It was Buccaneers or bust — and Tom Brady chose bust.
ESPN.com reported that Brady alerted the Buccaneers at 6am on Wednesday morning (local time) he was choosing to call it a career.
“Brady for months implied to many close to him that it was going to be either a return to Tampa or retirement,” Jeff Darlington tweeted. “Tough for many to believe, including those close, but he meant it.”
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Even before the Buccaneers’ season had concluded, speculation was rampant that Brady would look to move on from the team. The team sputtered to an 8-9 season, good enough to win a terrible NFC South, but never a true Super Bowl contender. The Cowboys routed them, 31-14, in the wild-card round of the playoffs in what will now be Brady’s final game.
The 49ers, Raiders, Dolphins, Titans, and Jets were among the many teams mentioned as possibilities if Brady opted for a second foray into free agency.
Now, with Brady out of the picture, other experienced quarterback free agents like Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo will only be more valuable.
There will also be even more attention on the Green Bay situation with Aaron Rodgers, who would be the best quarterback available should the Packers choose to trade him.
And of course then there is the fact Tampa Bay is officially going to also be after a quarterback next season.
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The Bucs have the 19th pick in the first round of the draft this year, meaning unless they trade up it is unlikely they will take a quarterback since the clear top four options should be off the board by then.
Brady’s retirement also casts doubt over what Tampa Bay’s roster could look like next season, including the possibility the Bucs blow it up and trade valuable assets like wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans.
Brady spent the first 20 years of his career with the Patriots, winning six Super Bowls alongside head coach Bill Belichick. Darlington reported on “SportsCenter” that someone close to Brady mentioned the possibility of returning to New England, which some had speculated on this offseason. Brady dismissed the possibility, though,
Brady signed with the Buccaneers in the 2020 offseason and won a Super Bowl in his first year in Tampa Bay.
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“Tom’s legacy is unmatched in the history of this game. All the Super Bowl titles and statistical records speak for themselves, but the impact he had on so many people though the years is what I appreciate the most,” Buccaneers GM Jason Licht said in a statement.
“His imprint on this organisation helped take us to the mountaintop. We will certainly miss him as our quarterback, but I will also miss him as a leader and friend.
“Our entire organisation is indebted to him for what he provided us over the past three years. We won’t ever forget the wins or the accolades and his influence will be felt for years to come.”
Now, Brady must decide on life after football as he also navigates through life apart from Gisele Bündchen following their divorce in October.
Brady signed a 10-year, $375 million contract with Fox last offseason that is now waiting for him in retirement. There are no plans for Brady to go in the booth for Super Bowl 2023, with Greg Olsen, the current top analyst, alongside play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt.
— with New York Post
