As the Jets attempt to reinstall Zach Wilson as their starting quarterback, they are believed to have contacted available quarterbacks to round out their depth chart in the wake of Aaron Rodgers‘ injury. The biggest name available does not appear to be on their radar.
The team is not planning to make a pitch to Tom Brady to unretire for a second time, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, who notes the future Hall of Famer continues to inform those close to him he does not intend to play again. While Brady unretired last year, he was out of the game for barely a month. This retirement has spanned more than seven months.
Brady, 46, retired for a second time on Feb. 1 and has made multiple plans to stay connected to the game after completing one of the greatest careers in sports history. He is planning to begin his tenure as FOX’s top analyst next year and has agreed to buy a stake in the Raiders. While the latter endeavor generated rumors about Brady being an emergency Jimmy Garoppolo injury replacement with Las Vegas, the 23-year veteran shot those down by indicating he was indeed done.
Rumblings of a Brady return to the AFC East caused quite the uproar last year, when the Brady-Sean Payton tampering scandal cost the Dolphins first- and third-round picks. During his first retirement, Brady buzz about becoming a player/owner with the Dolphins circulated. That Miami penalty surfaced just before the Buccaneers reconvened for their 2022 training camp, which preceded a surprising Brady hiatus after he had initially showed up at Bucs camp.
Both Brady and the Bucs proceeded to take significant steps back last season, as injuries mounted along Tampa Bay’s offensive line. While Brady joined a Bucs team with a number of intriguing defensive pieces in 2020, stepping in to help a talented young Jets defense does not look realistic.
The Jets have been connected to the likes of Carson Wentz and Nick Foles, who were each in Philadelphia during Joe Douglas‘ tenure as a Howie Roseman lieutenant. The team has also been linked to be aimed at convincing one player — Chad Henne — to unretire. The ex-Nathaniel Hackett Jaguars pupil came up Tuesday as an option for the Jets, but no indications have emerged regarding the four-year Chiefs backup’s interest in unretiring to play behind Wilson.
Although the Jets made no secret of their effort to replace Wilson this offseason, their primary targets were Rodgers and Derek Carr. Brady was briefly linked to the Raiders as a free agent, but he retired soon after. The NFL still needs to approve of his Raiders ownership path. It would certainly be easier for the Jets to land Brady compared to the Dolphins, who pursued a quarterback still under contract with another team. As of now, however, Wilson is back at the helm for a Jets team that has seen its stock take a substantial hit despite a come-from-behind Week 1 win.
In addition to Brady, the Jets are not pursuing Colin Kaepernick, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson tweets. Kaepernick, who was brought up as an injury-replacement option often during the late 2010s, contacted the Jets about their sudden QB issue. But the former Super Bowl starter was never a realistic option, seeing as his unique NFL exit occurred more than six years ago.
Colt McCoy may be an option, Anderson adds. The Cardinals released McCoy just before the deadline to cut their roster to 53 players, going instead with recent trade pickup Joshua Dobbs in Week 1. McCoy, who turned 37 earlier this month, spent the past two seasons in Arizona. He came up as an option for New England, but the Patriots have used younger options as Mac Jones‘ backup. This would be McCoy’s 14th NFL season.
Cunningham is the answer. Teach him small ball and get rushing like Lamar. It’s all these team needs with that run game and defense. Salvageable with a poach.
Interesting idea, but he would still be third string. I’m not sure he could be poached, though, since each team can protect four PS players every week. I would think he’d be one of them.
A better route for the Jets may be via trade. I was thinking the Steelers may be interested in some corner help since Aiyuk torched them Sunday. Brandin Echols just came back from suspension. Either he or Bryce Hall could be available for either Trubisky or Rudolph. The Jets would probably need to throw a pick the Steelers’ way in addition to the CB to get Trubisky.
I was unaware of the protection. I can’t believe he cleared. Still in shock.
The most obvious choice for the Jets should be Ryan Fitzpatrick! He has been amazing in this capacity for several years, and seems capable of learning playbooks very quickly, and is very good at improv. Also, with team as good as the Jets seems to be a lot of ‘faults’ can be wiped out!
I think Fitzmagic is sticking with his TV gig so he can spend time with his seven children. It’s a nice idea, though. I think Flacco would be more realistic, but they probably would want a more mobile quarterback.
Can the media move on from discussing Tom Brady every day ?
Let’s move on. If he wanted to play, he would play for the Bucs or Patriots.
And Kaepernick…….
This is the far more annoying one…..dude will be 80 and the media will still bring his name up at every QB opening. He’s.Not.Coming.Back.
well actually I think the only team he’d play for is the Raiders if Jimmy G goes down..
being that he’s an owner now.
pats and bucs are only pretty colors, he’s invested in Raiders now
oh also I’ll add that history shows that Jimmy G will go down at some point
… and Tommy B will be back
Heinicke
Christian Hackenberg is available…lol.
It’s laughable that Brady would even consider a comeback with the jets.. oh well that’s why we have jets fans like Rich Eisen and mike Greenberg on their shows to stir the crap pot
Can’t believe this has to be written, but hey, Mike Florio writes a “Brady could underwire” article every week or so. We’ll know when his book comes about it when he starts plugging it 24/7 on ProFootballTalk.
Trade for Stafford
No
Kaepernick sucked when he was playing in the NFL, now after all this time, nobody wants that dude
So one week Brady is going into the Patriots hall of fame and then he is going to play for the NY JEts?
Ok, sure!!!
NO way Brady wants to come back and die with that Offensive line.
Doesnt Brady part own the Raiders now? How would that work?
It’s gonna be Phillip Rivers. And I’m onboard.
Plenty of serviceable backup types available for trade. They just need someone who doesn’t panic at the slightest pressure and throws 2 picks a game
Matty Ice holding on line 1.
Irate Jeff George on line 2
How many times is this gonna be bumped to the top?? We get it, they’re not going after Tom Brady!
Fitzmagic
Fitzmagic is in the building
White Male Sports Media continues to have a hard-on for Lupica’s favorite QB. That’s the Super League mentality imported from the British tabloids.
Funny how the Radical Kapernick buried himself with his Plantation comments and now wants to come back and work for the Plantation Owners. Great how he is not even getting a chance which would be a major Public Relations night mare.