“He Grew Increasingly Frustrated With The Culture”
January 30th, 2022
Is Tom Brady possibly quitting because he has run out of patience with the Bucco Bruce Arians regime?
This line of thinking is being peddled by two prominent sources.
Yesterday, Colin Cowherd was bloviating on The Volume network and talking about how Brady “grew increasingly frustrated with the culture” in Tampa.
“I think deep down at the end of this year, he missed the academic nature, the intensity, the predictability of [Bill] Belichick,” Cowherd continued.
Joe normally would have blown that take off as the FS1 star and long-time national radio personality running his mouth cluelessly. But earlier in the day Joe read noted author and longtime Patriots insider Seth Wickersham’s long Brady piece for ESPN+. He was chirping a similar theme.
But this season, something changed. Brady is a process guy, and as much as he liked his coaches personally, Tampa Bay wasn’t as buttoned-up as Belichick’s Patriots, and that was evident at the end of the Rams game. The Bucs are in transition, having gone all in to win with Brady and now brought back to earth with salary-cap and roster issues. And this year, more than any other, Brady stepped beyond the football field. He started a podcast with his friend, broadcaster Jim Gray, and Larry Fitzgerald. He starred in “Man in the Arena” on ESPN+. He continued pushing TB12 then launched the Brady Brand clothing line.
The Wickersham piece is long and behind a paywall, but his implication was along the lines of Cowherd’s — Brady turned cold on the coaching approach of the Arians regime.
Joe wouldn’t wager on any of this being accurate. Brady is a smart guy and the Bucs have won 22 of their last 27 games, including a Super Bowl. That’s not the result of questionable coaching. Plus, Brady already fixed the Bucs’ practice approaches that troubled him.
However, it’s at least possible that Brady saw how sloppy the Bucs were against the Rams, especially on that final drive, and got angry like a lot of Bucs fans did. If so, then there’s a great chance he cools down and grabs a football again this spring.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:54 am
See what Schefter started. This has turned into a circus
January 30th, 2022 at 10:58 am
I bet he takes a year off then returns for another Super Bowl run with another team. I think he’s doing the micheal Jordan thing
January 30th, 2022 at 10:59 am
Can’t be too frustrated winning
January 30th, 2022 at 11:00 am
I bet he returns after a year with another team and makes a run at another super bowl. Just like Michael Jordan
January 30th, 2022 at 11:02 am
I just hope Trask absorbed a lot this year.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:03 am
Trask is not going to be the Bucs franchise QB. If the Bucs still want to win the have to get a free agent QB like Russell Wilson or Arod.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:05 am
I think he is not happy with the way BA handling players like AB. BA should confirm that the 2 players with fake vaccine card would be safe to return the team. AB would not burst out if BA handled it better.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:06 am
Both Brady and Gronk wanted something different and to have fun. I just don’t see this being the reason.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:06 am
who really knows.. its only been a week since the loss. We all know how competitive Brady is and how he strives for perfection. Hes said many times on his podcasts how hard the losses are for him to take.
My take is that he is going to retire and someone in the organization leaked the info to the press. I think the bucs know it was leaked and are doing their best damage control. Tom is all about his brand and im guessing he wanted to retire a certain way through his marketing/online presence not through some hack insider trying to get a scoop first. Brady would not want to upstage the games today, he has always been a class act. I bet his is pissed off w organization for the leak.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:06 am
This was the first season I noticed Brady having a lot more off-the-field interests beyond TB12: the various shows, the crypto company, and a new clothing line. I think he’s starting to realize he can feel as competitive in business as he is in football. (Although he is the Warren Buffett of football and not the Tom Brady of business.)
January 30th, 2022 at 11:06 am
Arians is the best coach the Bucs have ever had in there franchise history
January 30th, 2022 at 11:09 am
Stuck in his CRAW.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:13 am
IF..Our Bucs want to be great again, then Licht is going to have to go full steam and be aggressive with getting us a QB. Ans as evident by our Rams lost, he must improve our Defense. Easy to say, and hard to do. Good luck. We..will be watching…….
January 30th, 2022 at 11:13 am
The game against the Jets was the writing on the wall for me. This team was not heading in the right direction as it was entering the playoffs…
Why does this time constantly have slow starts? It seems we were behind during the first half of nearly every game we played.
Poor coaching and poor game planning.
Perhaps TB12 got fed up with playing from behind every stinking game.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:14 am
Something was off this year. I have said before but it seemed like he was not having any fun. His facial expressions seemed like he was frustrated or not engaged.
Now it could have been giselle saying he was done. But who knows
But it could have been a culture shock for him. Hands on to completely hands off. A ton of walk thrus. I could see the trickle down effect of not taking serious enough. And that he had to score 30 to win may have gotten old too
If its real that he is retiring , i wish him nothing but the best. What a great run
40 stupid seconds kept us from stealing a win and playing today
January 30th, 2022 at 11:15 am
To blame anything about the AB situation on anyone but AB himself is myopic. We all know his history. Coach never even wanted him here. That said, he’ll be interesting to hear Tom’s take when he makes his decision known.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:16 am
Joe don’t you believe it’s more a combination of things rather than just one particular thing? I’m guessing it’s C all the above.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:19 am
How did the “buttoned up” culture approach whatever you wanna call it of Belicheat work out in the playoffs this year ???
Complete nonsense, no other organization would have given Brady the freedom he had with bucs the last 2 seasons
January 30th, 2022 at 11:21 am
I can see this as being somewhat true. I think the handling of AB began the rift and the way BL and Bowels were more tuned in on job interviews than the Rams game preparations. For whatever reason, the 2021 Bucs were just missing their edge and focus was lacking. Why would TB12 sacrafice more time from his family when the team is not giving their all?
