“Zero Pressure On Tom Brady”
May 11th, 2020
A former All-Pro and good friend of Bucco Bruce Arians served up a different twist on a popular take about legendary new Bucs quarterback Tom Brady.
Brady has the all the pressure on his back going to a loser franchise and leaving the bosom of the greatest coach in NFL history. Nonsense to that popular take, says Tiki Barber.
Brady could throw 30 interceptions in 2020 and it still wouldn’t tarnish his record, Barber said on CBS Sports Radio last week.
“I think there’s zero pressure for Tom Brady. Zero,” he said. “Maybe it’s internal on him, like him saying, ‘I want to do this for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.’ But Tom Brady’s the greatest quarterback we’ve ever seen. He’s the winningest quarterback we’ve ever seen. He’s been to nine championship; he won six of them. There is no pressure on Tom Brady to be whatever. He’s 43 years old at this point. If he goes to Tampa and he crashes out because he steps off the proverbial cliff, then you know what, he’s 43 years old. I just can’t see it. I know what people are going to say about this, and it’s going to be a talking point. I just don’t see [any pressure on him]. He’s had an unbelievable career.”
Joe agrees with Barber. Brady has nothing left to prove, but hopefully he convinces himself that he does.
Maybe Bucco Bruce Arians can get in Brady’s head and find a way to take Brady’s exceptional drive and self-motivation to a new level?
Many talk about how Rob Gronkowski will help change the Bucs’ locker room culture; Joe’s more hopeful that Gronkowski is a voice that pushes Brady to hit a new gear. Nobody at One Buc Palace will talk to Brady like Gronkowski will.
May 11th, 2020 at 12:31 am
Gronk came here because he wanted to play with Tom. You dont take someone out of retirement unless you’re about to go all out
May 11th, 2020 at 1:13 am
Either way, it’s should be fun to watch!
May 11th, 2020 at 1:18 am
No pressure on Tom unless their major injury, of course. He knows he’s the GOAT and his family would rather be some beautiful Manhattan condo. $50 million for two years and Grownk is nice. But he already has butt-loads of money and he doesn’t seem to be the person (but what do I know) that he can $50 million, but he just wants to play football because he believes he still can and wants to play.
We’re in hard times but a healthy Brady and our receiver’s I don’t what else to say. A healthy team we could be 13-3 or even 14-2. I’m hoping team’s are only paying attention to Tom and not our very good front seven and fast young secondary on the other side.
May 11th, 2020 at 1:24 am
Brady wouldn’t be here if he didn’t still have something to prove. He has rare intrinsic motivation common in some of the greats of any sport.
They can turn the smallest slight and turn it into “tackling fuel “ as Bobby Boucher would say.
I think he really wants to prove that he was not just a product of Bill Belichick’s “genius”.
May 11th, 2020 at 2:05 am
I agree with you Joe that there’s no pressure on Tom Brady, except that which he puts on himself. Personally I think THAT’S a lot, because The GOAT by all accounts has very high expectations … of himself AND of others.
However, I think there’s a ton of pressure on his Bucs’ teammates. How’d you like to be the OLineman who gives up the sack that gets The GOAT injured & forces him to miss the rest of the season?
Or the RB who screws up a blitz pickup & gets Brady injured?
Or the WR or TE who drops what would’ve been the winning TD from the greatest QB of all time in a critical game?
Or maybe be a member of the defense that can’t hold the lead in the 4th quarter after Tom Brady just led your team back from a deficit?
Or the kicker who misses that (what would’ve been) game-winning FG after The GOAT got you into FG position late in the 4th quarter?
Or worse yet, to be the OC who Tom Brady explodes at on the sideline because you’ve been calling a lousy game?
Pretty sure that Tom Brady can handle whatever pressure is on him. Now we’ll find out what the REST of our Bucs’ TEAM is made of.
May 11th, 2020 at 2:09 am
“legendary new Bucs quarterback Tom Brady” VS “park-violating, home-invading” The two Joe’s approach
May 11th, 2020 at 3:13 am
Playing in a Super Bowl in your city, which has never happened, is the greatest motivator. Why not add something to the resume that no one else has?
He’s got a LOT to prove, to himself, if you ask me. If he didn’t, he would have stayed in NE or retired by now. He’s got nothing to prove to anyone else unless he rides into a SB victory in Tampa. Then he’s staring down BB next time he sees him.
May 11th, 2020 at 4:52 am
That is my thoughts exactly. It’s hilarious some people think a 6 time Super Bowl champ pretty much unanimously agreed to is the goat will tarnish his legacy. I think he’s going to ball the hell out but even if god forbid he’s a turnover machine like America’s favorite pick 6 giveaway qb Winston Brady’s legacy is intact.
May 11th, 2020 at 7:04 am
Of course he has something to prove
Havent you heard the Interviews / read the articles
He gets asked all the time if its him or belicheat that is the reason for success
Belicheat tried to trade him and kraft said no
His relationship with belicheat was not healthy
Same with gronk. Gronk retired to quit playing for that cold fish
Brady wants to prove it was him and therefore no more questions that he is the goat and not just a good qb who won because of the coach
May 11th, 2020 at 7:28 am
Pressure in sports is something that comes internally, not externally. Brady creates his own internal pressure. All the great ones have it. Manning, Farve and Montana did not go to new teams because they needed the money. Giselle would prefer her husband not to take any more hits.
