The Tom Brady Impact
May 11th, 2021
Lasting legacy.
Joe believes the single best transaction in the history of this Bucs franchise was signing a 42-year old quarterback, which at the time seemed like a Hail Mary pass that had a scent of desperation surrounding it.
Instead, the move fully transformed a previously moribund franchise into a Super Bowl champion, and the move now has made the Bucs a Super Bowl favorite and it could have far-reaching effects on the roster and roster management for the next decade and beyond.
Albert Breer of SI.com in his “Monday Morning Quarterback” column looked at some of the ways Brady fundamentally transformed an organization that previously struggled not to trip over itself.
Tom Brady’s level of investment remains high. The Buccaneers quarterback’s first move after the draft? The day after it wrapped up, eight days ago, I’m told Brady reached out to GM Jason Licht asking for the numbers of his new rookie teammates, and by the time the week was out he’d talked to second-round quarterback Kyle Trask to set up plans to throw together. And therein, I think you can see the overarching impact Brady’s had on the whole operation. It also reminds me of something a high-ranking figure in the organization said to me back when Brady signed in March 2020. “The standard has just risen,” this person said. “What he brings is going to be, obviously, extremely valuable. But what he leaves behind, whenever that is, hopefully it’s more than two years, is equally as valuable.” We now know, barring something unforeseen, it’ll be at least three years—he committed to playing in 2022 when he signed his new deal with the team a couple of months ago. And while there’ll be a price to pay for the mortgaging of contracts to win now, and the Bucs have done a lot of that, it’s interesting to see Brady proving those words true, investing in guys who’ll be there past his retirement (at least theoretically, since, well, who knows how long Brady is gonna go?) and be part of the down-the-line rebuild, including his own potential personal replacement. Truth is, you could see last summer, and I wrote about this then, that every piece of the Bucs operation had been affected by Brady’s presence—and the fact that he’s putting in work that could have a tangible impact on the franchise’s long-term prospects, outside of just his influence on the people around him, adds another layer to it.
First off about the phone call to Trask, what a difference Brady is from drama queen Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers’ organization drafted a quarterback to protect itself if Rodgers, pushing 40, decides to retire. Instead of Rodgers calling Jordan Love to help him ease into the NFL, Rodgers throws a hissy fit and reportedly has told the Packers — one play from a Super Bowl — he will retire if he doesn’t get traded. And he allegedly tells prospective free agents he’s likely out.
That’s some teammate.
By Brady coming in with his exacting standards and work ethic, he has raised the bar for every player, if not coaches and the Bucs’ front office. You don’t think that’s not going to carry on after Brady leaves?
The lessons learned from Brady by young players — Tristan Wirfs and Antoine Winfield to name a couple — they will spread the same lessons to future teammates who are currently playing high school ball.
Joe cannot remember one player having such a massive impact on an NFL organization. You’re darn right excellent players came to — and stayed with — the Bucs because of Brady.
In Joe’s eyes, the very first home game the Bucs play after Brady retires, Brady’s No. 12 should be retired and his name enshrined in the Ring of Honor.
May 11th, 2021 at 1:04 pm
“And while there’ll be a price to pay for the mortgaging of contracts to win now, and the Bucs have done a lot of that”
you don’t have to be a contract genius to know that means we will be in cap hell.
May 11th, 2021 at 1:10 pm
Tom Brady is no Tim Tebow though
May 11th, 2021 at 1:20 pm
There are cap issues for every team. The more competitive teams push the limits of the cap, with varying levels of success. The real price of pushing the limits is currently realized in New Orleans. They lose a franchise qb from their payroll and still have to cut players. This was just a perfect storm when the cap goes down, which isnt common. There are a lot of one yr deals. In the near future, as long as Brady is playing here, we are likely to dominate free agency in the offseason. We have been rebuilding for over a decade, it feels better to reload instead. Go Bucs!
May 11th, 2021 at 1:24 pm
Article out today with brady commenting he is dreading it one day ending his football career. He hopes he has the ability to play as long as possible
Nice to hear!
Go bucs. Got my tickets and just bought a jacket hoping for some january games. 😂
May 11th, 2021 at 1:31 pm
i wonder if this year we ride the
“gravy train”
or
the “tequila express”
🙂
May 11th, 2021 at 1:31 pm
Why is everyone so shocked? They said at the beginning we will let Brady run things if they were down in the fourth quarter. After the bye week opening the fourth quarter of the season, we went 8-0 with a Super Bowl win.
