Tom Brady “Excited” About Jaelon Darden
May 1st, 2021
“Bruce, I might even drink a glass of Johnny Walker Red with you. Where’s my wingman Ryan Griffin?”
Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians dropped an interesting little nugget just now on NFL Network.
Minutes after the Bucs selected Auburn linebacker hittin’, K.J. Britt, Arians popped on NFL Network for a comprehensive draft weekend interview. Arians was asked by Rich Eisen if he worked out receiver/returner Jaelon Darden catching the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a new technique in analyzing receivers.
Arians had a great comeback to that — more on that in a moment — but Arians was talking about park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, smartphone-phobic, waffle-grilling, trophy-throwing, roller-coaster-scared, numbers-rules-peeved, Bucs-Super-Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady’s interactions with his head coach during the draft.
Arians said he and Brady are constantly texting during the draft, especially when the Bucs make a pick. When Brady learned the Bucs picked Darden, the seven-time Super Bowl champion got pumped.
“Tom and I talk all the time,” Arians said of this weekend. “He’s texting me back and forth. ‘Who do you think the next pick is going to be?’ He’s all in, man. Anything that makes our team better, both now and in the future, Tom just wants to win.”
Arian stated he and Brady had a conversation “about a month ago” concerning the Bucs possibly drafting a quarterback if the right guy fell to them. And that Brady was good with it.
As for Darden, “He’s really excited,” Arians said of Brady. “You talk about an explosive guy.”
Arians added Darden really reminds him of when he coached Emmanuel Sanders in Pittsburgh, and John Brown.
“He really reminds me of a combination of those guys,” Arians said. “So, yeah, we are really going to try to get him the football.”
Arians also remarked he has about had it with everyone talking about Brady throwing the Vince Lombardi Trophy to Cam Brate. Arians claimed he threw the trophy from the boat he was in to Brady on his boat. The only difference was, the trophy was tossed about two feet, Arians said.
“We didn’t want to scratch up his boat,” Arians said. “It’s too pretty.”
Stolen valor? Or justice served? You be the judge. pic.twitter.com/UCMIrEMYyO
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 1, 2021
May 1st, 2021 at 4:05 pm
It’s going to be fun watching him YAC it Up !
Bring on Mr Irrelevant and all those UDFA’s !
2021 football is here !
May 1st, 2021 at 4:06 pm
too many adjectives for Brady–Joe–please trim it up–makes it hard to read when you are in a hurry
Darden sounds like a special teamer KR/PR or when/if we have a blow out and first team gets to sit then he is in whatever we have drafted these guys before and they rarely even make the team–hope this kid is different
May 1st, 2021 at 4:10 pm
Definitely improving the team..
Tryon Great Edge depth
Trask Good backup
Hainsey Excellent versatility oline depth
Darden KR/PR/WR replaces Mickens
Britt ST replaces Cichy
Nothing spectacular….but solid pieces
May 1st, 2021 at 4:11 pm
1 of 2 solid picks including Hainsey.
Throw the rest of the picks in the garbage.
May 1st, 2021 at 4:12 pm
Told you Brady is the ultimate competitor. Most QBs in the league would feel threatened by av2nd round QB pick but not Brady. He sees him as he sees himself back when he was a rookie. He just loves to teach and thank goodness we have a chance to have him teach Trask.
May 1st, 2021 at 4:14 pm
tbbf: hard to be spectacular at #32 when your #1 is really a #2, your 3 really a 4, etc.
But that’s how Pete Rozelle wanted it to achieve “parity.”
May 1st, 2021 at 4:17 pm
Bert Bell (then owner of the Eagles who later became NFL commissioner — Rozelle succeeded him as commissioner) developed the draft as we know it way back before World War II.
May 1st, 2021 at 4:17 pm
Brady has too many weapons at WR. Have to keep them all happy with their catch numbers. But he can do it.
May 1st, 2021 at 4:21 pm
After watching the Darden interview: what an immediately likable guy. Really seems to have the right attitude and a lot of heart. Highlight tape shows amazing elusiveness and quickness.