Brady is here to be the best he can be and he is here because he wants to win.
May 11th, 2020 at 8:04 am
Don’t say nobody will talk to Brady the way Gronkowski will, I’m pretty sure JPP is gonna be right there, pumping up Brady and the offense. I can see them working in tandem
May 11th, 2020 at 8:25 am
Arains in year two has completely flipped the locker room. Slouchers, VH3, nice guy leaders who couldn’t win, McCoy, turnover waiting to happen Jameis gone! Taking care of the ball, Brady, leading the defense, Suh, JPP, White. This isn’t just about Brady. He’s the cherry on top. Arains has filled the locker room with some grit, and real leadership. Can’t wait to see it all come together, should be something special.
May 11th, 2020 at 9:56 am
Seriously. Unless he wins another Super Bowl before he retires, he’ll seriously damage his GOAT image. He left the Pats to prove he can win it all without Belichick. So this article’s premise is totally ridiculous. Also, if there’s no pressure on him from the franchise, that would explain a lot about the why the Bucs are such losers.
May 11th, 2020 at 11:16 am
I trust BA and know he wants another Super Bowl for himself and he knows Brady does too and that explains why he has the roster now filled with the talent to make it happen. I suspect he will have to beat Kansas City who will be in this Super Bowl again this year and only the GOAT is good enough to pull it off!
May 11th, 2020 at 11:25 am
Brady has nothing to prove, but if he DOES bring a Lombardi to OBP, his legend will be forever enshrined as *THE* greatest football player in history.
That, IMO, is what drives this quest.
And we Buc fans get to be a part of it.
May 11th, 2020 at 12:20 pm
@Cobraboy,
Exactly. Right now, Brady is still compared to Joe Montana, whether it is he or Belicheat who deserves more credit, and deflategate to some extent.
If he takes one of the worst teams for the past decade and wins another SB, the discussion of who is the greatest is OVER in an instant. It’s not even a debate. And this coming from a huge Joe Montana fan; I idolized Joe Cool. But, even I will concede to Tom Brady if he gets one more SB with us.
But, I don’t even think Tom is motivated by comparisons. He just has that competitiveness to be the best he can be. If you give him a challenge, he’ll go get it. Super Bowl in your own city with one of the worst teams in NFL history? What better denouement can you write?
May 11th, 2020 at 12:22 pm
TB12 playing for the BUCS is a ‘challenge’ as the more people saying he is no good, the better he performed as underdog to prove those chaps wrong. There are lots of optimisms in Tampa Bay, rightly so. On paper the BUCS are formidable. But given the parity in the leaque, NFC is very tough, enough time for the BUC to jell?, that is a big question if BUC can win it all, I hope the BUCS do. Making playoff, I have no doubt. ‘Pressure’ to Brady, have anyone really followed TB12, he dwells in pressure, the higher the pressure cooker, the better he performed. Montana and Farve did not win SB leaving their team, both still made it to NFL top 100 all time. Losing would tarnish TB12 legacy, what a bunch of garbage, the man sits at the top no matter what.
May 11th, 2020 at 1:01 pm
I was Montana fan back to my University days, he was my idol. We will never get an unanimous decision, but I would say Brady is GOAT, Joe 2nd. If TB12 wins 1 SB for the BUC, that would top it all and Brady would be GOAT of all pro sports, bypassing Gretzky, Jordan, IMO.
Lots said about BB and TB12, throw in RFF, all 3 played a role in NE 6 SBs. BB defense allowed TB12 to win. TB12 unselfishly taking home discounts so BB can get the players is something that today QBs are lacking.
Winning 1 SB or taking the team SB and losing, and even worse, QF who have never taken the team to SB, or QF who have never made the playoffs are plundering the cap space asking for $30M+, and because GM fear of losing their jobs capitulate to their demands.
You have Brady taking discounts, Brady after winning SB entered into a $41M 2-year contract, today we have QB turning down $35M contract winning nothing yet. Brady make BB job easy, BB just tell the other players, look at me paying the GOAT this amount to play the most important position, and you asking for this to play what position eh?? You must be fcuking kidding, right.
Both Bb and B12 are GOATS in their own rights, both need each other to win, 1 without the other will not win those 6 SBs. And RKK have to believe in both of them and stay out.
May 11th, 2020 at 1:12 pm
Sometimes I wonder how BB will deal with Dak contract with Dallas, turning down $35M when Dak has not win anything yet. Would BB fold his tent and capitulate to Dak demand or tell Dak to stick where the sun doesn’t shine. Or JM agent asking $30M when BUC not making playoff for 5 years straight, would BB ROFLOL? BB keep drafting all those great players in later rounds and making a dynasty in NE, really BB must a super drafting skill, BB must have a direct phone line to Jesus telling him where to find the gems in the late rounds to draft or the man really knows what he is doing that is why he is so reviled as GOAT coach.