Defense Lured Brady
October 28th, 2020
Former GM Mike Tannenbaum.
The common belief — and you can count Joe in with this group — that park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting quarterback Tom Brady chose the Bucs is because he had so many potential toys to play with.
And the stash of toys under the Christmas tree only grew when the Bucs, after signing Brady, added foot-rubbing, car-littering tight end Rob Gronkowski, Pro Bowl running back Leonard Fournette, and furniture-chucking All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown to the roster.
A former NFL general manager believes otherwise.
Mike Tannenbaum — “tannenbaum” is fir tree or Christmas tree in English — served as general manager of the Jets and the Dolphins now works for BSPN. He also started his own football analysis site the33rdteam.com. Tannenbaum believes Brady picked the Bucs because of the defense, not because he wanted to throw to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and O.J. Howard and Cam Brate (but that had to be a facto)
Bucs defense the difference-maker
I’ve made this point before but it bears repeating: Tom Brady the general manager correctly assessed the Tampa Bay defense and clearly that was one of the driving factors in his decision to sign with the Buccaneers. Now we can see why Brady was right. Anything can happen in a playoff game, but there is a separation between Tampa’s defense and Seattle’s defense.
What Brady might have noticed in the offseason was this: Tampa Bay had the top-ranked rushing defense last season, was fifth in turnovers forced and tied for seventh in yards allowed per play. And he might have realized that their overall defensive numbers were impacted by the bad field position they were often put in by Jameis Winston turnovers. Still, he saw they were a top defensive unit.
Joe laughed when he read Tannenbaum refer to Brady as a general manager.
You know, like Gronk and Fournette and Brown came here for the weather? Like Ndamukong Suh and Jason Pierre-Paul returned to the Bucs for the fishing? Mind you Brown and JPP already lived in South Florida and Gronk’s mom lives in Fort Myers.
With the trade deadline on Tuesday, Joe wonders what else general manager Brady has up his sleeve?
October 28th, 2020 at 12:41 pm
Hahaha first ever Player/Coach/GM (in football)
October 28th, 2020 at 12:41 pm
Joe can you ask arians how rosen has been lookong in practice and if brady its teaching the backups anything
October 28th, 2020 at 12:46 pm
“General Manager, Brady….will that be added to Brady’s moniker?……why not…..lots of space available……no where near Peter King’s…..
October 28th, 2020 at 12:47 pm
It seems clear that Brady decided based on both the offense and the defense. He judged correctly, as most analysts now realize, that the Bucs had the potential to be one of the most balanced teams in the NFL. He was right.
For the record, tannenbaum is German for an evergreen or fir tree. It is a borrowed word and not native to English.
October 28th, 2020 at 12:50 pm
Unfortunately, Zoom calls are not like a regular press conference. You may be given two, no more than three shots at questions. With Bray, it’s usually one. With so many things to ask in such a limited time, Joe’s not going burn a valuable opportunity at a question more relevant to ask about a fourth-string quarterback not even on the (active) roster, sorry.
October 28th, 2020 at 12:52 pm
I don’t think is one or another……It’s a combination of both
October 28th, 2020 at 1:00 pm
Incidentally it’s Tannenbaum, not Tannebaum… I thought it looked wrong but then I saw it spelled the same multiple times and thought maybe I had it wrong all along. Nope…
October 28th, 2020 at 1:01 pm
It sure is nice not that the Bucs are not one of the teams having a fire sale right now {Dallas, Jets} And actually got McLendon on the cheap. GO BUCS!!!
October 28th, 2020 at 1:03 pm
@Tannenbaum … “Tom Brady the general manager correctly assessed the Tampa Bay defense and clearly that was ONE OF THE DRIVING FACTORS in his decision to sign with the Buccaneers.”