January 30th, 2022 at 11:22 am
Colin has been saying this all week. He’s not just trashing the Bucs culture, he’s been trashing the whole city’s culture. Lot of early cocktails in that town, he says.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:23 am
Todd, Arians is the best coach because the best QB decided to play for him. BA was 7-9 in 2019, short memories. Anonymous, there is.winning and there is winning big. The NFC championship maybe an accomplishment for Bucs fans and the organization but divisional titles are a yawn for Brady. As many have posted in the past, including myself, the newness of the free wheeling, carefree, Uncle Buc coaching style wore off. Joe posted earlier, Brady wouldn’t ask anyone to do anything he wouldn’t do himself, he saw his coaching staff as just the opposite. Wow, to all you haters, Ben, Swamparse and I were right, it took one washed up 69yr old lazy arse coach and a job seeking ignorant Jets throw away DC to retire the best QB to play the game. If only BA and his cronies did what they were paid to do Bucs fans would of had him and Gronk one more season.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:25 am
“If so, then there’s a great chance he cools down and grabs a football again this spring.” I see what you did there….
January 30th, 2022 at 11:29 am
This coaching staff is average at best. Tom Brady is the player coach Arians is just along for the ride. With the salary cap and average coaching staff you might as well rebuild. In 2023 offer Sean Payton the moon. Arians will be done after next season if not sooner.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:30 am
I think it was a lot of things, but mostly our schedule next year, and our certain loss of players.
You can say what you want, but no way Bill Belichik will leave Cooper Cupp guarded by only a safety, with the game on the line.
Bowles let us down, no way to sugar coat it.
I would not be surprised to see Tom Brady back again in a year or two.
Just not here in Tampa.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:33 am
@ Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa
I 100% agree….spot on!!!!!
January 30th, 2022 at 11:36 am
Arians is just another garbage Bucs coach winning with talent and Brady. Bucs we’re not buttoned up at all on defense. It was a travesty, really. I bet Brady comes back for 3 in a row if they had won this one.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:40 am
Yes let’s start the blame game on why Brady retired. It’s ridiculous. Everyone knows why, but let’s start a new angle and see if it catches on. In addition, the Bucs terrible culture ruined Brady’s chances in Tampa. I mean they only had their best two back to back seasons ever and won a SB at home. What a pathetic job by the Bucs as an organization. Get real people.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:40 am
Who really knows…..”The handling of AB”?……….really…..has anyone ever handled him.
Culture?…..Tom changed the culture….
Last play pi$$ed him off?…..Join the very large club.
Let’s see what he has to say…and I would predict it will be nothing but positive for the players, coaches & organization.
Now is the time for the “whoever” haters to enjoy themselves…..we lost…oh the joy it must be for them.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:44 am
I have really enjoyed the last 2 seasons, but at my age Iv’e learned all good things come with a price tag. Out of the blue Brady comes to town with his entourage in tow and we go from a habitual loser to an SB winner. Logic tells me that at 44, marginal Cap Space, and a 68 year old HC this euphoria is destined to be short lived. Based on the general consensus from this mornings articles and comments others share my views. So, take a deep breath while the Licht House settles back to it’s original foundation, salvage as many players as possible, focus on the Draft and Free Agency, and finally be thankful Tampa had the opportunity to revel in the last two seasons.
(we get our thrills in chunks)
January 30th, 2022 at 11:48 am
If Wirfs didn’t get hurt none of this conversation would be happening now.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:53 am
‘If so, then there’s a great chance he cools down and grabs a football again this spring.’
Nice try Joe but we both know that’s not Tom Brady. ‘Cools down’ implies making emotional decisions, and THAT’S not TB12’s persona. Heck he’s 44-years-old & holds every QB record known to man. Bucs went all-in this year but came up short. It’s not like it’s the 1st time Brady has lost a playoff game. Life happens; deal with it.
I hope this isn’t going to be the daily menu of articles leading up to this year’s Super Bowl. We KNEW this day was coming when we signed TB12 back in 2020. We got TWO awesome years out of him; praise the Lord!!!
Time to move on & start writing the next chapter for our Bucs. It MIGHT end up being a woeful chapter OR we MIGHT find out that these last 2 years end up being the foundation of an awesome new chapter. Personally I’m hoping for the latter.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:55 am
Not buying any of this horse manure. Joe shouldn’t even waste his good name on circulating this conjecture trash. Of course he was pissed about the last play. Who wasn’t? Every other take is pure speculation unless I hear it come from Tom or Giselle’s mouth. The whole coaching take is a far reach without any substantiation. Sure, there could be truth to it but there is zero evidence to suggest it. BA, the staff and Brady are all professionals and conduct themselves accordingly.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:56 am
This is like watching paint dry. Or a clock move.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:56 am
Our O is built for a pocket passer, not a runaround and improvise QB. That would be Trask. Build a better D. BETTER ST’s. OFF A FEW MISTAKES, AKA PLAN 9 Darden, Howard. Get new coach staff. Might not be too bad. Get in playoffs would be the goal next year. Give Trask a chance and beef up the D.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:58 am
Steven… if anything percipitated the AB situation, it was twofold…. the fake vax card deception… and Godwin being hurt. The first was on AB, got him suspended, and put the team in a position to either let it slide or cut him. The second allowed AB to feel himself “empowered and indespensible” on this team. And when you give a guy with the mental makeup of AB the feeling of having the upper hand on anything, it always spells trouble.
