When Tom Brady played, no team would have refused to include him on the roster. Though the GOAT (as he is widely regarded) has hung up his cleats now, he revealed a very interesting story during the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers pregame show. The story goes back to 2020. He had already won 6 Super Bowls and wanted a contract of his choice. But the Patriots refused. And he moved to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Reminiscent of that time, Brady showed some note cards to Kevin Burkhardt and said that he had 18 criteria that made his move possible to the Buccaneers in 2020. Though Chicago Bears also approached him and wanted to sign him, he politely declined their offer. According to California Cool, the Bucs were closer to his son, Jack, and the coach, Bruce Arians, which played a crucial role for him in coming to a decision. Other criteria that he considered were the available facilities, weather conditions, and the great players that came from the team. Turns out his thorough homework worked as he recorded quite some success there, winning the 7th Super Bowl in his first year with the team.
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“Chicago was a team, and I’ve never told that story before, they were very stealth in their recruitment.” @TomBrady shares the notecards he had when he was making his decision in free agency 👀⬇️ pic.twitter.com/NmPpGMFKU2
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 29, 2024
However, the times that led him to the Bucs weren’t ideal. He wanted a 2-year $50 million contract from the Patriots before the 2019 season. But they weren’t ready to sign him. His uneasiness was evident after the playoff loss against the Titans in 2019. Brady looked shabby in jeans and a shirt, coming out of the locker room without showering. Though he answered all the questions, the QB rarely smiled. As expected, he became a free agency next year.
To top this, Brady’s contract negotiations with the Patriots further fueled the rift between him and the then-head coach and general manager Bill Belichick. And this is where the Bucs come him. The Bucs handled Tom Brady like a royalty. They gave in to his firm request to include Rob Gronkowski in their roster. Also, Godwin used to wear the number 12 jersey, but when Tom Brady arrived there, he gave up his jersey as a sign of respect for the legend and wore the number 14.
Therefore, it is safe to say that no one has achieved as much as Tom Terrific in the NFL. But will he achieve the same superstardom as a commentator, is a big question.
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What’s your perspective on:
Did Tom Brady make the right call choosing the Buccaneers over the Bears after leaving the Patriots?
Have an interesting take?
How are fans reacting to Tom Brady as a commentator?
Before making his debut as a commentator, Brady said that he didn’t want to be too critical of players or teams. However, when he was talking on his first game, fans and analysts were equally critical of him. Cannes World Award-winner, Mike Damergis, wrote on X, “Is it me or was #TomBrady awful!”
Starting fresh and improving isn’t new for Brady. He did that continuously in his NFL career. And by week 3, the tide has turned in his favor. And many fans started liking his technical analysis of the sport. Moreso, everyone was excited upon hearing the personal stories from his playing days, a great exhibit of which was today.
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Upon hearing Tom Brady’s story, a fan liked his new role and commented, “I love love love Tom Brady in this role.” Another one praised the GOAT as a commentator and wrote, “Brady as a analyst he is doing a good job.” One fan, impressed with the story, mentioned, “Now this is great stuff.”
Which story of his career would you like Tom Brady to talk more about? Let us know. Stay tuned for more!
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Debate
Did Tom Brady make the right call choosing the Buccaneers over the Bears after leaving the Patriots?