Tom Brady’s move to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came down as a shock to the New England Patriots fans. The move marked the end of an era where the coach-QB duo won six Championships to seal their stance as the most successful in the league all-time. Leaving it all behind and moving to Florida was something almost all the fans condemned. However, was this decision made by Tom Brady himself, or were there any external forces involved?
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Brady signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on March 17, 2020, a day before his contract with the Patriots expired. The very next day, reports suggested that the veteran quarterback met former world’s richest man, Bill Gates, and MLB standout turned Tampa Bay based businessman, Derek Jeter before he made his final say.
Tom Brady met Bill Gates and Derek Jeter ahead of his move to Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
The report, which was originally tweeted by NFL RedZone host Scott Hanson, took the NFL by storm. It made the NFL speculate if Bill Gates and the notorious Boston villain Derek Jeter convinced the NFL GOAT for the move. However, in a follow-up tweet, Hansen denied his claims and apologized for the error.
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“The Tampa dinner I tweeted about yesterday apparently did not happen. My source – a person who was a friend of mine for years & claims he was an eyewitness / swore to me it was true – apparently can’t be trusted. I am so sorry to those who *trusted in me* for this story…” he tweeted.
The Tampa dinner I tweeted about yesterday apparently did not happen.
My source – a person who was a friend of mine for years & claims he was an eyewitness / swore to me it was true – apparently can’t be trusted.
I am so sorry to those who *trusted in me* for this story… https://t.co/BWZXf9SdPZ
— Scott Hanson (@ScottHanson) March 18, 2020
However, was that even a false story or a revelation that wasn’t supposed to happen? If the meeting even happened was their influence over Brady that strong? Adam Schefter did not believe so.
Was Brady influenced?
“You have to know the reputation that Bruce Arians has and who he has worked with,” Schefter said Tuesday evening on ESPN’s SportsCenter. “He has worked with Peyton Manning, he has worked with Ben Roethlisberger… And when you look at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, frankly, what’s more attractive than playing with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate?”
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Schefter believed that Brady had already mapped out his course for the 2020 season. In fact, the six-time Super Bowl champion strategized his move way before. A few weeks after Brady signed a new deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the quarterback was seen moving into Derek Jeter’s Tampa mansion with his family.
Shortly after signing with the Bucs, Tom Brady rented Derek Jeter’s $29 million Tampa Bay mansion.
The 22,000-square-foot waterfront estate features seven bedrooms, eight full bathrooms, eight half-baths and an 80-foot saltwater lap pool. pic.twitter.com/1gG25wlYXj
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 7, 2021
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Maybe the Dinner party did happen between Tom Brady, Bill Gates, and Derek Jeter, but it might have been to help the GOAT settle in for a place near the Raymond James Stadium.
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