“If You Mess This Up, The World Will Be Watching”
May 8th, 2020
Caution.
Joe hates to admit this crossed his mind.
While today just about every Bucs fan is drunk with excitement over how we all think the Bucs will do this year, and how often they will be on national TV led by a guy with six Super Bowl rings and a devil-may-care coach, let’s not discount the major gamble in play.
Kyle Brandt didn’t forget.
This morning, the co-host of “Good Morning Football,” seen weekday mornings on NFL Network, said park-violating, home intruding Bucs quarterback Tom Brady has the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Think about it: The Bucs waved goodbye to the NFL’s leader in passing, which has never happened in the Super Bowl era, to shove all the chips to the middle of the table on a 43-year old quarterback (when the season begins) with a coach who turns 68 this fall, both making one last-ditch effort to grab glory.
That’s why Brandt isn’t in love with the Bucs’ schedule. Oh, he loves Brady and Arians but thinks the schedule is a high wire act with no safety net.
First, because of The Sickness, Brady won’t be able to practice with his new teammates until who knows how long or when?
Then, as Brandt points out, instead of facing the Stinking Panthers or the Giants to open the season, the Bucs and Brady face the powerhouse slimy Saints.
“In a year where the teams might not be well-prepared, certainly Brady, the worst team you want to play is the Saints. [Drew] Brees and [Sean] Payton and [Michael] Thomas, they can just roll the ball out there. They are on the same page.”
“What you wanted was someone like the Panthers with a brand new quarterback and a brand new coach who might not be prepared. I don’t like the draw at all.”
If this roll of the dice by the Bucs falls flat, Brandt says Brady’s legacy will be forever tarnished and the crash and burn will be broadcast nationally in primetime for the entire nation to witness.
“If Brady doesn’t somehow make this work, this is somehow like a hanging chad at the end of his career and we are all going to be watching it,” Brandt said.
Brandt added that the Bucs, who appear to be a super team, could be like the 2004 U.S. Olympic basketball squad that was stocked with sick talent and a star “Bruce Arians-type” coach — aging Larry Brown out for his last hurrah.
But that U.S. team got rolled by Puerto Rico and Lithuania.
Brandt added advice for Brady.
“If you mess this up, the world will be watching,” Brandt said.
“It’s a big risk and a lot of heat on Brady.”
May 8th, 2020 at 10:05 am
Bucs still gotta compete with the Saints and the Saints are a dang good team. I would hate to settle for a wildcard.
May 8th, 2020 at 10:06 am
6 time SB winner.
I see no heat on Brady.
Nothing can tarnish 6 SBs.
May 8th, 2020 at 10:08 am
Think about it: The Bucs waved goodbye to the NFL’s leader in passing, which has never happened in the Super Bowl era, to shove all the chips to the middle of the table on a 43-year old quarterback (when the season begins) with a coach who turns 68 this fall, both making one last-ditch effort to grab glory.
⬆️ Is why it is SuperBowl victory or bust my friends.
May 8th, 2020 at 10:10 am
Brady eats pressure for breakfast
May 8th, 2020 at 10:11 am
I bet that Winston is a captain for the week 1 matchup
May 8th, 2020 at 10:11 am
This is no position Brady’s mind has never been in before. Don’t let the media make you think he didn’t know this could happen. He’s ready! GO BUCS! See ya Oct 25th in Vegas! The Vegas Buc Family will be #reppin
May 8th, 2020 at 10:11 am
NDog where you and I disagree is JW wasn’t leading us to the Super Bowl. He wasn’t even leading us to the playoffs. Unless we strive to be a nine and seven team we had to make a change starting at QB. He wasn’t the only problem with the roster for sure but he wasn’t a guy who is going to get us to the next level.
May 8th, 2020 at 10:12 am
If you think Brady is afraid or or will not be ready for them you’re nuts!
He’ll slice and dice them and we’ll actually see TB’s game plan change from week to week depending on the opponent.
May 8th, 2020 at 10:16 am
I agree Robert. Perhaps the Saints will outscore the Bucs at home, but nobody will be more prepared than Brady going into the season.
It’s crazy that people continue to doubt the best football player of all time.
I would take Brady’s offensive football knowledge and game planning over any other QB or coach in the league.