May 1st, 2021 at 4:29 pm
Cobraboy Says:
May 1st, 2021 at 4:14 pm
tbbf: hard to be spectacular at #32 when your #1 is really a #2, your 3 really a 4, etc.
But that’s how Pete Rozelle wanted it to achieve “parity.”
Yep….used to picking lots earlier…….Evans, White, Vea, Wirfs…etc…but maybe Joe & Jaelon will surprise.
May 1st, 2021 at 4:43 pm
Can we start a petition to shorten Brady’s moniker to “Mr. 7 rings”
May 1st, 2021 at 4:53 pm
I have been watching as much tape on Jaelon Darden as I can find, and he is quite impressive!
I have to agree, that too many adjectives for Brady makes it hard to read.
Plus, from an SEO standpoint, Google could possibly see this as duplicate content and penalize JBF! Duplicate content is a big SEO No No.
May 1st, 2021 at 4:56 pm
I just scroll through the TB descriptor until the first sentence appears 🥱
May 1st, 2021 at 5:06 pm
Well as of now the bucs have selected every position that I have been listing as needs. Me and a bunch of other guys made the same or similar wish lists. Will any of them be a home run? Hard to say. Plenty of high draft choices fizzle out totally. But each pick fits the teams needs for back ups and if 2 or 3 make a big impact and one or two others do the job as back ups it will be a very good draft. Only time will tell, but the position choices are right on target for backup needs. Hope springs eternal eh? Bring on the dam season!!
May 1st, 2021 at 5:10 pm
good pick for returner wr depth fast quick productive
May 1st, 2021 at 5:13 pm
Multiple scouting reports on Darden said he’s the type of WR that the Patriots like… a guy who is quick and plays well in space. That’s the type of guy that Brady likes, which is why I’m thinking AB might end up leading the team in receiving this year. We saw early last year when Brady was forcing the ball to Evans how uncomfortable he look, things really came together when they switched to more of a Pats type of offense later in the year. That in no way devalues Evans or Godwin, but when you got a 20+ year veteran QB, they’re going like what they like and it’s hard to get them to change things up.
At first I thought this was just a punt returner, and it seemed really high to pick someone who has ho-hum punt return stats. But it really seems like this is a legit WR if they let him play in space.
Also he is a high school QB, and scouting reports say he should excel on gadget plays and on screens. AB can do those screens, but at his age you don’t want to do the gadget plays, and I think that’s where Darden can provide some help. How many times last year did we see Scotty Miller lose 7 yards on a screen pass or an end around – that’s where he should provide some help right away, if he’s active in any case.
May 1st, 2021 at 5:23 pm
i think they missed out on the demetric felton kid…
felton > this dude
May 1st, 2021 at 5:40 pm
Love that video and love our Coach…..we lucky as Bucs fans right now!
Brucey “Two Feet” Arians
Vick ain’t got nothing on the Virginia Tech BadA$$ BA and his Hokies rushing TD record and dass my Coach
May 1st, 2021 at 5:55 pm
You got all these crybaby QB’s Watson, Russell, Roger’s, Garapolo and Brady restructures and only concern is how to make the team better to repeat. That is why he is the GOAT not how accurate or far he can throw a ball. Though 7 SB’s doesn’t suck.
May 1st, 2021 at 5:57 pm
Good one “SickofLosing”👍🏻
Mr. 7 Rings👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🍻
How bout it Snarky Joe🤔
May 1st, 2021 at 6:14 pm
Joe is going to type what he wants, waste of time trying to get him to change to monikers.
May 1st, 2021 at 6:18 pm
I went on pewter report to try to discuss K.J Britt all they talking about is blue cheese dressing and ranch blah blah blah. I couldn’t even get a sliver of draft talk. Joe is way way way way better. I used to subscribe to pewters magazine way back in the day. Joe has annihilated them into mediocrity
May 1st, 2021 at 6:21 pm
I agree with commenters who take issue with the voluminous modifiers before Brady’s name. They aren’t cute, they intrude on the read, and are why I prefer to read about the Bucs on other sites.
May 1st, 2021 at 6:38 pm
Brady is so valuable. Really he makes it simple especially in the 1st half of games. He has that 2.3 second mindset. He reads defense, has his own offense accountable and if play is not there, he throws it away.