Tom Brady had his pick of signing with a number of contenders if I remember correctly. He chose the Bucs, not because of the money but because he obviously felt that we had an excellent chance to make a run for the playoffs & also the SB. DEFENSE is a massive part of that, but it’s still only one part. My guess is that he assessed the team & determined that with him replacing Jameis Winston, the quality of play would improve to the point that we’d become contenders. After 7 games it appears that he was right.
When Brady signed on, there were still a lot of question marks about the Bucs. For one thing, Brady signed before several of our veteran starters. For another, the draft hadn’t happened yet, and we didn’t have Wirfs or Winfield, 2 important rookie starters. And since Brady’s signing, we’ve added several quality veteran FAs like Gronk, Fournette, McLendon, Haeg, and now Brown, all with extensive starting experience.
I wonder Joe if the Bucs could’ve added all those IF Brady hadn’t signed with us. I personally doubt it. They’re all playing for less $$$ than they could’ve made from other teams, and they’re all taking a gamble: a SB gamble. The Bucs were a decent team last season, with lots of quality young talent, but we weren’t contenders. Brady provided that stimulus, and IMO he’s the one they’ve all thrown their hat in the ring with.
For guys like Brady, Suh, JPP, McLendon & a number of other vets, this is the ‘Super Bowl or bust’ year. The stage is HERE: Super Bowl is in Tampa! Of course, there are still 9 regular season games to play, and if we do well enough another 3-4 after that. But I wouldn’t bet against them.
October 28th, 2020 at 1:10 pm
Joe
Noticed you asked Brady in his presser about throwing to AB in the off-season and he didn’t answer your direct question……I suspect that means he did.
You weren’t given an opportunity to follow up.
Here’s a question…..would it be against the NFL rules to practice with a suspended player…..off team premises?
October 28th, 2020 at 1:10 pm
Defense Rules– Spot on, well said.
GO BUCS!!!
October 28th, 2020 at 1:13 pm
Tanner Baum is clueless
October 28th, 2020 at 1:15 pm
defense finished strong and was a factor no doubt….
but dont you think it couldve been the offense too….even with the previous qb throwing INTs we still finished 3rd in offense last year….which is what we are now currently….
brady is cashing in on the chance to play with a great defensive mind in Bowles and a great young offensive mind in BL….
brady played chess while bill played checkers…
on to NYG!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 28th, 2020 at 1:28 pm
What nonsense. The defense was literally the worst defense in team history for the first half of the year – they had a very good end to the year, but you really think Brady just looked at that defense and said regardless of what’s on offense, I want that defense to bail me out? Give me a break.
October 28th, 2020 at 1:34 pm
Yes, per the team protocols since players arrived back to work. But it’s not like the two couldn’t find some place remotely to throw the ball around, say, Brady’s backyard in Montana.
October 28th, 2020 at 2:09 pm
So gilmore the lockdown corner on the Patriots just listed his house for sale and apparently bill is taking trade calls on him. Maybe he too wants to come to Tompa Bay??? #1 need is DB depth. I do not wish to see ryan smith starting, unless it’s special teams.
October 28th, 2020 at 2:18 pm
Watching the Raiders replay today. And I can’t help thinking. Its like when you play a video game, and can’t win. You’ve done everything right. So you pick this one little “cheat” and you can win. And it makes you feel good. You realize you can’t use the cheat forever. But damn its fun using that cheat. Brady is our cheat. Finally this team looks like the sum of the talent they are. It’s friggin amazing. I mean, that td pass with :30 left in the first half to Miller…unbelievable. Its what we would see only a couple times a season in Tampa and normally accompanied by interceptions or penalties or 100 other mistakes for the last 30 yrs. Now its once a game. And the team is playing clean. Man, I’m impressed. I didn’t think it would be as good as it is. Hope it stays like this, whatever that takes. If its letting Brady have some favorite teammates so be it.