May 11th, 2021 at 1:32 pm
free avacados served fresh, all day, on the tequila express when booking 2 or more assengers
May 11th, 2021 at 1:32 pm
no typo* 🙂
May 11th, 2021 at 1:34 pm
Tom’s impact affected the Entire team. Even Special teams.
It seems as if nobody wants to let him down
May 11th, 2021 at 1:37 pm
wow…and no off the field issues either …
May 11th, 2021 at 1:39 pm
why do you think russell wilson and aaron rodgers are so pissed ?
not because of their teams…
because tom brady came to the nfc and joined a team in flux that just needed a quarterback and a leader of men to steer the ship…
now those 2 bufoons are so mad because the bucs have leap frogged their teams into the number one position – and as long as tom brady is here, they know he’s gonna be hell bent on holding position…top position…
so they’re just both secretly furious…like 2 pretty girls in school…and a supermodel just moved to town and is now in their class and outshines them both (just like in the movies)
May 11th, 2021 at 1:42 pm
how tom brady didn’t wind up in dallas for like 3 years is beyond me…
only reason could most likely be jerry jones’ ego
May 11th, 2021 at 2:02 pm
Thank you, thank you, thank you Joe……a beautiful article all about Brady and without monikers.
And yes….the Brady impact is immesurable.
May 11th, 2021 at 2:02 pm
Immeasurable…
May 11th, 2021 at 2:05 pm
If this transformation is passed down after Brady retires, the Bucs didn’t mortgage their long term future, they invested in it.
May 11th, 2021 at 2:07 pm
SB
I agree…
no one wants to be the “guy” who cost brady a ring…lol…
GO BUCS!!!!
May 11th, 2021 at 2:10 pm
btw joe – that picture of brady as he is chanting let’s go in that beautiful buccaneers uniform is one of my favourite pictures of all time and it will stand the test of time in buccaneers lore.
May 11th, 2021 at 2:30 pm
Rodgers is hardly “Pushing 40”. He’s 37.
May 11th, 2021 at 2:31 pm
I’d wager Tom would not have been happy had they drafted a quarterback instead of Wirfs
May 11th, 2021 at 2:35 pm
adam from ny Says:
“why do you think russell wilson and aaron rodgers are so pissed ?…. like 2 pretty girls in school…and a supermodel just moved to town and is now in their class and outshines them both ”
HaHa – LOVE that analogy
May 11th, 2021 at 2:41 pm
@Robert: no cap hell if that player plays through the entirety of the contract.
May 11th, 2021 at 2:48 pm
Players should note that the downside of a long-term dealio is what happens if the organization changes and you don’t like it.
You have few options, one being you shut up and play. The other is you demand a trade. And if that doesn’t work, public whining is one tool.
But from an image perspective, it can have consequences.
Will anyone ever forget the Wilson and Rodgers temper tantrums, even if the win a SB again? They are forever ‘tainted.
Yes, I said “‘taint…” (snicker)
May 11th, 2021 at 2:49 pm
I STILL cannot believe that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are forever tied to the greatest QB in the history of the NFL and that when people think of him, they will think of what he accomplished at the end of his career playing for the Bucs– as opposed to Montana or Favre whose time with other teams is largely forgotten.
May 11th, 2021 at 3:07 pm
Exactly.
That’s a helluva lot closer to 40 than 30.
Besides, if he finishes his current contract with the Packers, he’ll be 39.
May 11th, 2021 at 3:56 pm
if we actually do somehow repeat this year and wilson and rodgers are crying publicly again in the offseason, they’re gonna look like clowns…
#DoubleWhammy #DoubleDownClown #DoubleTrouble
#DeucesAreWildSuckasAreBarred #ThenComesTheTripleMcDipple
May 11th, 2021 at 4:51 pm
Adam I got my ticket to the tequilla express. Only question is which party hat do I wear? Do I put on Sombrero or go with the kangrol? Cant make up my mind.
And let me know if ya wanna meet up in the morn for some southern biscuits!!
GO BUCS!!!
May 11th, 2021 at 4:53 pm
Having Tom Brady here is like a dream within a dream.
