Two weeks ago, one of our staff writers, Rory Parks, posted a story detailing an update on a bit of a conspiracy being reported by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The reporting from Florio concerned a plan by the Dolphins to acquire quarterback Tom Brady and former-Saints head coach Sean Payton to create one of the most enviable QB-HC tandems in the league. 
The theory dates back to January 2020, when Brady was set to hit free agency and the possibility arose that he may finally leave New England. Florio reported that the Dolphins were generating the most buzz with talk of potentially making Brady a minority owner of the team. Then, this past February, Florio followed it up with a report that the Dolphins, once again, were looking into acquiring the two leaders during the offseason. Florio’s most recent reports on the matter double down on his assertion, claiming that the deal was “very close” to going down before former-Dolphins head coach Brian Flores filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against the team following his dismissal, throwing a wrench into any of Miami’s plans moving forward.
For the most part, it’s been Florio, alone, beating this drum, but, in an episode of STUpodity, the podcast hosted by Dan Le Batard and Jon Weiner, known professionally as Stugotz, released this Friday, NBC Sports’ Chris Simms added some fuel to the fire.
During the podcast, Simms said, “(The Dolphins) were going to trade a second-round pick to Tampa Bay to get Brady. (The Buccaneers) weren’t going to hold him hostage. Sean Payton and the Saints, that was going to be a first-round pick to get that deal done. It was a very real, tangible thing and the Brian Flores lawsuit definitely threw a wrench in it.”
It’s difficult to say how much, if any, of this was legitimately set to happen. In theory it makes sense, but, at the same time, the moves necessary to bring in Brady and Payton certainly would’ve precluded them from being able to make the moves they’ve made since the rumors started, moves that have taken them from 5-11 in 2019 to two consecutive winning seasons in 2020 & 2021. Would they have had the picks to draft young contributors like Tua Tagovailoa, Austin Jackson, Robert Hunt, Raekwon Davis, Jaylen Waddle, Jaelan Phillips, Jevon Holland, or Liam Eichenberg? Or the draft capital to acquire star wide receiver Tyreek Hill?
Bringing Payton and Brady in to lead an empty cupboard likely wouldn’t have put them in a favorable position back in 2020. Bringing them in now makes a lot more sense, but is way more difficult to make happen. Still, as long as Payton still wants to coach and Brady still wants to play, these rumors will likely persist into the next few offseasons.
Simm’s is Florio’s co-idiot so saying he jumped on the wagon doesn’t mean much. Florio takes every side of every issue. Take anything either say with a very large grain of salt.
Exciting thoughts!
Indeed! I’m waiting for my prediction to mature as well.
Why wouldn’t TB offer a similar minority stake?
Chris Grier has admitted it was real. Florio spitballs a lot of stuff, but this was actually a real thing. My guess is that someone in the league told him it was true but couldn’t put their name on it.
Florio’s problem is that he has been engaged in the tin foil hat journalism associated with Weekly World News so long that nobody actually takes him serious anymore. I can’t recall him ever naming a source so I just assume Batboy is behind his stories.
The Glazer kids already have the team pretty split up. Also, Tampa versus Miami. Most people would tell you the latter is more desirable to live.
I was about to go out with Eva Mendes but then the Flores lawsuit threw a wrench in it
Don’t know why, but this story would have been so much more compelling if we were talking like, oh, ten years ago
It’s a total nothing burger that only the media cares about.
Yeah because most people retire from sports and unretire in 40 days. Brady wasn’t gone long enough to miss it. The Brady retirement is a farce.
everyone knows he did it. that Miami is the reason is another story.
Funny how everyone knocks the media. When will we all realize that the media does not care about whether their stories are believable or not, they care about subscribers and clicks: That’s where the money is.
that’s like saying an internet scammer is laudable because they make money. they’re not stupid – but most are still rats.
I don’t disagree. However, if the same people keep falling for the scam over and over again, then that’s on them.
McDaniel is amazingly talented and black best of both worlds I wish him nothing but good fortunes
McDaniel definitely isn’t black
He actually is, he’s mixed.
Why would the Bucs trade Brady, much less for a 2nd round draft choice?
Every crap story Florio writes is a conspiracy theory, where he is the conspirator, detective, judge, jury, and moralistic arbitrator of societal justice. His site has a constant flow of content, which is good, but half of it is just his personal crusades or meaningless junk or advertisements for his worthless book. I know that PFR acknowledged that he is the only one pushing these “facts” and specifics in this story, which I know is not a story that you’d write willingly, but Florio has cited no sources that can be verified (as usual).
Chris Simms works with Florio and is his partner in crime on most of his content. Bringing up his podcast appearance is really just an extension of Florio himself.
cbrookhouzen,
I actually went to college in Florida. My answer is neither at this stage of my life, but you’re smoking some really good stuff if you think anyone would prefer Tampa Bay over Miami on any level.