May 8th, 2020 at 10:17 am
Dan
You’re assuming he makes the team.
May 8th, 2020 at 10:18 am
Jmark
That’s not even a question. The Saints signed Winston to be a top 5 backup in the NFL.
May 8th, 2020 at 10:21 am
Tbbucs3,
He isn’t even going to be a top 2 quarterback on his own team
May 8th, 2020 at 10:22 am
Oh please, this is a pathetic mindset. Saints are notorious slow starters anyways.
If dirk koetter could figure how how to beat them week 1 with a Mike smith defense, I think Bruce Arians can figure it out too.
Yes the lack of offseason will hurt us, but it is what it is.
You adapt and overcome.
May 8th, 2020 at 10:26 am
Bucs fans have no clue how to evaluate quarterbacks they just see high interception numbers and think that’s the only thing that matters.
May 8th, 2020 at 10:27 am
That increased pressure is exactly what is at the core of this story. It’s why this is so much bigger than a normal season.
That and the drama of two old guys trying to show the world that “they still have it”.
There is always interest in an athlete putting it on the line like this. While I agree with 87…nobody else is going to match six rings..Brady’s legend is safe…there is still the after taste. Brady does not wish to be proved wrong about his ability or about his age.
Again it’s the movie Roadhouse…with Brady as the Patrick Swayze character and Gronk as the Sam Elliott guy. Two old dudes out to show they have one more rodeo in them.
Still they have far more to win than to lose. Lose and it’ll be another old guy who should have known when to hang them up…win…WIN..and it’s a movie starring Tom Cruise as Brady and McConaghy has Gronk!
May 8th, 2020 at 10:31 am
Jmark – I see it that way as well..
The Saints wanted Brees to come back this year..
The invested millions in Hill…
They traded value to trade into the 7th round (they had no 7th round pick) for Stevens..
No one wanted J and he has info on one on their division rivals so why not see if he will take 1.1 mill. Which is really little no no investment compared to the norm!
May 8th, 2020 at 10:33 am
If anyone can handle it it’s Brady. Jameis would wrinkle up like a cheap suit.
May 8th, 2020 at 10:34 am
“The worst team you want to face is the Saints”
Dating back to 2010, the Saints are 3-7 in week 1. They notoriously get off to slow starts.
Not to mention while all the teams are doing virtual workouts, I believe the Saints are the only team that cancelled all offseason work and are expecting their players to just show up in shape.
The Saints might not be ready for week 1. Even with a full offseason they have struggled in week 1 in recent history. Now they are having 0 offseason work.
Im honestly expecting Tampa to roll in week 1, even if we arent at our best.
May 8th, 2020 at 10:41 am
For the last time.
The Saints don’t need inside info to beat the Bucs.
You guys act like the Bucs are world beaters!
May 8th, 2020 at 10:44 am
OK with getting one matchup with NO out of the way early, win or lose. On the plus side, less of a risk of coming out unfocused or overlooking the opponent (aka not being “Tenn ready”). While the offense may not be hitting on all cylinders in Wk 1 with the abbreviated off-season, still expect the team to be focused and ready to go.
May 8th, 2020 at 10:51 am
Saints haven’t faced Brady much especially with a different playbook. There’s also an advantage for us because no other teams know exactly what our offense will look like.
May 8th, 2020 at 10:51 am
I think there’s nothing more I hate than the “super bowl or bust” terminology that’s being tossed around.
Isn’t every single year super bowl or bust? I mean, coaches only get around 2-3 years to turn a team around before they’re fired and replaced.
May 8th, 2020 at 10:54 am
Just for comparison, how many times has the leader in interceptions been released in the Superbowl era? Just curious.
May 8th, 2020 at 10:55 am
People now saying that a QB with 7 career passes is better than the NFL passing leader. WOW
May 8th, 2020 at 10:57 am
I’ve got a few different issues with this article:
1. I am a huge defender of Jameis, and was sad to see him go. However, if we are going to hold on to the fact that he was the league leader in passing yards, then we also mustn’t ignore that he led the league in TOs, not only last season, but in his 5 seasons combined. 88 Ints compared to Brady’s 36.