May 11th, 2021 at 6:14 pm
Santa Claus came to town and stayed…
May 11th, 2021 at 6:33 pm
At age 36 brady did not have a hissy fit like rodgers. He simply went over the coach to the owner to have jimmy g traded which craft obliged. Maybe when rodger is 44 he will be open to having his potential replacement on the roster too.
And no the bucs did not tell brady if we are down in the 4th to run things. Stop the foolishness. Give the coaching staff credit for the great job they did.
May 11th, 2021 at 8:08 pm
It’s unfair to comment on Aaron’s situation given that since 2014, the Packers have not drafted a single offensive player in the 1st Rd. Oh, except his replacement at QB. I’m pretty sure the Packers fumbled this one away when they didn’t inform him that they were considering drafting a QB. Even the Bears told their scrub QBs that they were considering drafting a QB.
Also, rumor has it that the Packers did consider trading him before, until he had an MVP season last year.
May 11th, 2021 at 8:11 pm
How can you mortgage the future when your goal is to win in the present? Bucs could keep their assets and lose key players and go back to fighting for a playoff spot or as they have, sit at the top of the mountain looking down at the remaining inferior players and coaches. Yes there will be an end but might as well ride the wave while Bucs can.
May 11th, 2021 at 8:12 pm
Meant to say, the Packers considered trading him before, but now are not content in trading him because of his MVP season.
May 11th, 2021 at 8:31 pm
I personally believe the seasons leading up to Brady was the most important. The team needed to learn how to win. Those L’s built a desire to win in some, while exposing those that became complacent. Those time revealed and built character. The professionalism of Brady finally hold teammates accountable and knowledge on what it takes to win finish our raw team.
It in my opinion came together after the lost to the Bears. That game was winnable and I was really mad at Jensen’s penalties, especially after the whistle penalties. Brady got on him about that. Since that moment, Jensen haven’t had many if not no after the whistle penalties for the rest of the season. The guy that caused us games in the past has changed. I’m proud of his transformation. Now, we had mental mistakes at all three phases. Suddenly, each players didn’t want to let each other down. Players grew and started making plays. Confidence grew, while doubts shrink.
I loved seeing our team grew from being the victim in players highlights to tv show hosts can’t keep us out of their mouth. The foundation and the desire to win was there before Brady. Brady was the final piece to get us where we want to be. The journey leading up to this important signing should never be forgotten.
May 11th, 2021 at 8:53 pm
hey kids: the ironic thing about the crybabies in Seattle and Green Bay, do you realize the offensive crap bill b surrounded tom with his last few years in NE? tom, however, did not complain, he made it work to the tune of three more SBs. that is class. And, when bill b still wouldn’t pay him, tom brought his game to Tampa and you can see the result. let’s hope it doesn’t end anytime soon. GO BUCS!
May 11th, 2021 at 10:05 pm
And don’t underestimate this…
Great leaders help their teammates and ‘coach’ them. Brady is a great leader and mentor for other players, and you know he really enjoys it.
The odds are very high that after retirement, Brady will stay involved with one of his former team organizations.
Would it be the Patriots, the team they didn’t put much effort in to bring him back, and a team that supposedly runs under a ‘system’ that claims to be responsible for Brady’s success… OR…
Would it be the Bucs, the team he end his career with? A team that believed in him at 43 years old to bring them a Super Bowl trophy. A team that he clearly has a lot of say in what players come here etc.
My bet is on Brady “sticking around” to be involved in some way with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Doesn’t mean he’ll be a coach or assistant, be may just help be a SCOUT for the Bucs in many ways as well as simply a MENTOR like Derrick Brooks has been for some of our players.
THAT will have a huge impact on this team & organization for many, many years to come.
May 12th, 2021 at 8:35 am
Totally agree with the last sentence. Rodgers is a brat and if he did throw a fit when they drafted Love and said that to free agents, then he is a low class clown as well. Surely he is smart enough to know that the Packers would do the same thing to him that they did to his predessesor? Brady is the goat and we are lucky to have him.
May 12th, 2021 at 1:40 pm
This is a WIN NOW LEAGUE! AS one top NFL executive opined, teams that are worried about the future never get there. You have a legit shot at another title, you take it AND STFU.
May 12th, 2021 at 8:17 pm
This upcoming Season is the most excited as I’ve ever been since “76” !