It All Worked Out For Tom Brady, Bucs
July 7th, 2021
From the moment the Bucs announced Tom Brady was coming to Tampa Bay, Joe knew Brady was and is one of the most guarded NFL players when standing in front of cameras.
It didn’t take very long (like two weeks, maybe) for Joe to conclude Brady’s press conferences are not atop Joe’s to-do list. Usually, Brady does not say anything relevant.
So it surprised Joe the way Brady was outspoken recently on something called “The Shop” seen on HBO. (Save for the Bucs in “Hard Knocks,” Joe hasn’t had HBO since the screen faded to black on Tony Soprano — an awesome ending.)
No one was more surprised by Brady’s candor on “The Shop” than a guy who used to cover him and has written books about the Belicheats. That’s Michael Holley, who pinch-hit for Peter King’s “Football Morning in America” column this week.
I think it’s amazing that we’re still learning things about 43-year-old Tom Brady. Or maybe it’s more accurate to say that we knew he had football opinions much stronger than the ones he routinely shared with the public. His profane candor on LeBron James’s “The Shop” on HBO speaks to a number of things: People really are liable to say anything in a barber shop; even though Tampa was obviously a great fit, there was a team Brady wanted more—Niners?—and remains stung that the team didn’t agree with him; that Patriots fortress that suppresses personalities is real. Where was all this when Brady was in his twenties and thirties?
Reading so many articles about that Brady appearance and watching it online, Joe never got the gist that there was a team that wanted Brady more than the Bucs. And if there was, why did they decide to pull out of the running? That makes no sense.
Joe found Brady claiming 90 percent of what he says in press conferences is jibberish to be far more interesting than a team that decided to stick with its unwanted quarterback. Who knows if it was Chucky or the Bears or the Dolphins or the Chargers.
So Brady claims he cons reporters 90 percent of the time in press conferences. Perhaps Joe pegged press priorities correctly all along.
As for the mystery team? Hey, it all worked out for Brady and the Bucs, didn’t it? 🙂
July 7th, 2021 at 11:16 am
Pete has said from day 1….it was the 49ers or Bucs. I’m at the watercooler right now & everyone agrees w/ Pete that it’s back to back Stanley Cups just like the Tampa Bay Lightning BABY!!!
July 7th, 2021 at 11:55 am
Yeah Pete, maybe they can win an X Games gold medal too.
July 7th, 2021 at 12:07 pm
Does anyone know if Brady and Garoppolo are friends?
July 7th, 2021 at 12:37 pm
Best thing about it is, those bitter Bucs fans (you know, the ‘fan’ of that other guy, the Bucs qb BUST now over in Louisiana) constantly posting ‘Super Bowl or bust’ all season thinking they’ll never make the SB has little to no credibility to argue anything but foolishness…
The Bucs won the Super Bowl and still some can’t stop arguing for that guy who obviously was a mistake!
July 7th, 2021 at 2:27 pm
@Beeej
They’ve hung together off the field. They went to the Kentucky Derby a few years back, but that was when Garoppolo was the backup. I don’t know if they see each other that often, but they still text back and forth. That’s why Garoppolo wasn’t the MF, Brady won’t trash him.
July 7th, 2021 at 2:41 pm
The people in the Tampa Bay org who wanted to bring TB12 on board did their homework; already had inside tracks to what Tom is all about…more than just a QB who won more Super Bowls than any other. They knew the work ethic, leadership, being a great teammate…all of the intangibles. KUDOS! That is why Tampa Bay got their QB and the whole franchise is…vibrant! So, you can thank them. They get it. Most other orgs bought into the press reports and actually believed some/much of the bunk about TB2 not throwing the long ball, etc, etc… ANY/EVERY QB who played in Belichick’s system/team during TB12 last years would fail miserably. Yet, TB12 did not. Take a look at what Belichick had to spend/add, after TB12 left. He had no WR, TE, RB, OL, K, FB…what a mess. Yeah, just losing their kicker made the field that much longer with no running game and TE/WR that aren’t even there any more.
Regardless, Jason, Bruce, and the team did a brilliant job- just plain f’n brilliant! Good on them. Good on the Bucs. And good on Tampa Bay!
July 7th, 2021 at 3:50 pm
PassingThru Says:
July 7th, 2021 at 2:27 pm
@Beeej
They’ve hung together off the field. They went to the Kentucky Derby a few years back, but that was when Garoppolo was the backup. I don’t know if they see each other that often, but they still text back and forth. That’s why Garoppolo wasn’t the MF, Brady won’t trash him.
That’s what I was thinking, which leaves it at Fitz
July 7th, 2021 at 4:07 pm
Good call Tye.
They know who they are. Probably didn’t even buy a Super Bowl Champion shirt and still wear masks and gloves when they’re alone in their own car.
July 7th, 2021 at 4:57 pm
This again. Dang who cares until he says who it is?