2. We talk about us cutting Jameis for a 43 y/o QB as if that QB is Matt Hasselbeck and not 6 SB winner Tom Brady.
3. Really, we should be nervous about a week 1 matchup with the Saints?! It’s week 1! How many times have the Bucs won week 1 games in the past 5 seasons? 3. How many times has that mattered? 0.
4. If Brady fails this year it’ll tarnish his legacy forever because ‘everyone’s watching’? Are you kidding me? If Brady fails with the Bucs, no one will care. And everyone’s been watching, for 20 years.
May 8th, 2020 at 11:01 am
Tbbucs3
Yup. The 3 is in honor of jameis who is no longer here. Can you go too?
Go back and read comments with taysom 21 mil contract and jameis 1.1 mil contract in the mix
He said taysom would be 2 and deserved and earned right to be 2
May 8th, 2020 at 11:06 am
N-word
Sorry, but it’s not Super Bowl or bust with Brady.
It’s about not being a laughing stock at the QB position anymore.
Relevance
May 8th, 2020 at 11:11 am
Regardless of result, this is yet another GOAT move, up for the challenge.
#Winner
May 8th, 2020 at 11:24 am
Bird
Sorry not going anywhere especially considering Tom Brady was my #1 free agency choice. I’m fine with JW being gone but this notion that just because you throw a lot of INTs means your automatically a bad QB is insane.
Few QBs are capable of producing the JW is and that’s a fact, not an opinion.
May 8th, 2020 at 11:35 am
Before Arians came we split the series with the Saints for three consecutive years.
I don’t buy that the argument that the Bucs are going to be at a disadvantage because of the virus. Every team has new players. Brady is the only one that needs to learn the offense, and it’ll take him two seconds to figure out Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. I swear how are these guys paid to talk football?
May 8th, 2020 at 11:39 am
Tbbuc –
I don’t know if you are a clone of the one whose name refers himself to a canine but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt for now…
Passing leader is nullified by the amount of ints.. don’t take my word for it… I am no expert..
The 32 teams however are and NOT one of them wanted J…. They so more value and potential in M. Mariota; N. Foles; T. Bridgewater; teams even preferred QBs from the XFL all while I sat there available for weeks…
So yes, the Saints may just saw an opportunity to get intel on a rival.. WHY?? Because now they have Brady and media hyping up Arians’ rep so maybe Peyton wants to stay on top even if he needs to get info from a form player who has an understanding of Leftwich offense..
Maybe the Saints see an opportunity as a future investment to have him on the roster so if a teams QB goes down the Saints could trade J for picks they gave up in the last draft..
Either way, the money says J is a last option much like the Way the Bucs were doing!
May 8th, 2020 at 11:52 am
Tbbucs3 I would love to hear why you would be disappointed in a wild card?? Please I’m just on the edge of my seat to this.
May 8th, 2020 at 11:59 am
If Brady can somehow drag ole stale biscuit to a superbowl, then he should be the greatest qb ever!!!!!!!!! Some will say that if Brady wins two playoff games with bruce Arrogance, then that is even a greater feat then winning 6 superbowls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s time to herd the sheep, and put them back in the pen!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 8th, 2020 at 12:04 pm
Youngbucs
Your still living in Gerald McCoy Bucs culture. You must not be familiar with Tom Brady. Tom Brady does not play in wildcard games.
May 8th, 2020 at 12:04 pm
Doosh what do you mean about N-word I think that’s what you are trying to call Ndog the N word .
May 8th, 2020 at 12:07 pm
And never said Id be disappointed in a wildcard bid. I said Id hate to settle for one. Big difference there.
May 8th, 2020 at 12:07 pm
Oneilbucs don’t think to hard you’ll hurt your head.
May 8th, 2020 at 12:08 pm
Funny how the rest of the NFL does look at all the interceptions thrown by the NFL passing leader, who also led in pick sixes. And maybe the dumb decisions that weren’t the fault of the defense, the coaches, the wind or the kicker.
May 8th, 2020 at 12:09 pm
I don’t think it matters who you open with. The team could think they are “Carolina ready” if they were to open the season against them and still lose that one.
–Bucs lost their opener to the Saints (at home) in ’02. That season still turned out pretty well.