He realizes a kick is a good thing at the end of the Bucs series whether for an extra point, a field goal, or a punt.
He gets that defenses get tired and as the game proceeds, it he and the team do not make mistakes, there will be opportunities for him to win.
I think Josh McDaniel is going to be exposed this year. He had Cam last year because they wanted to try a more mobile quarterback that Brady did not give them. Now they are going to try the cerebral Matt Jones.
Our coaching staff is really better offensively than New England. We see how our coaches have developed, offensive lineman, wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs. New England cannot develop receivers at all lately and since their OL coach, Dante Scarnecchia, retired in 2019 they have lost something there as well.
In the meantime, Arians/Licht can spot offensive talent and gets that for Tom Brady to play with. Golden era of Bucs football. Especially on offense.
May 1st, 2021 at 6:38 pm
No time to reduce monikers, time to add, lol. Resident Living Legend. lol lol GO JBF GO BUCS!!!!!
May 1st, 2021 at 6:40 pm
LovedBucs, only before Brady’s name? JBF has been doing that a decade before Brady. Where you been, newbie!? 😂
May 1st, 2021 at 6:42 pm
Just watched a little tape on Darden. Really quick. Could be a really good return man, maybe something special.
Difficult to see Britt’s usefulness, however, given how slow he is.
May 1st, 2021 at 6:53 pm
Eric75, I’ve lurked for a long time. I simply cannot understand why Joe chooses to write poorly. He’s better than that.
I enjoy most of the content and all of the commenters, but the modifiers before Brady’s name have gotten out of hand. This time next season we’ll have to scroll through three pages of hyphenated adjectives just to find original content.
May 1st, 2021 at 7:26 pm
I agree the Brady intro is really getting annoying. Nobody reads it if y’all like me I just skim down to Tom Brady. Joe if you really want readers to enjoy the experience of your blog lighten up.
May 1st, 2021 at 9:14 pm
I skim down too, but always chuckle when people post about the monikers. Joe like you said, your model is working. You have so many positive posts about a certain “farm animal” So anyways, keep on keepin on. People are going to post more about the monikers and I will keep on laughing. BTW laughter does good like medicine. lol GO BUCS!!!!
May 1st, 2021 at 9:24 pm
Answer – Peter King still holds the record and its not even close.
Question….?
How many footballs are there for Brady to throw? I’m not down on this guy, but I’m not excited either.
Go Bucs!
In BA I Trust!
May 1st, 2021 at 10:34 pm
How about Darden, AB, Godwin and Evans all running routes on same play? Darden circling out of the backfield. And Gronk sliding out after a chip block. How does a defense cover all that receiving talent at the same time? Brady would have to make a quick read and unload fast. No linebackers could cover any of those guys very well. Not much chance of double teaming most of our receivers. Quick short to medium throws. Quick pops to the open man. Evans running deep route usually has double coverage. If single coverage db is in trouble with any of these receivers.
May 1st, 2021 at 10:36 pm
1. As soon as he starts with the adjectives about Brady I just skipped the next paragraph. I understand it’s Joe’s gimmick, and I didn’t mind it at first, he does it with Brady and Peter King and they’re too long and it has become very annoying.
2. The video clip with BA is great! Love that guy.
3. This kid is returner … a dangerous one ! With as much as this defense should force punts, this is a great pick. If he develops into a speedy slot receiver (when AB leaves next year), that’s a bonus.
I am still intrigued to see how Johnson progresses this year, he looks damn good to me
May 1st, 2021 at 10:37 pm
Sport- They needed a return guy, that’s what he is.
Potential to take over in the slot for AB because he will be gone after this year
May 1st, 2021 at 11:12 pm
I think the move for Darden was excellent. Speed has no slump. Will he be able to make it in the NFL? We shall see. AB and Godwin are only signed for one year. And having depth at that position is smart when you have the GOAT. I’m already hyped for next season. LFG!!!
May 2nd, 2021 at 6:14 am
and New England still has backups at QB. LMMFAO.
Go Bucs.