October 28th, 2020 at 2:19 pm
So……that is likely why Brady wouldn’t answer the question…
No, Brady could do whatever he wanted on his free time before entering the COVID protocols when players went back to work. You might want to Google Russel Wilson and Brown.–Joe
October 28th, 2020 at 2:21 pm
Let’s finish the job with a trade for Stephon Gilmore and signing Earl Thomas to a veterans minimum… Sure fire super bowl, and the most solid defense in the nfl against the run and pass!!!
October 28th, 2020 at 2:40 pm
Want to see a Disrespectful Classless Childish Moniker that was not even funny the First time? This is what you call the GOAT? Why again?
park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting Bucs quarterback Tom Brady.
Hey JOE does BRADY know who you are yet? Tell him what you call him when you get the chance-I am sure he will just love it!! Bush league low class is what it is.
Paul, ok, you don’t like the nicknames/moniker, for the 67th time. Got it. Now what? You get what you pay for at JoeBucsFan.com. You certainly are free to not visit. Joe doesn’t come to your house and complain over and over again. –Joe
October 28th, 2020 at 3:15 pm
Since you brought up Russell Wilson:
Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback Russell Wilson said he believes Antonio Brown is a changed man. Wilson said he has developed a close relationship with Brown over the years. Wilson has come to the conclusion that Brown is remorseful for his past actions and is trying to be a better player and person
October 28th, 2020 at 3:22 pm
Paul, you do know we play a drinking game on this site. Every time you or someone else blasts Joe for using the Brady moniker we all have to down a bottle of our favorite brew from Big Storm Brewing Co. This day drinking is starting to interfere with work, so please cut it out!
October 28th, 2020 at 3:46 pm
Oh, bulls1t! Methuselah Brady was attracted to the Bucs cos he saw the talent gathered in all 3 parts of the team. His hunch is paying off in big ego dividends. The Bucs offense and defense is maturing. So is the ST. Go Mighty Bucs! And let the injured rest.
October 28th, 2020 at 3:47 pm
I agree with rob (carpet) munch, this guys opinion is a retrospective nonsense! Easy to say this today ! I don’t think he would have praised him for picking the Bucs based on defense when he signed.
October 28th, 2020 at 7:52 pm
Both wrong. Its both sides of the ball. Duh.
October 28th, 2020 at 9:45 pm
Tom Brady appreciates good defense I’m convinced. Looking back at his 19 years as Pats’ starting QB, their defense AVERAGED #8 in the NFL over all those years in Points Allowed. In his 6 Super Bowl victories, the Pats defense averaged #4 those years.
No QB can win as much as Brady did over all those years without having a strong defense defense behind him. He’s become a master at COMPLIMENTARY FOOTBALL IMO.
October 29th, 2020 at 12:33 am
@Joe….I tried to warn Paul way back when.
@Paul ….F$%^* off at this point! lol
@Joe…I got your back!
Go Bucs!!!
October 29th, 2020 at 12:44 am
LOL, park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, general managing quarterback Tom Brady
October 29th, 2020 at 6:47 am
Paul, ok, you don’t like the nicknames/moniker, for the 67th time. Got it. Now what? You get what you pay for at JoeBucsFan.com. You certainly are free to not visit. Joe doesn’t come to your house and complain over and over again. –Joe
JOE-if you came to my house and I was speaking badly about the GOAT and was obviously blinded by a hurt TUSH from JW’s departure you would not say anything because you are a HATER. Give the Man respect!
What are you going to do if the Bucs win the SB this year and it’s because of his influence and abilities? Still bad-mouth him? Get REAL.
October 29th, 2020 at 8:15 am
^^^^ I never say this to anyone on here, and there are plenty who deserve it, but PAUL PLEASE STFU!!!!
October 29th, 2020 at 8:17 am
Joe, I second TBBF’s suggestion. Adding the “acting general manager” to Brady’s moniker would be a truly perfect and accurate fit!
October 29th, 2020 at 9:44 am
I find it strange so many Bucs fans on this website seem to hate Brady. He made your team relevant. If you had Winston instead the record would be reversed. Gronk, brown, and fournette wouldn’t have signed either.