May 8th, 2020 at 12:11 pm
Doosh it’s superbowl or bust Brady is 43 years old how much time do you think he have left ?? His arm can go out by week 6 or 8 this year or next year . Why do yall think it couldn’t happen to Brady ?? Payton had a good year before his arm went out the next year . This is why it’s superbowl or bust . I don’t think no one wants the team to lose but yall are happy as if Brady is 30 years old .
May 8th, 2020 at 12:12 pm
The Bucs also let go the leader for thrown please picks, pick 6’s and the worst home win/loss record since he entered the league but why mention those
May 8th, 2020 at 12:13 pm
Tbbucs3 Says:
May 8th, 2020 at 10:26 am
Bucs fans have no clue how to evaluate quarterbacks they just see high interception numbers and think that’s the only thing that matters.
——————————————————————————
Yeah, I just don’t understand the optimism about this year’s schedule.
After all, they went 2 – 4 in the division last year.
They split with the Falcons, winning the first game despite 2 INTs, but lost the last game with one of those SEVEN pick6 thingies.
They also split with the Panthers, but after winning the first game, they somehow couldn’t overcome SEVEN offensive turnovers in the London game.
They got swept by the Saints, losing the first game despite playing against the backup QB and despite the 158 net passing yards. (JW3 against better defenses often results in problems.) The second game vs. Brees was never close, and 4 INTs that game didn’t help.
13 INTs in 6 divisional games for the Bucs vs. only 8 INTs by TB12 for the year.
Now I remember why I’s so optimistic.
tickrdr
May 8th, 2020 at 12:13 pm
Superbowl or bust is the standard every year for Tom Brady how do people not understand this. Oh I now how, it’s because of a losing culture that has plauged this team and fan base for many years.
A culture where even when the defense sucks for most the season we still Pat them on the back for playing well in a couple of games when it was already way too late.
May 8th, 2020 at 12:17 pm
Tickdr
Again Brady was my #1 choice at QB.
May 8th, 2020 at 12:46 pm
I think the league will be very concerned about keeping the training camp time, the preseason exposure overall conditioning equal preventing any one team from a preparation advantage. Obviously teams that have played together for several seasons may have advantage, hence the importance of signing our prime defensive line players this off season. There simply can’t be a preparation advantage or the season could be very lopsided, especially in the early games.
May 8th, 2020 at 12:56 pm
We need more articles like this. A lot more.
May 8th, 2020 at 1:05 pm
So Arians will be 68. He is a few months younger than Belichick. So they are both chasing glory to some degree.
May 8th, 2020 at 1:29 pm
Really it’s nearly everyone back from last year in year 2of BA offense and Todd Bowels Defense we going to punch these Aints in the mouth their window is closed!
May 8th, 2020 at 1:32 pm
Oneil: Anything CAN happen to anyone at any time, but Brady’s physical stated his joints are like a 30 year old player. Manning had a cervical fusion and probable stenosis, so was much more likely to lose arm strength. Life is short, Google “optimism”, please.
May 8th, 2020 at 1:34 pm
Final 4 or bust!!
The albatross of turnovers is no longer hanging around Ray Jay so there really is no excuse. If the AoT was responsible for losing 3-4 games per year then last years 7-9 is easily a 10/11 win team. Throw in the kicker making a kick or two and we are a 12/13 win team.
That should be good for at least a #2 or #3 seed playing 7 or 6. That should be a home win. Then playing the other 2 or 3 seed in a toss up game, hopefully a home win puts these Bucs in the NFC Championship game.
Final 4 or bust! Because the future is now……………….
May 8th, 2020 at 1:47 pm
Tons of players have left NE in the past 20 yrs, so have zillions of intel on Patriots playbook, how come the Patriots kept winning those bowls, I dunno understand??? JM said he looks forward to playing the BUCs, I think you guys are all so wrong, perhaps the saints are gonna start JM instead of Brees, JM have the BUCS number… so lets wish that is true, plzzz, start JM as QF everytime the Saints play the BUCS, the former has the paybook and the TB12 is screwed before the game even starts…Go, Jm, Go….
May 8th, 2020 at 1:52 pm
Tbbucs3
“That’s not even a question. The Saints signed Winston to be a top 5 backup in the NFL.”
At 1yr/1.1M ? Sure they did. I’d be willing to bet Glennon got more than that..we know Mariota and Dalton did.
