It was a topic of discussion throughout the day capped off with a massive story for NFL free agency furthermore the off-season.
Tom Brady started the day announcing on social media he is leaving the New England Patriots and taking his talents to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Let’s get into it, beginning with the leaving the Patriots.
Brady will not hurt his legacy leaving New England. I still have not called Brady the GOAT, but he is dressed up in costume.
After being drafted in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft, Brady became the first quarterback in NFL history and just the fourth player overall to play 20 seasons with one team.
Chew on these statistics in for one moment.
Six Super Bowl titles (most by a player, NFL history)
30-post season game wins, that is, more playoff wins than 27 NFL franchises have in their own history.
Brady has thrown 541 touchdown passes (most by a player with a single team in NFL history).
Brady becomes the first player to switch teams after 20 seasons with a single franchise.
FOREVER A PATRIOT pic.twitter.com/QSBOJBs4uy
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) March 17, 2020
Again, Six Super Bowl Championships, nine super bowl appearances. There is nothing that can happen that can taint that. From this point forward, Brady can go up or fade into his greatness. Moreover, go down as the greatest quarterback to have ever played in the NFL.
Brady was not working with much on offense last season. And the Patriots finished first in the AFC East division, third overall at 12-4. Moreover was just a play or two away from a first-round bye. To ask a 42-year-old non-mobile Brady to go to work every day with the lack of weapons around him and still make the playoffs should be respected. Now let’s see how bad Brady is with the weapons he will have in Tampa. The jury is still out for a quarterback, actually being successful throwing the ball to himself.
LOVE YOU PATS NATION pic.twitter.com/lxSQZmnjPL
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) March 17, 2020
Brady and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick will be connected forever. Belichick is the overseer of the team on both sides of the ball. His greatness cannot be denied. Let’s make note; he has never won a championship as head coach until he had Brady.
“Tom and I will always have a great relationship built on love, admiration, respect, and appreciation. Tom’s success as a player and his character as a person are exceptional,” Belichick said in a statement. “Nothing about the end of Tom’s Patriots career changes how unfathomably spectacular it was. With his relentless competitiveness and longevity, he earned everyone’s adoration and will be celebrated forever. It has been a privilege to coach Tom Brady for 20 years.”
There is no doubt “TB12” has strategized on where he would be going upon leaving the Patriots. Brady had to be thinking about this for days, weeks. How do I want this to play out in the future? For a while, he may have been thinking about who coaches in various organizations? Where is the team located geographically? What would the move be like for his family? Thoughts a human being in his role making a significant decision would ponder.
“How do I possibly sum up the depth of my gratitude to Tom Brady for what he’s given us these past 20 years, or the sadness I feel knowing it’s ending? I love Tom like a son and I always will. He has brought so much happiness to me personally and to all of our fans,” Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft shared in a statement. “I had hoped this day would never come, but rather that Tom would end his remarkable career in a Patriots uniform after yet another Super Bowl championship. Unfortunately, the two sides were unable to reach an agreement to allow that dream to become a reality. While sad today, the overwhelming feeling I have is appreciation for his countless contributions to our team and community.”
Tampa was the answer.
The Buccaneers were once nicknamed the “Yuccaneers.” Now the greatest QB will be wearing their uniform.
What is more attractive than playing with wide receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, tight ends OJ Howard, Cameron Brate, and running back Ronald Jones II on offense.
Arguably the best wide receiver Brady threw the ball to in his career was Randy Moss, who was 6 foot 4 inches tall. Evans is 6 foot 5 inches.
Buccaneers’ head coach Bruce Arians’ reputation may have been an essential factor also. He has worked with quarterbacks, Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, and Andrew Luck, all who have enjoyed success with him.
“Tom is the most successful quarterback in the history of our league, but what makes him so special is his ability to make those around him better,” Arians said in a statement. “I have had the privilege to work with some of the best passers in our game, and the characteristics they all possessed were the ability to lead and get the best out of their teammates. Tom is no different.”
Brady won at least ten games in 17 straight seasons. The Patriots won the AFC East 11 straight season. The Buccaneers, on the other hand, are 157 games under 500 in their history. Their .387 win percentage all-time is the worst of any existing franchise in NFL, MLB, NBA, or NHL. They would have to go 10-6 for the next 40 years to get back to .500.
The Super Bowl is in Tampa this year. Brady is officially playing in Tampa. There has never been a team from the host city that has played in the Super Bowl plus won. More history for Brady to create with his 43rd year on this earth as making more history in the NFL entering his 21st season.
Brady’s final pass as a Patriot was a pick-six in the wild card round loss to the Tennessee Titans. Warning, he has not forgotten, and he is on a mission.
Photo/TomBrady/Instagram
Photo/TomBrady/twitter
