Clyde Christensen Shares A Reason Tom Brady Left New England
February 24th, 2021
Buccaneers quarterback coach Clyde Christensen can handle the truth, but he agreed only to share part of it with NFL fans.
During a visit to CBS Sports Radio this week, host Zach Gelb asked Christensen point blank if Tom Brady told him why he bolted from the Patriots.
Christensen agreed to share a little.
Zach Gelb: Did he ever open up to you about why he elected to leave New England?
Clyde Christensen: Yes. The answer is yes. And the part that I’d share with you probably would be, you know, there was a part of him the first time I met him, and I had never met him before we picked him up. … He said one of the things that looked really fun and challenging to him was what Peyton [Manning] did at Denver. Like kind of the same scenario [in Tampa]. … There was something about that challenge that hit [Brady] right. ‘Hey, I’m going to go see if I can do this again somewhere else.’ I do think that the challenge of that was a huge thing for him. … He’s mentioned several times that he was impressed [with Manning’s accomplishments in Denver] and that looked fun and challenging to him.
After hearing that, the optimist/pessimist in Joe thinks, ‘What happens when Brady wins another Super Bowl in Tampa next season, would he want a third-team challenge?’
Brady on the Jets in 2022 would be quite a spectacle in the AFC East.
Back to reality, Christensen went on to add that Brady seeks challenges in practice and it really stood out to Christensen again — after the Bucs’ glorious Super Bowl victory.
This week, Christensen said he was cutting up film of Super Bowl week practices, specifically individual QB drills and throws. Something jumped off the screen.
“[Brady] worked like there was only one uniform left and three guys were fighting to get the thing for the Super Bowl,” Christensen said, adding that Brady easily could have rested up for the big game but “that’s not the mentality.”
February 24th, 2021 at 12:27 pm
He likes it here. No leaving to play elsewhere.
February 24th, 2021 at 12:33 pm
I think Brady loves it here……if he left, it would be to California (sunshine)….not the Jets.
I think that Boat Parade did the trick….showing off Gi$$ele & his new 2 million dollar boat.
Another trophy toss or two to Gronk are in his dreams.
February 24th, 2021 at 12:36 pm
By far the best FA we’ve ever picked up – LFG!!!!
February 24th, 2021 at 12:51 pm
Weapons….he can’t get weapons like they have in Tampa somewhere else.
February 24th, 2021 at 12:53 pm
NDog would much rather have JayMiss!! No football knowledge what so ever!!
February 24th, 2021 at 12:55 pm
According to the agreement between the NFLPA, the players’ union, and the league, players gets two-thirds of the money made by selling jerseys. The other third goes to the union — and some of that goes into a pool for all NFL players.
I think Brady is selling some Jerseys…..maybe enough to justify an extension with a paycut.
February 24th, 2021 at 12:59 pm
If he played for NO, Tenn, Buff, Cleveland, Pitt, Rams, Chic they may not of won SB but strong chance he gets them there. Bucs def is special. He made right choice.
February 24th, 2021 at 1:22 pm
Of course, I am happy Brady is here, but let’s be real.
Todd Bowles is also responsible for us winning that super bowl.
It was his defensive scheme that completely shut KC down.
February 24th, 2021 at 1:51 pm
I think Brady is here and wants to try and win 3 in a row and then peace out as THE greatest athlete in sports history
February 24th, 2021 at 1:54 pm
There’s also a chance at a perfect season (while winning the Super Bowl).
Pipe dream? Its Brady and his goals we’re talking about…
February 24th, 2021 at 2:08 pm
Can you handle the truth? The story is part BS.
For those of you who have been forced to leave a company due to imploding financial problems, office politics, etc., you shouldn’t tell your future employer to complete truth as to your termination. You do your best to make it sound like it was either your choice or a mutual choice.
In Brady’s case, it wasn’t really his choice. The relationship between Brady and Belichick had eroded, but you shouldn’t blame either. How many sports head coaches/managers ever have a sustainable two decade, multiple-championship winning relationship last beyond just a handful of years? I remember Sparky Anderson, the former manager of the Big Red Machine (Cincinnati Reds) remarking that the hardest years to manage were after three years of success. That’s when the star players start to tune you out. They’ve heard your stories, they know your motivational speeches, and they tire of any manipulation.
I think in Brady’s case there was a bit of that, but most of all it was the legacy BS. Belichick had the control and he wanted the world to know it was his coaching, not the QB that brought the championships. Belichick forced Brady out, plain and simple. Brady wanted a two year contract ($50 million base plus minor incentives) but Belichick wouldn’t give it to him. In fact, Belichick franchise-tagged a Guard (paying Left Tackle money) which meant there wasn’t enough money left for Tom Brady. It was a “FU Tom, if you don’t like it, those are the terms”. It was crazy and suicidal for the New England franchise, but Belichick’s ego destroyed the partnership.
So let’s not pretend the chief reason was Brady wanting to replicated Peyton Manning. It was a reason, but it was a comparatively minor reason. Brady probably doesn’t want to admit it, but he was forced out of New England.
February 24th, 2021 at 2:29 pm
@PassingThru, I disagree. Brady would not sign an extension the year before his contract was up; he said all along he wanted to decide if he wanted to stay or go. That was his doing.
February 24th, 2021 at 2:31 pm
@Passing Thru , thanks for that insider info !!! So glad we have someone in the know here ! LOL, I’m sure your speculation has truth to it as well.
