The New England Patriots established a heritage when they picked Tom Brady in the 2000 NFL Draft. The QB1’s excellence led the franchise toward unmatched glory, which went on for 23 years. However, before he made his career as a starter, TB12 saw the Pats going through a disastrous time. Brady saw his favorite mentor living with fear and his teammate dealing with a life-and-death situation.
Tom Brady and his electrifying beginnings in the NFL were in New England with the Patriots. In 2001, he had to take over for Drew Bledsoe after he got injured in the season’s third game. The franchise was going through some challenging times, and veteran NFL correspondent Gary Myers documented it in Brady vs. Manning: The Untold Story of the Rivalry That Transformed the NFL.
Tom Brady thrived under pressure
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
In the book, Gary Myers wrote, “They had lost their first two games to the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets, they had just lost starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe with a sheared blood vessel in his chest that nearly killed him, and head coach Bill Belichick feared owner Robert Kraft was going to fire him even though it was only his second year in New England.”
That year was the definite season when Tom Brady showcased his capabilities. The quarterback rallied the team to an 11-3 record and eventually won Super Bowl XXXVI at the Caesars Superdome. It was the beginning of a new epoch, namely the Brady-Belichick era.
Read More: Tom Brady Jokes About His Backup Kyle Trask After Receiving an Odd Gift in Munich
Now that Tom Brady is a retired man, there was a void needed to be filled in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The franchise addressed the situation by adding a free-agent veteran into the mix. The Bucs signed Baker Mayfield to a deal, and he would commence his career in Tampa Bay. But will Mayfield be an effective one?
Is Baker Mayfield an ideal choice for Tampa Bay?
The Buccaneers had a lot of faith in QB Kyle Trask. There was the hope of seeing him in the starting rotation after remaining as TB12’s shadow. But since the franchise signed Baker Mayfield to a one-year, $8.5 Million deal, Trask could see some competition.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Sources: The #Bucs have a 1-year deal for QB Baker Mayfield for $8.5M, giving him the opportunity to battle for the starting spot with Kyle Trask. A marquee name off the market. pic.twitter.com/K1WgfRvV6D
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 15, 2023
However, there are chances that the veteran QB could succeed Tom Brady. Given his journey with the Carolina Panthers, the QB1 does not look like a solid choice for a stable athlete. But the Bucs are seemingly trying their options out, and bringing in Mayfield could simply be a gamble.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
It is yet to see how having Mayfield pans out.
Watch This Story: Tom Brady Went to The Same High School As This Controversial MLB Hall of Famer Who Was Also A 14x All-Star