This guys brain is living on another planet.
He watched P Manning walk and that didn’t cause any problems w/ the Colts and brought a SB to Denver.
A shaky Manning did it at age 39. Brady will be 43 this season. It’s possible that he has a good season, but it’s far from probable.
Peyton parted ways with the Colts after a severe injury. Went to Denver and had an all time great season. A few years later was a shell of his former self and rode the defense to a SB title.
lol, Manning did very little during that SB run. Let’s put it this way: Brock Osweiler had a better season than Manning did. They were EXTREMELY lucky they had a lights out defense, otherwise they very well could have had a losing record with the level of QB play they had in ’15
So he was lying when he said during free agency a return to New England was on the table and he’s lying now when he said many teams contacted him. Anyone who has not been living in a cave knows it was the patriots, chargers, Buccaneers and Raiders so now many teams means four. If all of the factors he say or factors location, wide receiver corps as well as head coach you would think he would not be in Tampa but rather of those four teams the Raiders. Here is the factor he wanted to be the guy in charge of the offense basically an extension of the head coach that was not happening in New England was not going to happen here in Vegas and definitely would not have happened in Los Angeles. Tennessee even was not interested and they are head coach is one of Brady’s best friends so if the team you were with for 20 years did not make an offer and the team where your best friend is the head coach did not make an offer that should tell you everything you need to know about this guy.
In some of these I interviews he implied the Raiders weren’t serious. So it was really the Bucs or Bolts. Maybe the rest of the league contacted him about being a backup/quasi QB coach
Are you really going to argue the Raiders’ patchwork receiving corps is better than Mike Evans and Chris Godwin? Also Bruce Arians > Jon Gruden
Not even close to anything I said actually champ. Just pointing out everybody wants to link the Raiders to every QB, and it might not have been as legitimate and interest as reporters tweeted for months. Are you one of those new Tampa fans?
Dude, chill out. I was replying to the comment above
“…he wanted to be the guy in charge of the offense basically an extension of the head coach…”
And you think BRUCE ARIANS is going to let anyone else be in charge of the offense?
If the Pats had gone out after the season and acquired a couple more offensive weapons – say, Stefon Diggs and Kyle Rudolph – I think Brady would have given the Pats at least a hearing.
I wish TB the best. I adored him with the Pats and will continue to be a fan in Tampa.
How much Brady – related content can people consume? When will it die out?
You don’t have to be the greatest athlete to be a QB. Especially when you’ve proven you know how to make the right decisions on the field. Brady is going into an almost ideal situation in Tampa Bay. He doesn’t have to throw for the most yards or put up any records to win a Superbowl. Should be fun to watch. Also, I’m not a Brady fan, but there is no denying he’s good and is going into a situation surrounded by more talant than he’s had in recent years.
Some just don’t care what they say about Tom, myself included, but Brady is a tremendous talented player.
As to age is concerned, its a factor that is just overrated!
Is that Tom Brady or Betty White?
So when does Brady begin the book tour?
They forgot to add Toms favorite whack packer was Beetle Juice.
That’s whack
Bucs with Brady versus KC with Mahomes. Let’s see who gets it done ! Hmmmmm !