Friction Between Bruce Arians And Tom Brady? Steve McLendon Never Saw It
April 13th, 2022
Bucs defender unaware of friction.
This will likely last until the football season begins in September. The national sports TV hollering shows are still beating the drum that former Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians had Tom Brady so triggered that Brady nearly threw in the towel of his storied career.
Joe has to admit no matter what people say, the timeline of events this spring invites speculation because it just makes no sense to rational, thinking people.
Even the man who benefitted the most from the turn of events, new Bucs coach Todd Bowles, couldn’t believe Bruce Arians stepped down when he did as Bowles has mentioned several times in various interviews since he was name head coach of the Bucs.
So did Arians and Brady really not get along? A guy on the practice fields at One Buc Palace each day most of the past two seasons, and in the Bucs locker room, claimed he never saw a hint of evidence the two butted heads.
Defensive tackle Steve McLendon, who is currently unsigned, appeared on the “Matt Lombardo Podcast” hosted by FanSided. McClendon told Lombardo everything he witnessed between Arians and Brady suggested the two had a solid relationship.
“I’ve never seen anything like that,” McClendon told me, during a recent appearance on FanSided’s The Matt Lombardo Show podcast. “From what I know and what I’ve seen, they have a great relationship. They’re always laughing. Tom was always the first person in Bruce’s meetings. When they were going over quarterback stuff, Bruce would always be joking around with Tom.
“BA has always treated everyone exactly the same. He’s a lovable man. He believes family-first, and football second. Tom is the same way. He understands the sacrifices you have to make to succeed every single day. I’ve never seen any animosity or hard feelings between those two. It was just a blessing to have those two guys working together, and it was incredible to see what they accomplished in their first year working together.”
Of course, McLendon was never in the quarterbacks’ room so the only folks who may have witnessed any negative interactions between Arians and Brady could be the quarterbacks, Bucs offensive assistants as well as offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich.
McLendon is a good dude so Joe doesn’t believe he would outright lie to cover up something like this.
At training camp practices (Joe thinks he missed one practice the past two summers) Joe can’t recall Arians ever yelling at Brady or raising his voice. Rob Gronkowski and Alex Cappa and Jaelon Darden and Scotty Miller, yeah. Not Brady.
April 13th, 2022 at 11:19 am
Brady & Arians look like Barf & Lone Star in this photo.
April 13th, 2022 at 11:20 am
But besides here on the Joe’s site and that podcast, you won’t hear another word about this side of the story. I need football to start.
April 13th, 2022 at 11:37 am
Joe, do you think there is any truth to the Brady/Payton stuff to Miami that fell apart because of the Flores lawsuit? Will he keep the door open for both of them to land in Miami next year? As you have said before…a little too much smoke to be no fire. Just wondering what you think since I haven’t seen much posted on JBF about it. You did have video on Morning Cup of Joe today that seemed to support this.
April 13th, 2022 at 11:39 am
That horse has been beat to oblivion can’t wait for the draft to have new things to discuss.
April 13th, 2022 at 11:46 am
Are we still talking about this? SMH!
April 13th, 2022 at 11:47 am
Boring. Who cares? Are we going to talk about feelings or football?
April 13th, 2022 at 11:56 am
He never would , neither BA or TB would be so indiscreet to let ANYONE hear those conversations
April 13th, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Dooley. ROTFL
April 13th, 2022 at 12:01 pm
How could we possibly believe someone who was there every day, along with many others? It doesn’t fit the narrative. By gosh, BA and TB hate each other and there’s no way you can change the minds of the people that weren’t there. And SB~LV, stop the nonsense. You don’t know anything about them.
April 13th, 2022 at 12:25 pm
WHO GIVES A FLYING RAT TURD?
April 13th, 2022 at 12:28 pm
I mean what was he going to say publicly?? ” Yea man, those 2 guys fight every day”
April 13th, 2022 at 12:32 pm
Dooley Says:
Brady & Arians look like Barf & Lone Star in this photo.
HA! Too accurate!
April 13th, 2022 at 12:49 pm
Suffering since… I was right about TB going to Miami with a piece of the franchise, I just didn’t realize it would include him playing for them in 2022.
My source was correct on the partial ownership and I was posting that over a year ago
April 13th, 2022 at 1:11 pm
For someone who doesn’t believe there was a rift you sure talk about it a lot Joe. It’s like you’re trying to convince yourself because deep down you know it was true.
April 13th, 2022 at 1:16 pm
@SBLV
You know he plays for TB in 2022 really? Your source? LMAO
April 13th, 2022 at 1:26 pm
Fern… he will play for the Bucs in 2022 ( after he unretired )
Of course you won’t and I understand not going though the archives, but I posted multiple times in 2020 and 2021 that Brady was headed to Miami and the Dolphins after his playing days for a spot in the front office including a piece of the franchise.
Lol
April 13th, 2022 at 2:17 pm
If Brady didn’t give Wirf his number he.has no idea who McGlenden is.
April 13th, 2022 at 2:20 pm
How many years could Brady possibly have left?
What position in the office could they give him that could be worth that much?
Sure he’s a great player, but is he a great executive?
Where do these guys buy their drugs?
April 13th, 2022 at 2:34 pm
Yawn
Btw you don’t know for a fact he has never been in the QB room. Smh
April 13th, 2022 at 2:42 pm
Dooley–effing classic.
April 13th, 2022 at 3:51 pm
Ahhhh!!!! No more friction stories!!! 😉
April 13th, 2022 at 5:08 pm
Sooooooooooooooooooo Tired of this story line and about Brady to Miami. Ready for the NFL Draft so we can read about other news.
April 13th, 2022 at 5:29 pm
It only doesn’t make sense if BA hadn’t retired already and came to Tampa under the assumption that it was a short-term gig
April 13th, 2022 at 5:45 pm
Again Brady could put all of this to rest with one tweet.
April 13th, 2022 at 6:00 pm
Joe I always thought there was some friction, as there would be between any HC and players, but that it was mostly overblown. I def think Brady was frustrated with lack of attention to details though (as has been reported by many).
HOWEVER- what about all the stories now out about Brady’s plan to work for / partially own the Dolphins, bringing in Sean Peyton, etc.? There are very detailed stories about it on Boston Globe and SB Nation. Seems it’s no longer just smoke…
Thoughts? Will we be getting a JBF article about this?
April 13th, 2022 at 8:56 pm
Like every other conspiracy based on dramatic conjecture and fantasy, there is no evidence of this at all. But the “special enlightened ones” have their “special elite inside track” and say things like “BA and TB are too discrete to let their feud be public.” The circomstances and their connection of conjecture as face make it all right. LOL!
Therefore only geniuses with secret sources can know about things that not even players, coaches, and team personnel know about! Priceless. Man the piles of dung keep getting thicker.
April 13th, 2022 at 8:57 pm
It’s what Shady brady wanted for next year lol when he leaves for Miami lol
April 14th, 2022 at 1:21 am
Like a spurned lover the boston globe is dogging everybody Fs. Hey Tom like Jason Bourne – burner phone
April 14th, 2022 at 1:40 am
Aaron – maybe plug your brain in to a charger before posting.
April 14th, 2022 at 4:16 pm
Knowing the whole friction thing was a made-up story is going to leave a lot of fans butt hurt.
April 14th, 2022 at 7:31 pm
The only friction is tween the media and Bucs fans. Freaking cut it out We love our team