January 30th, 2022 at 12:04 pm
Don’t believe for a minute that bloviating Coward or Wickersham’s theory that Brady somehow pines for more of Belichick’s autocratic style- the reason he’s leaving (if he is). Nor do I believe the bad coaching on the last couple of plays caused him to sour- nor do I believe the salary cap issues the bucs have in re-signing the “gang” has much either. The Bucs were plagued by a raft of untimely injuries like an untold # of other NFL teams over the years and could still put together a competitive team. What Brady has said himself is maybe its time for his wife and family now- going into one Buc at 4am for next year doesn’t seem to work for them– Mrs Brady and kids will determine whether he comes back here now — or elsewhere later
January 30th, 2022 at 12:10 pm
Oh, bullspit.
That same culture won him another SB.
January 30th, 2022 at 12:16 pm
@Cobra. Exactly. Where were the cries about how much Brady hated the regime then? Instead he was letting his hair down sipping avocado tequilas and tossing Lombardi trophies. Doesn’t exactly sound like a guy that hates his situation.
January 30th, 2022 at 12:19 pm
I agree with you DR.
January 30th, 2022 at 12:24 pm
Ummm, if Belichics outfit was more buttoned up, it wouldn’t have looked so mediocre these last few years. Especially thos past year. He you play Cam and Mac Jones. He looked more like Matt Rhule. Media heads grasping for starws.
January 30th, 2022 at 12:24 pm
I’m telling you Cleveland is going to need a QB after next year. It’s should have been an SB favorite if not for its QB. They will ditch Mayfield like Tampa ditched Winston because he’s a bad decision maker (but without the explosive arm talent of Winston)
January 30th, 2022 at 12:24 pm
All those wanting Wilson, Watson, Rodgers….
Do you plan paying them in concession stand vouchers and Gasparilla beads?
Personally, I wouldn’t take Rodgers for free.. Troublesome Diva who can’t win the big game.
About to find out what kind of GM Lichthouse is.. whether BA & Company bolt or not.
January 30th, 2022 at 12:26 pm
@cobraboy
That culture was all from Brady. A source said that Brady did not mind doing all that the first year. But he doesn’t want to play, coach, and be the culture police. This year schedule was as soft as tissue paper. And he did not see the coaching step up to his standards. Bruce arrogance road the coattails and will get exposed as the 7-9 coach that he was before Brady. And if bruce arrogant calls plays. The bucs ceiling will be 7 wins.
January 30th, 2022 at 12:26 pm
Cracks me up that BL is gonna be a head coach. But I don’t want to stop him from leaving.
Hope Licht is on the phone with Flores and Bisaccia, and not asleep at his desk.
January 30th, 2022 at 12:29 pm
And I was called crazy when I said Bruce was the reason, but bring in Peyton and Tom plays. If Bruce knew how to coach then he would have put his foot down and that last series and the second half would of been different and we would be playing today. Once he was gifted a SB it went to his head because everyone was calling him such a great coach, but in reality he had no control over this team. He and Jason need to GO, but hope Bruce retires just like Tommy Boy
January 30th, 2022 at 12:29 pm
Cobraboy, it was not the same culture, Brady changed that and his presence changed the culture from a losing one to a winning one. He convinced the players they could win and what they needed to do to achieve this goal. Everyone bought it and this season after winning the SB I’ll bet many felt they were entitled and follow through the same as 2020. Yes it’s just a theory but seeing how he isn’t adhering to his contract makes it a good one. He’s pretty well know for not breaking a commitment.
January 30th, 2022 at 12:31 pm
Eh- I think there is definitely some truth to this.
He was frustrated last year with preparation, lack of attention to details and situational football. This was known. And despite all that they were able to win the SB (with the help of some luck through the playoffs). But do you think any of that changed this year? I don’t. Do you think he didn’t wanna pull his fkn hair out watching Todd Bowles order up a blitz with half the defenders standing around out of position at that critical moment in a playoff game?
This year, with all the injuries, even the GoAT couldn’t overcome the shortcomings of the coaching staff.
January 30th, 2022 at 12:33 pm
Nonsense think Brady was worried about the salary cap issues with the weapons he has. If that’s the case was he apologizing for the AB situation? I love how media drums up the drama as if Brady retiring at the end of the season was not a possibility!!!
The culture is not the issue if he supposedly liked leftwich so much. I’d rather him retire and move than go through this the next two off-seasons. People you never hear from suddenly have a pipeline to the Bucs and Brady. Where were the Brady thoughts when Antonio brown was ripping him?
January 30th, 2022 at 12:34 pm
On top of that, we were the healthiest team in football last year compared to this year where were arguably one of the most beat up. So, if “culture” were the real issue here I highly doubt we end up in the Playoffs. It takes a monumental feat and a hell of a lot of culture just to accomplish what we did.
January 30th, 2022 at 12:35 pm
How buttoned up do you need to be with the record we had despite all the injuries. If it’s true Brady go ahead and retire let the franchise move on
January 30th, 2022 at 12:35 pm
What sucks is that it’s obvious Brady clearly has years left in the tank. He looked great this year. No major injuries. This wasn’t the ghosts of Payton Manning or Brett Farve limping around.
January 30th, 2022 at 12:40 pm
Every time these reporters bring up free agents and salary issues it just makes me shake my head. Brady knows as well as anyone that the team will wring every penny out of the roster. They’ll find money. The core of the o line will remain intact, Godwin will be back. This team needs some depth at Slot CB/WR and on the D line, and maybe a blocking TE. Other than D line these aren’t positions that are going to be cash intensive. If he leaves it’ll be because he’s sincerely finished.