February 24th, 2021 at 3:06 pm
@sgrd0q
Nope, there is some speculation on my part by much of what I posted is what went on behind the scenes. I had ears on the org back in the day; when Seth Wickersham of ESPN first exposed that there was trouble in New England, many on another site blamed Robert Kraft and thought the the leak was orchestrated to as a prelude to squeeze Brady out. That was followed by people blaming Robert Kraft for squeezing Brady financially. That’s laughable. It was never Robert Kraft, nor his son Jonathan. Robert Kraft always hoped to be the peacemaker, but he never got a chance. By the time Brady contacted him last year, Tom had already decided to move on.
As much as New England fans hated it and refused to believe it, the Wickersham article was reasonably accurate as far as I could tell.
Here’s the speculation: I think Belichick decided to move on from Tom Brady, it wasn’t a spontaneous gesture. I’m not sure when, but is was (my guess) two or three years prior to that final 2019 season. I don’t think it was vindictiveness but rather strategy: Belichick decided that he couldn’t rely on the arm of an aging QB and concentrated on improving the running game. That may explain the first round draft pick on Sony Michell (drafting a RB in the first in fairly un-Belichickian) and the big body WR N’Keal Harry. It also might explain the franchise tag of a Guard. Gronk retired, and instead of replacing him with a receiving TE, they prioritized blocking TEs. There’s a logic to the plan, though in retrospect the plan was a failure.
Brady’s not stupid, he saw the pieces around him falling apart and that the team was seemingly moving away from him. The last contract seemed to be an ugly negotiation (speculation on my part) starting in the preseason after that last contract was signed. He wasn’t the same Brady in early 2019, for the first time the normally composed Brady looked upset at his receivers (if you could call them that).
February 24th, 2021 at 3:28 pm
@PassingThru: the “erosion” in the relationship with Belichick came after Belichick excommunicated his best friend, business partner, and body coach Alex Guerrero from ALL Pats facilities, jets, busses, etc., and forbid players from seeking therapy off-site at his private practice.
At that point, neither side really wanted to get together on a contract.
There was a ton of non-financial bad blood because of Belichick’s actions toward Guerrero…who now resides in Tampa.
February 24th, 2021 at 3:28 pm
I don’t think there’s a risk of him going to another team. Extend him about three years, spread the wealth, save the cap room.
Coming here and going back to back ( or two out of three or three in a row) and ride off into the sunset…
February 24th, 2021 at 3:32 pm
Chris@apple we all understand the defense played great. And played great most of the year. But the only thing to be real about is that without Brady we don’t even come close to the super bowl. So in saying that you be real stop cherry picking the super bowl. Go Bucs let’s repeat!!!!!
February 24th, 2021 at 3:37 pm
Passingthru: I think CC was pretty clear he was sharing a “part” of the story. Anyone (worth their salt) leaving a previous employer would want to prove themselves at their next stop.
I think the distinction here is that no one else has won a Super Bowl with 2 teams other than Peyton Manning and now Brady. Anyone would want to be successful, but not everyone has the pedigree to go win a ring anywhere else they desire.
Chris, your point about Bowles is on point too. I would add that the defensive growth in Nov/Dec 2019 is another major reason why Brady identified the Bucs, despite what the chicken Little “fans” where saying at the time.
February 24th, 2021 at 3:40 pm
Brady was an absolute blessing/Godsend in 2020…I couldn’t be more grateful. Counting on similar production beyond 1-2 more seasons seems a bit much…even for The 🐐. Savoring all of this while we can…
February 24th, 2021 at 5:28 pm
Chris@ apple roof cleaning,
So you take a article about Tom Brady and make it about Todd Bowles..Yes his defense shut the chiefs down,but Brady got us to the big show..we had Todd Bowles as our coordinator last year with jameis in charge how did that work out?.
February 24th, 2021 at 7:54 pm
Seriously? If he wins here again next year, after TWO boat parades, would anyone want to leave Tampa? Come’on man!
February 24th, 2021 at 8:01 pm
Living in NE, in 2019 McDaniels under Belichicks instructions began discounting any input Brady had on and off the field. Yes there was dissention when Alex was removed but in Belichick’s defense Alex was voicing his opinion about the staff trainers which went up BB’s ass sideways. The true start of the downfall began when Kraft chose Brady over Garapolo and Bill didn’t like it. Bill is also the GM. By 2019 Bill wanted Brady out and Brady wanted out. Plus the contract they offered him was ridiculous. Last point, Belichick lost his locker room respect when he sat Malcolm Butler during the Eagles SB loss. Butler played 92% of the snaps that season. Rumor has it Butler had an argument with Stephen Belichick prior to the game. All he would of had to do was come in on possibly 2 plays and they win. Bill did NOT do his job and win and the team k we it.
February 24th, 2021 at 9:41 pm
PassingThru Says: I disagree with your points.
You can search all interview of Bill and Krafts. Bill actually did not want to trade TB to the Niners, he laughed off the idea of trading TB immediately. Patriots also wanted to extend and pay similarly to the Bucs, but money is not the reason. You can see that TB even did not negotiate the salary with the Bucs before verbal agreement.
Thus, the real reason he left is mentioned by Christensen and probably pressure from Gilese
February 24th, 2021 at 10:22 pm
In any case I am glad Brady moved on. It is good for him, good for the Bucs and good for the league. Great story too.
Also, shows that Brady had a lot to do with the NE success. Perhaps more than what people gave him credit for. Look at Andy Reid – yes, great coach but won nothing with the Eagles. Now that he has Mahomes – different story.
February 25th, 2021 at 2:36 am
i have not seen a single authentic brady bucs jersey in pewter anywhere or on anyone…
what’s up with that…???
need