I tend to agree that it’s not a signing for info, Jaboo could never take what he learned in the classroom to the field.
Most likely Payton thumbing his nose at the Bucs, and better than a juggs machine for DB’s in camp…
May 8th, 2020 at 1:55 pm
No team can win the SB without getting into the payoff first. Come playoff, any thing can happen, one game at a time, it is sudden death. Looked at what happened to the Ravens last year. Not if, but I bet my house on the BUC making the playoff, when the BUC get into the playoff, TB12 should be comfy with his team and barring injury, with the players on this team, anything can happen. Those chaps at Vegas are not stupid to rate the BUCS SB chances so high this year and place such winning odds on the BUCS.
May 8th, 2020 at 2:01 pm
I just rather have a team for the future so we can be contenders for the next 10 years then 1 or 2 years . We have a old team and that’s going to hunt us in the long run .
May 8th, 2020 at 2:09 pm
Saints typically start slow. They’ll have zero film on the offense. Brady knows exactly what he is getting into and has thrived under pressure with the spotlight on him. I’m ok with the week one matchup.
May 8th, 2020 at 2:13 pm
Ndog Says:
December 21st, 2019 at 5:27 pm
This was the worst time for Jameis to have his worst game ever. I ALWAYS call it like I see it and today pick #1, 2 and 4 were 100% his fault and none of those throws should be happening to a franchise QB. My personal belief in him was shaken today and I find it hard to believe that many of the people in the building don’t feel the same way.
THATS THE PLAYER WE WAVED BYE TOO!!!!!!
and welcomed in a 6xSB CHAMP!!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!!!
May 8th, 2020 at 2:24 pm
Perhaps, NDog saying those words, he was just frustrated as every BUCS fan, cut him some slack. The reason NDog is defending JM now, is JM has 20/20 vision and easily can spot a good looking chick a mile away, so to spot his WRs open and not throwing pick-6 anymore, a piece of cake….LOL
May 8th, 2020 at 2:25 pm
As I look at 2019, I see SIX teams that lost 4 games or less: Patriots (12-4); Ravens (14-2); Chiefs (12-4); Packers (13-3); Saints (13-3) and 49ers (13-3). THREE other teams lost 6 games or less: Bills (10-6); Vikings (10-6) and Seahawks (11-5). All of them made the playoffs, and I wouldn’t be surprised if all of them made the playoffs again this year.
Of those 9 teams, 5 of our games are against them (includes playing Saints twice). And of the other teams we play, none of them are cake-walks. For instance, we play Denver (7-9 last year) at Mile High Stadium in our 2nd game. The Broncos are 51-9-2 since the merger in games played there during the first 2 weeks of the season. Hmmm, sounds like playing in Denver early in the season is a death trap (over 85% chance they’ll win). No problem though, since they opened their new stadium in 2001, their first 2-games record is a mere 21-2. Oops, that’s even worse (over 90% chance they’ll win).
Pressure on Brady? A ‘hanging chad at the end of his career’? (Really Joe?). Nah, if you can’t run with the big dogs, better get back on the porch. Brady eats this kind of pressure for breakfast.
May 8th, 2020 at 2:32 pm
I think TB12 has faced high intensity pressure none other than SB against the Falcons who in that year was the highest offensive teams in the NFL. Trailing 28-3 in the 4th Qtr, I would threw the white flag and say forget it, I am going home. TB12 rallied the troops to win SB5, never any team in NFL has ever came back to win SB with such a wide margin. That’s is pressure and guts, my friend.
May 8th, 2020 at 2:34 pm
BUCS making playoff this year, I bet everything on that….guarantee Vegas would not take this bet. Beyond that, let’s see.
May 8th, 2020 at 3:19 pm
Ndog Says:
May 8th, 2020 at 10:08 am
Think about it: The Bucs waved goodbye to the NFL’s leader in passing, which has never happened in the Super Bowl era, to shove all the chips to the middle of the table on a 43-year old quarterback (when the season begins) with a coach who turns 68 this fall, both making one last-ditch effort to grab glory.
⬆️ Is why it is SuperBowl victory or bust my friends.
Or we could have stayed with your guy and probably went 6/10 maybe 7/9 and still no playoffs.
May 8th, 2020 at 4:08 pm
Oneil bucs,
Contenders for the next 10years instead of the next 1 to 2.