January 30th, 2022 at 12:48 pm
I wouldn’t put this solely on the culture BA created but the culture America created and one the NFL dove head first into.
* Shift away from contact/masculinity for the Kids/Women fans (Nickelodeon has its own NFL shows) = More $$$ for the NFL
* Adjust the rules to be “QB Friendly” aka dumb down the position so the QB position can be more inclusive/diverse (Josh Allen/Mahomes/Jackson are out the league in 5 years with the 2000s contact rules both QB&Receiver rule changes)
* Remove ‘taunting/emotions’ because we dont want to intimidate people from playing football (LGBTQ+)
January 30th, 2022 at 12:48 pm
When has Cowbrain ever said anything that turned out true? If he has, he’s certainly batting less than 0.100
January 30th, 2022 at 12:58 pm
The lack of hustle to get set on the last play says it all. I don’t blame him. Why hang your are out at 45 with guys who aren’t professional and ready for the entirety of the game?
January 30th, 2022 at 1:07 pm
Of course it aggravated him it pissed me off everytime the bowles led defense came out clueless
January 30th, 2022 at 1:08 pm
Man oh man, this offseason is going to suck. Save us Jason.
January 30th, 2022 at 1:15 pm
I think these reporters are full of it. Brady had a lot of power. If he didn’t like the culture, he could’ve gone to BA and discussed changes. BA would listen and make the changes he felt were appropriate. It’s stupid to think he was homesick for the North Korean Patriots when he found (1950s) American Buccaneers.
January 30th, 2022 at 1:20 pm
I think the culture might have been more the arrogance of the coaching staff. They have operated like they have the perfect scheme, it’s one scheme for every team and it only seems to fail when execution is poor.
January 30th, 2022 at 1:30 pm
Will all the Pats fans now leave JBF?
I friggin hope so.
There has to be a silver lining.
January 30th, 2022 at 1:35 pm
I saw the demise of Johny U, Montana, Farve, Namath, quite a list of QB’s who stayed to long. Tom wants to leave with people knowing he could still be one of the best. He’s going out walking tall with his head held high. I don’t want to see him limp away, beat up like the rest of those greats. Thanks for the great two year ride Tom.
January 30th, 2022 at 1:40 pm
@Buc1987
Did you enjoy empty seats pre-Brady? Ask Mike Evans what he would prefer
January 30th, 2022 at 1:43 pm
I said it at the time, and I still think it, Arians blowing up at AB, which in turn caused AB to go nutso, I think that’s when Brady pretty much made the decision he’s done.
Arians acted like an vaxhole during the COVID stuff, saying ‘we’ll see’ about AB coming back, just unnecessarily causing tension. Then on the sideline in the Jets game, Brown DID tell Arians he was hurt, and I do not think Arians heard him. Arians told him to go in anyways, Brown says I can’t go, then Arians flies off the handle and tells him he’s off the team. That’s when Brown goes nuts.
AB was Brady’s favorite target, and you don’t have any depth at WR, and Arians literally fires AB on the sideline (Arians himself says told AB he was fired/cut before AB had his meltdown and ‘quit’ — not sure how your quit a job you were just fired from).
Also, to all the morons that AB wouldn’t be missed, that Grayson could just step right in and fill his shoes… uh, how did that work out, genius?
I think Brady knows that it only gets harder from here, in particular if Leftwich isn’t going to the Jags. I do not believe that Brady can stand Leftwich’s terrible play calling, and another year of Brady going to hurry up, moving the ball, only to have Leftwich signal a personnel change to slow down the game and not let Brady call it, I don’t think Brady wants to deal with that idiot anymore. Unfortunately I also don’t think Brady has a lot of confidence in Arians at this point either.
January 30th, 2022 at 1:47 pm
Brady IS/WAS the culture. He pretty much had free reign to do what he wanted.
I don’t buy this.
January 30th, 2022 at 1:52 pm
The injuries to key guys like JPP, Shaq,Godwin,Wirfs, the whole secondary. This year was the most injuries to key players I’ve ever seen for the Bucs.
January 30th, 2022 at 1:54 pm
Did no one listen to Brady toward the end of the season, saying things like we need to focus more, and rather than go to the movies we should be studying film or the playbook. Clearly he was sending out signals of what he thought was a lack of commitment from certain team members. After the last game even Lavonte David mentioned the turmoil during the season. He’s done and I think the lack of discipline was a big part of it.
January 30th, 2022 at 2:06 pm
BashingBucs2520 …I haven’t been to live game since 2015…I could care less.
I just want Pats fans off a site called JoeBUCSFAN.
Mass exodus!
January 30th, 2022 at 2:10 pm
Joe- Do you think it is more because of the little things? In game drive killing penalties, defensive players not knowing their assignment on the final play of the game? Brady has always been a stickler for details and getting even the smallest things absolutely perfect. I find it highly possible that after two years in Tampa and the team never really showing much improvement, for whatever the reason(s), in the fine details that it takes to be a champion, that Tom realized those little nuances were here before he came and they are not going to change with the current staff and roster. This team looked sloppy and out of sync all season, not once did they play a complete game on both sides of the ball, pure roster talent and TB12’s mastery still put the Bucs in the league’s upper echelon. It just wasn’t ever going to be good enough to repeat as champs with the continual small mistakes. My feeling is that Brady does not see this problem going away, so it is easier for him to call it a career than to go bust his ass again trying to win a super bowl for a team that won’t meet him halfway.
January 30th, 2022 at 2:13 pm
There was no discipline amongst the players. Penalties galore. Coaches were terrible. Last game proved it. No creativity in the O, no creativity in the D. Live by the blitz die by the blitz. I can’t possible imagine any coaches on the Bucs getting a head coaching job.
January 30th, 2022 at 2:21 pm
Brady has been the OC for the Bucs for most of this season..He worked “after hours” 1 on 1 with many players; Fournette , Johnson, Perriman, Miller, Vaughn,OJ, and others. He has talked about its ” time to focus” –yet that same wk BA was boasting about Leftwich and Bowles getting job interviews and he BA was more than fine with that ..the world knew that Stafford had better completion % against blitz than not–yet Bowles blitzed on the last 2 plays& BA blames the players??
If you listened to Brady’s press comments And watched his body language on the bench during the rams game–something was off. Since the WFT game -something has been off. ..For Brady’s sake; he should leave the Bucs. He had a Dam good yr -lead the league in QB stats & he’s free of any long term serious injuries like Alex Smith
January 30th, 2022 at 2:21 pm
This Sunday is just not the same w/o looking forward to the Brady and The Bucs game. My expectations are no longer great I have to adjust to hoping to win the division. It will not be a cakewalk against the NO Stanks and Atlanta Dirty Birds just because of the schedules. Atlanta will still have their veteran Ryan at the helm too. If NO gets a good coach look out. Hope we do not have Last Stand Ariens, his unwanted by anybody else staff back, Gabbert, and Bridgewater stinking it up.
January 30th, 2022 at 2:27 pm
@Rod Munch-
Well said sir
January 30th, 2022 at 3:01 pm
This is what I’ve said and observed all year. It took a Herculean effort by Brady to get the Bucs on track last year. They found that focus late in the season, stopped the dumb penalties, played with passion and intensity, bought in and did the work. This season nothing felt right from the start after bringing back all 22 starters; they should have been a well-oiled machine, but it took another incredible effort by Brady to beat the Cowboys in the opener after drops, penalties and missed assignments. You could tell in the Rams game Brady’s usual exhortations of his team when the chips were down wasn’t there, and when the defence finally blew the game in the most imbecilic of ways, he didn’t look a bit surprised. Make no mistake about how poorly this team underperformed; it should have been dominant in nearly every game. There were coaching issues, yes, and there were team culture issues.
January 30th, 2022 at 3:27 pm
Kyle Trask time to see what he has !! I see it as a win win suitaion by letting him start this coming up season!! If he plays good than we have our guy . If don’t than maybe we can tank and get Watson or draft another quarterback in the first round. I don’t want no more veterans and I don’t want Jamies regardless how yall think I feel about Jamies. It’s time to develop our own quarterback and I will stand by that all day long. No more trying to buy a superbowl less earn one with our own players at key positions!! Go bucs !!
January 30th, 2022 at 3:31 pm
I tried to warn the fans here that the coaching ego situation was an issue and the loss of Chris and then Antonio, would destroy the playoff run. Tom played in the top 3 for QBs in 2021, and stated numerous time he wanted to play until 45, minimum, and he reupped his cap hit and contract for a 2022 finish. The team went tied for best record in the NFL in the 2021, and flamed away in the playoffs after a heroic battle back by Tom. Tom is not leaving for family time, he’s leaving as the reason he left NE in 2019, and why Sean left NO, the team doesn’t look to be a contender next year based on the talent, coaching and schedule in 2022. He is looking to get out near the top and find a way to another peaking organization to ride another 1 season super bowl attempt.
January 30th, 2022 at 3:37 pm
@NE Patriots Fan
Seems plausible to me. Maybe the two pair up in 2023
January 30th, 2022 at 3:54 pm
I found the comment about focusing during the playoffs to be telling….that was when the coaches were interviewing when the focus was supposed to be on championship play. Leftwich is awful, his offense in the playoffs produced 10 pts on avg in the 1st half. Bowles entire scheme was built on JPP, his injury derailed everything we did in the 3-4. The defense looks built to dominate in a 4-3….3-4 did nothing but blitz and pray. We knew the window was small….time will tell.
January 30th, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Well let’s bring Jon Gruden back then…does anyone remember Brady came to play for only 2 yrs ?? Everyone was chomping at the bit yet gave no thought to what the Bucs would do after Brady did his 2 yrs. He did his 2 yrs and thanks and good bye…time to get a young up and coming QB of the future…no tired whiners like Russell Smith or Aaron The Liar Rodgers or Carson help me I’m hurt Wentz…hell you may as well bring back Winston
January 30th, 2022 at 4:03 pm
Bruce Arians is one of the main reason Tom Brady even considered coming to Tampa in the first place.
The only thing you idiots should be blaming Bruce for is delivering us a Championship.
January 30th, 2022 at 4:12 pm
I can’t say that I’ve been impressed with the Bucs coaching staff either. Sure AB is a bat-excrement crazy, but there were better ways of handling the situation that kicking off the field in the middle of a game. He was the best receiver on the team, and once Arians escalated the situation, the probability of the Bucs advancing dropped dramatically.
I was also miffed at how unprepared the Bucs were for several games this season (Washington as well as either Saints game) when they came out flat with no real game plan. To cap it off, Bowles showed complete inflexibility and ineptitude in preparing a game plan against the Rams, let alone that stupid play call that led to the Cooper Kupp dagger.
Good, even great teams will lose games during the season. Sometimes the ball bounces the wrong way, a player or two falls down, or even a team coming out flat against a weaker opponent. But those four games are way too many to look unprepared and flat. That falls on the coaching staff.
January 30th, 2022 at 4:13 pm
I’ve heard similar rumblings. I mean this wasn’t exactly a well coached team this year.