In theory , you’d be correct in your line of thinking. But reality is different and it’s so different in this case that your own grasp of reality is clearly questionable.
I’m not including the QB whose name can’t be mentioned. Rather , I’m going to ask you to take a look at the real results of the entire league over a ten year span and find an NFC team who has been contenders for 10 years straight. Then look at the AFC and there’s 1 team who fits the description. The Patriots. If you need a score card it’s 1 of 32 teams that have been contenders 10 of 10 years. I’m suggesting now that the Bucs as an organization is not remotely comparable to the Patriots.
Basically, this half crazed notion that the Bucs sold out their future for the present is not false but it’s not exactly an appraisal of the situation. In fact, I’d venture it’s a deliberate distortion of reality. Designed to lessen the real world events that are in massive contradiction to your own farcical beliefs in a single player.
A single player, I might remind you, who many will agree marks a college national championship as a career high point. FSU sold out their future for a championship of that there’s no debate. Yet the team and personal achievement is still touted by millions of loyal Noles fans today. What is more important, that single national championship or that it cost the school program? I’m going to assume you’d value a certain players individual achievement over the programs which is inconsistent with your current long term outlook.
And make no mistake long term success in college football is 1 million times more sustainable than the NFL. Yet Mr. 5000 somehow managed to kill what can’t be killed. He killed an entire program. Imagine the extreme damage that the Bucs franchise is dealing with as we speak. Hurricane Katrina has less of a legacy of destruction in its wake.
There is no tomorrow! And on the off chance there is…….the Bucs could resign Mr Winston at a significant discount than the numbers battered about at the end of the season. The future is restored . And it’s now restored at a rate of pennies on the dollars. Why you’ve never contemplated this option is an indictment on your own creativity and imagination. It furthers diminishes , if that’s possible, the entire premises of your arguement. Leaving little more than a fan who feels personally betrayed by a host of individuals, groups and organization. I respect that 100% , it’s an emotional issue. But let’s not lose sight of this and attempt to validate a fictional situation with facts and history. They offer no comfort to the broken hearted.
Best wishes
May 8th, 2020 at 4:47 pm
Bwahahahaha!! Hilarious…. Dude has 6 Super Bowl rings. If it don’t work out with the Bucs Arians and his whole staff will get the blame. Plus people will just say he went to a losing franchise with a losers mentality and Brady did the best he could with bad ownership blah blah blah. No way does the quarter back almost unanimously known as the goat tarnish his legacy here. How many people remember Michael Jordan on the Wizards???
May 8th, 2020 at 5:10 pm
I do remember Mickey J in the Wizards uniform… he looks funny, not cool at all…ROFLOL
May 8th, 2020 at 5:18 pm
If TB12 and BUC win SB, and I would not underestimate TB12, what a story to tell….this TB12 is smart dude to keep quiet and keep everyone guessing and who wants to know on the why he left NE, how many actually were courting him, all the juicy gossips, etc…and then tells us all in a book and movie to rack in more millions.
May 8th, 2020 at 5:21 pm
Agree with D1, if there is a chance to win now, go for it as you never know if the opportunity returns…just look at the RAMS and Falcons, and let’s see 49ers fare this year. Pro sports is risky business and a gamble. The BUCS is in win-mode now, win the bowl I would not bet on that depending on the odds from Vegas, but making playoff, why not??
May 8th, 2020 at 7:43 pm
The Saints are 1-4 in the past 5 years openers. Two of the losses are to the Bucs. One of the other two was to Mr. Brady. Let’s let them prepare as they will and see what happens.
O’Neil: The Bucs could sign another QB when the time comes. I put as much blame (or more) on JW’s mentors. He is loyal, but it probably helped him fail.
May 8th, 2020 at 8:10 pm
Unless Brady gets hurt or he has a “Payton Manning at the end” kind of slide this year, we’ll be fine and make the playoffs. The Saints are crazy good though and will be a tough out. We’ll end up splitting with them most likely. Having a stable quarterback who isn’t Dan Marino one week and David Klingler the next, will make a huge difference this year.
May 8th, 2020 at 10:12 pm
NDog,
You are really irritating.
May 8th, 2020 at 10:13 pm
What does Jameis have to do with this team???