January 30th, 2022 at 4:21 pm
newsflash, our defense, was the only reason we were IN the game at the end. those were defensive TAKE AWAYS. strips, etc. we scored 2 TDs that were 30 yard drives. we ended two more drives at end of the game with no points in scoring position. If it wasn’t for the defense, there would BE no Kupp magic. the other team gets paid too.
January 30th, 2022 at 4:55 pm
All this whining and crying is just stupid. One can only assume anyone who thinks the culture in New England is so superior must be Patriots fans who followed their boy here and didn’t notice the Patriots didn’t look so hot the last two years, as for the AB thing no coach has “handled” him. He acted an ass in New England and they cut him too. That episode is much more about his character than Coach Arians. If anything Bruce was right in never wanting him and gave in to Brady’s deal with the devil. I expect whining and crying from that guy List, he can’t help it but the rest of us should thank Brady for helping win a Super Bowl and two great years. But anyone with sense knows a 44 year old who has achieved every goal and doesn’t need the money is not going to play forever.
January 30th, 2022 at 4:57 pm
wait a minute Tom pushed for AB. Now he is culture minded. BS.
January 30th, 2022 at 5:23 pm
@Joe,
This is what I was worried about, not exactly what is being said, but something changed for Brady.
But, if this is the reason. What F-ing BS, why would Brady be upset with the coaching if it’s been the same since last year and he himself is doing a lot of stuff outside of football? He left NE because he thought you could win in other ways.
Yea, the defense being undisciplined sucks, but that’s the same defense that held the Chiefs to 9 in the SB.
This story is total hog wash. If Brady changed his tune, it’s something else or his family.
January 30th, 2022 at 5:27 pm
The writer of this article and some blogging here must be talking about a different team. If the Bucs Mgmt, Coaching , defensive backs and penalty free linemen were so great prior Brady ,where are the RINGS.
I said a year ago, that the coaching and mgmt was awful and they were ok with sloppy play.
Brady coached the offense but could not coach the defense.
Anyone want to guess where the Bucs are going next year without Brady and Gronk ?
January 30th, 2022 at 5:28 pm
The only other thing that makes sense as to why Brady would hang it up is that he already achieved what he set out to do and that’s win a SB without Belichick. He did that in his first year and probably decided he’ll retire no matter what after year 2, unless something really compelling gets him back in the fold – like a retooled roster. But, coming that close in year 2 is the tough pill to swallow. We’re still a playoff team even with the roster moves that will take place this offseason, if Brady comes back.
The secondary needs some vets, Brady or no Brady. The young guys are inconsistent.
January 30th, 2022 at 5:28 pm
yes Brady pushed for AB–And although Bucco was never really ok with that ; it was with AB that we got into playoffs , won them & won the SB . all in large part because Brady was able to connect with AB..
When the fake Vax cards issue surfaced; Bucco was ready to cut AB then–BUT when it was known that Edwards was also in the issue;; Bucco had to let them both come back. But , Bucco started aggitating AB, riding him & escalated it to the point where AB flipped out..
During Brady’s press conf after that Jets game; he said” he still considered AB a friend”..Bucco deliberately aggitated & cut AB to satisfy his own ego & vendatta–it was NOT for the good of the TEAM..Thats when Brady lost respect for Bucco..
Similar to when Bellicheat benched Malcolm Butler for his own ego&vendatte in the SB which many think cost Pats the game.. Again in his press conf ,Brady said” I still consider Malcolm a Friend “.. thats when Brady lost respect for Bellicheat..
January 30th, 2022 at 5:36 pm
@New England Patriots Fan,
It’s not that easy to win with a new team, new coaching staff, etc. Our SB had parts of luck involved also – the Packers not going for it on 4th down and LaFleur giving the ball back to Brady.
I really doubt Brady will want to start over with a new team trying to get on the same page with new teammates. The Bucs winning with Brady was a Cinderella story. It’s not something that Brady can just hop around and make happen wherever he goes.
If he’s dragging his feet now, it’s to consider honoring his contract or retire (duh). He already achieved what he set out to do – win a SB without Belichick and do it before Belichick had a chance to win one first. So, I think the decision is a lot harder now as his wife is probably telling him that winning one more Super Bowl won’t affect his legacy. And Tom’s already broke all the passing records. There’s nothing left to do unless Jason Licht can plug some major holes and put a team on the table that can go deep.
January 30th, 2022 at 5:41 pm
@captivajim,
AB was having more impact on game days this season. The 2020 season was him coming in and contributing in spots. I didn’t see him have a monster 2020. Mike still had a 1,000 yards, Chris was ballin for 90% of the season until injuries, and Scotty was dangerous.
AB gets way too much credit as a Buc. Yea, he was good in spot duty, but we didn’t win because of AB, we won because of Tom Brady and the team elevating their play as a whole.
January 30th, 2022 at 5:49 pm
When it mattered most the coaching was horrible. The defense was out of shape and the subs were sub par. And the special teams were anything but special. And then you have the moron Brown. Such a shame to see a fun team puke on themselves.
January 30th, 2022 at 6:15 pm
I don’t know who the one guy is and I have never heard of Colin cowherd having any kind of credible sources. I don’t buy it for a second
January 30th, 2022 at 6:31 pm
Omg making up all kinds of stuff
He is done simple as that
His wife got her way
January 30th, 2022 at 6:44 pm
For medicated Pete’s sake, Ben has been telling y’all for weeks now. Brady is accustom to his coaches making his job easier, not harder.
January 30th, 2022 at 7:20 pm
We were the most injured team in the league except the ravens? Had we kept Godwin and Wirfs we win that game and beat the niners tonight
January 30th, 2022 at 7:56 pm
Austin, you maybe right, but If the chiefs had an offensive line, and if cooks doesn’t drop that football, and if the bucs had to deal with a crowd for road playoff games, and if my grandmother had wheels, she’d be a wagon
January 30th, 2022 at 8:20 pm
chiefs were overconfident at halftime. they were the most healthy playoff team yet they lost.
I want 49ers vs Bengals in SB
January 30th, 2022 at 8:34 pm
So much speculation…
It shocking how “shocked” everyone is when faced with the eventuality of this team’s potential without Brady.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:38 pm
As I said once before, I don’t think having your OC and DC having interviews to potentially leave the team after the season while supposedly preparing for a playoff game just doesn’t seem right especially for someone who’s always into preparing for the one game ahead. It may have took only 15mins, 30mins, an hour or a min to be on one interview, but it surely takes out something from one’s focus on the immediate task at hand – the preparation for one playoff game that week. Where’s the loyalty in that? Brady’s family even have to leave him alone as not to be a distraction. Everything about the contrast just didn’t seem right at all. (Yeah, Brady launched his brand earlier but that was certainly planned months ahead.) Maybe, just maybe, he could stay if everyone in the next season’s team can make a commitment to the TEAM till the end of the season – One FULL Season.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:44 pm
Horsesh%t. Good coaches (Bowles) make bad calls sometimes and there is nothing wrong with the coaching/culture. LOL, I’ve seen plenty of bad coaching as a Bucs fan and your either a troll or ignorant AAF if you think that we would have won 22 of 27 with bad coaching. Silliness!
January 30th, 2022 at 8:45 pm
Brady has always wanted what any disciplined winner wants: discipline and winning. He left NE because, among many things, Belichick and Co. refused to or couldn’t keep the roster stocked with quality, and quality slipped. He was also getting bored.
Coming to TB refreshed him. The “looser” atmosphere, more weapons, more fun, and a fully stocked, talented roster on the upswing, hungry for a SB, were exactly what he needed, and it paid off.
But all teams are notoriously challenged after winning SBs, mentally and physically. It’s at that moment that coaches are tested with maintaining discipline and finding new motivation and staying healthy. Suddenly, the loosy-goosey and more lax discipline becomes a problem. Throw a wrench like AB into the middle of it.
You could see Brady getting frustrated with it all. BA certainly didn’t grab the reins and fix anything.
So now it’s year three. Pressure is off, but it’s also a more complicated mess.
If you’re Brady, what do you do?
January 30th, 2022 at 8:54 pm
Well,
As I expected, Benedict Arnold Brady overestimated his ability to put together the balanced and disciplined roster he was gifted with in New England. In addition he discovered he could not out coach or organize a Belachick assembled team oriented team with all “Doing their job”…as he was blessed to have enjoyed. Oh, and he could not carry Josh Daniel’s jock in offensive play calling, as he discovered.
Wants to come back for 1 game as a Patriot. I wouldn’t even look his way if I were Kraft.
P.S. His “Covid related Super Bowl was a tainted farce!
Go dry up somewhere else Traitor!!! A former Huge Brady Fan.
Not ever again. But still a Patriot/Belechick huge respectful admirer!!!!
January 30th, 2022 at 10:03 pm
Thank you TB an the TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS we have SUPER BOWL RING number TWO. And luck counts too.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:14 pm
@Steve B // IndianaPatMan
I can sympathize with the fact that you were scorned by Brady and I truly feel sorry for you. The best football player ever leaving your team and winning a super bowl with another has got to hurt deep down. But, the simple fact that you are even capable of typing such drivel makes your very existence a tainted farce. You should be grateful for what the man gave you and your pathetic city. 😜
January 30th, 2022 at 10:15 pm
Uhhh, he ain’t the only one. Lackluster game plans, slow starts, slower adjustments, little attention to detail and predictability. We saw it all from this staff last week and all year long. The GOATs GOATness masked a ton of it.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:07 pm
“the Bucs have won 22 of their last 27 games, including a Super Bowl. That’s not the result of questionable coaching.”
No, it happened in spite of the questionable coaching.
January 31st, 2022 at 12:11 am
Sooo does Tom Brady get any blame in this season with some of his miscues. It’s a team effort and he has had some bad games and bad starts . Just sit back and see what happens. Either way the bucs will compete
January 31st, 2022 at 12:42 am
Wirfs going down and their center plating at probably 75% really killed them. I don’t think Brady loves BA, but the potential loss of all the star power, salary cap issues etc has to have made him think twice. He’s only playing another year if there is legit chance of SB win, he isn’t there to make the playoff cut.
January 31st, 2022 at 5:22 am
Management and ownership were against AB from the get go, and rightly so. AB came in only because Brady wanted him. Then, the tension between tbe organization and Brady about the whole AB dynamic blew up in Brady’s face. Ugly! It made Brady look really bad. He was AB’s defender. Brady saw a different side of Arians and managenent, and even AB, during that disrobing game. Brady’s Super Bowl chances took a hit, his reputation took a hit, and his faith in the Bucs took a hit.. I can see why he wants out of Tampa Bay. It’s a toxic Bruce Arians culture. Kind of like working for an asshole coach. I hope Brady finds a new home for one more season.
January 31st, 2022 at 6:33 am
GOATS don’t retire; they go elsewhere.
January 31st, 2022 at 7:04 am
Joe,
You could be very right about your last sentence, that he so angry about the Rams loss, he may comeback.
The defense lost the Rams game. They gave up 30 points.
January 31st, 2022 at 7:20 am
Man, someone just said they wouldn’t take Rodgers for free. I always forget what kinda of special people comment on these articles.
January 31st, 2022 at 7:52 am
Tom Brady will return to New England and Retire
January 31st, 2022 at 8:32 am
I agree completely…..finally the truth is coming out. Brady has never been about individual recognition or accolades…..but the culture under this coach and management deeply evolves around personal achievement.
January 31st, 2022 at 8:57 am
Brady is contractually obligated to play with Bucs, but I’m sure what he sees on defensive side bugs him about the team’s chances to go to the promised land. There are some key NFC teams like Saints and Rams that seem to have a great read on Bucs game plan. On top of that, they seem to have an advantage at every possible position on OL and DL. Combine that with overly aggressive scheme of Bowles with poor execution from secondary and Devin White, it simply doesn’t inspire confidence. Bucs will play the brutal NFC West next year as well as AFC North. If Brady was leading the 49ers, there would not be any chatter around retirement yet. Bringing back all 22 starters was a mistake. I hope Licht impresses Brady by showing a roster that looks like an upgrade in terms of defensive production.
January 31st, 2022 at 10:30 am
Brady made the Bucs winners; tweaked the loosey goosey BA culture and applied his “force of nature” talent and brain to make them so. With the dearth of leadership in this country, TB shines pretty bright and I , for one, will miss seeing being inspired a few weekends a year. I hope he stays one more year; THIS crucial year! But I get it if he’s done. So, thanks, either way you decide Tommy; it’s been a pleasure.
January 31st, 2022 at 1:00 pm
Thanks Todd for that stupid play call!
January 31st, 2022 at 2:57 pm
COACHES WERE WEAKEST PART OF THE TEAM!!! HORRIBLE PLAY CALLING AT THE RAMS GAME WE HAD THEM BEAT!! TB12 AND CO DIS ALL THAT TO WIN THE GAME JUST FOR STUPID COACHING TO BLOW IT!!!! AND STAFFORDS SMIRK IS KILLING ME HE HAS HALF THE TALENT OF BRADY AND SHOULD OF LOST LAST NIGHT ALSO
January 31st, 2022 at 3:37 pm
Bring back Tony Dungee. Then we will have a focused team ready for any challenge.
January 31st, 2022 at 6:01 pm
Unbelievable! Last year BA and the other coaches were geniuses. No they come within a whisker of making another SB with an incredible amount of injuries to overcome and a receiver who walks off the field in the middle of a game and they are trash!
Give me a freeking break. Talk about fair weather fans!
January 31st, 2022 at 6:59 pm
A 13-4 regular season is not any type of unbuttoning. If there is one game, it’s the WFT game. This last week of national media overhype and chaos is simply insight on how these guys sensationalize garbage talk. They don’t have a clue what goes on. JBF and other local guys know. I’m more focused on the heavy coach turnover this year. Not this garbage talk.
January 31st, 2022 at 7:58 pm
Brady dedicates every waking hour to his craft:. mind, body, soul. If Brandy invests in ‘you’, at the least he would hope it was mutual. Mutual respect, investment and hard work makes for a good team. Brady looks for like-minded folks, a brotherhood on and off the field. He invested.
January 31st, 2022 at 8:38 pm
I would not be surprised if there was tiny pieces of truth but not the entire narrative in the article being accurate. Of course I’m sure Tom is frustrated with the undisciplined bone head mistakes that our Defense has made through the 2 years he has been there. Brady is a detailed oriented perfectionist. The D cannot even work on the minute details that our offense works on because they are still obsessed with timing snap cadence short cuts instead of trying to better technique and become better. The D pulled their heads out their butts for 6 weeks last year and look what happened. A SB victory and performance for the ages. They should of had that every week. Who knew they would regress back to that high school level of play from the beginning of last year. A shame. Another thing for sure, Brady will NOT pull a MJ and come back in a year. NO way, no how Giselle let’s that happen.
January 31st, 2022 at 8:50 pm
Brady was waiting to see what would happen in NFC Championship. Jimmy messed up he’s done Brady always wanted to be a 49ers but they decided to keep Jimmy. You want future what best way but to have Lance be behind Brady learning.
January 31st, 2022 at 10:53 pm
This shows how trashy the bucs truely are if they had someone leek this out and Rob the guy of retiring the way he wanted shows the difference in organisations like example the saints didn’t do brees this way when he retired or Sean Peyton they let them retire on thier terms but like I said earlier if the bucs leaked it out behind his back how trashy but again I always thought the bucs were a trashy team
February 1st, 2022 at 11:57 am
Tom Brady is a smart guy,the goat and a NFL man to the end,to just hang it up and quit is not him. He has a contract for one more year, he is quoted as saying he would retire until he sucks, he sure didn’t sick this year.He also is quoted as saying he wants to play until he is 45. Also I can foresee a major NFL production telecasting a GOAT 17 game farewell tour,generating millions in dollars plus love and respect for the greatest football player of all times
February 1st, 2022 at 2:41 pm
Looking at this from different angle. Nfl fan that couldn’t afford Kraft prices in Foxboro and embraced the Tampa experience. Now if TB12 retires, you would expect us Northern carpetbaggers to abandon the Bucs now and you would be wrong. James stadium is awesome and day and night from the hassle of going to Gillette. Wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. The whole experience was great and I’ll be back whether Brady or Pee Wee Herrmann is quarterbacking. Embrace being an NFL franchise. St.Louis is an example of what happens when owners abandon their fans for greener $$$$ pastures.