“That Is Completely Ridiculous”
April 18th, 2022
“Tommy, your boy Don Yee really pulled one over on these guys. This is great!”
It’s a story that will linger in Bucs lore and we only have circumstantial evidence of its veracity: Tom Brady forced Bruce Arians to resign. Or so the story goes.
Rumors flew after the season that the future Hall of Fame Bucs quarterback and his soon-to-be Buccaneers Ring of Honor coach clashed to some degree and that Brady retired, in part, because he grew tired of Arians and the way he had a loose ship around One Buc Palace.
Peter King of NBC Sports even said he had two people from Brady’s inner circle tell him Brady and Arians butted heads.
If that was the case, then Joe believes the problem was Brady and not Arians. So Brady bristled under the heavy-handed ways of Bill Belicheat and then after winning a Super Bowl he grew tired of Arians? What do you want, man?
And then there is the story that Brady and former slimy Saints coach Sean Payton hatched a plan (they share an agent) to join together in Miami so Brady could own a piece of the Dolphins and help run the team while Payton coached, and only because that blew up did Arians agreed to step aside so Brady could return to the Bucs.
That’s so much to unpack, and the timing of Arians retiring sure did throw gas on the fires.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport believes this is all nonsense. Rapoport checked with his many sources, several with the Bucs, and he cannot find anyone to verify that Brady and Arians did not get along.
“I don’t think that’s true,” Rapoport said late last week on “The Rich Eisen Show” on Peacock. “I really don’t. I’ve spoken to six or seven Bucs sources, and people close to Brady, who say that is completely ridiculous.
“Could everyone be lying to me? Sure, theoretically.”
Arians was truly sincere in wanting to set up Bowles to take over, Rapoport believes.
Rapoport noted that Arians was barely involved in the offense as it was last year. Virtually the entire gameplan each week was crafted by offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and Brady. So Rapoport believes Arians’ didn’t do enough with the gameplans for Brady to want to throw a tantrum, take his ball and go home for good unless Arians decided to go on a long golf trip for the rest of his life.
As for chatter that Brady and Payton were both going to get traded to Miami, Eisen made a helluva point. The Bucs still held the rights to Brady and the slimy Saints currently hold Payton’s rights. Neither could just pack up and get a new job.
Eisen said the cost for the Dolphins to acquire both Brady and Payton in the same offseason would have been so insanely prohibitive that no team would have done that for a 44-year-old quarterback and a coach pushing 60.
Eisen has a point. Remember how much it cost the Bucs to trade for Chucky? So what would it have cost the Dolphins to acquire both Brady and Payton? Ten premium draft picks?
April 18th, 2022 at 3:39 am
I think that a lot of folks in the national media whether it be sports, or anything else, just pull things out of their butts and run with it.
April 18th, 2022 at 3:44 am
It must be a slow news day, if you have to spread your theories and assess blame! How bout we wait to find out if this is true before blaming the greatest QB of all time? Maybe because you get more responses when you piss people off? Let’s try to focus on news, and not so much inuendo!
April 18th, 2022 at 5:20 am
‘That is Completely Ridiculous’? Nah, what’s completely ridiculous is stories like this. No concrete sources; pure speculation. Folks trying to create news where there is none. Peter King never had much credibility IMO; now he has even less.
April 18th, 2022 at 6:14 am
Yawn with no golf clap and a soft fart
April 18th, 2022 at 6:33 am
Peter King. LOL.
April 18th, 2022 at 6:43 am
fake news…. just like msnbc and cnn
April 18th, 2022 at 6:59 am
I believe upper management asked Arians to step down and it wasn’t because of Brady. When he slapped Andrew Adams in the back of the head started the process. I believe there was more issues with Arians than we will ever know.
April 18th, 2022 at 7:02 am
I believe Brady is just screwing with the media, possibly pay back for his retirement report. The reality is he’s under contract as is Payton and it would take a significant haul to get those guys. Brady is 100% about competing for championships and the Dolphins aren’t remotely close even with the addition of Hill.
April 18th, 2022 at 7:02 am
24 hours……
That’s the answer……on air media have 24 hours to fill and the printed & internet media have unlimited space…..
They’ve got to have something to talk about even if it’s complete bull$hit.
April 18th, 2022 at 7:10 am
I think Arians was sincere about succession and his guy for 40 plus years Todd Bowles getting the HC job w/ the Bucs. You could tell in the emotion in his voice at Todd “Major Payne” Bowles’ Introductory PC…there’s not much to that oart to speculate on, imo.
Remember, Arians didn’t just preach what he was talking about w/ succession and giving more minority and female Coaches more opportunities, etc. He acted on it and lived by it his entire Coaching life. Of ALL the Coaches in the NFL, he’s one of the few I actually/and do believe.
April 18th, 2022 at 7:26 am
Brady hasn’t spoke about the situation or denied the reports publicly….and that speak louder than some Peter King guy or Rappaport throwing darts when they don’t even know if it’s true. What we do know… as fans… is that Brady didn’t want to work with BA no more, Brady retires, Brady comes back, BA retires.
April 18th, 2022 at 7:35 am
I wish the media (sports & “real” news) would just go back to reporting the FACTS and not their corporate agenda’s. its why this would is in the swirling toilet bowl it in!
April 18th, 2022 at 7:36 am
Perhaps someone was try to drive a wedge between Brady and the Bucs. It’s clear that the gullible gossipers, including posters here who so want the story to be true, took the story and ran with it. They aren’t happy unless they are causing dissension wherever they go.
April 18th, 2022 at 7:53 am
I honestly never thought it was a real riff between BA and Brady. BA left his hands off the offense last season to try to give Lefty a chance to show what he had in an attempt to set him up for a HC gig. That coupled with the succession plan in place for Bowles, I just think BA thought it was time..
April 18th, 2022 at 7:57 am
Pretty damn tired of this story line…over and over and over….move on already!
April 18th, 2022 at 8:19 am
to the people saying brady hasn’t spoken so that means he is guilty. He never acknowledges rumors. Arians is retired and can do whatever he wants. He said in his retirement speech “Mike Florio you can write whatever you want.”
I think that says enough.
Also thank you Joes this is probably the more reasonable article I’ve read on this whole crap shoot of a situation that outright hack Florio likes to peddle to sell more books.
April 18th, 2022 at 8:28 am
The one guy who clear all this up is staying completely silent. He uses social media about like a 16yo girl does and yet won’t squash these rumors. I love Brady as a QB but his antics are getting old. I think he enjoys all the rumors and stories keeping his name in the news.
April 18th, 2022 at 8:53 am
To clear what up exactly? endless speculation? Some people are ridiculous even if he did say something people have already made their minds up facts are not important in these kinda things. Come on draft need some new content in a hurry.
April 18th, 2022 at 8:58 am
Fake news like fox, bribart, qanon and anything coming from the alt right clowns
April 18th, 2022 at 9:06 am
It’s weird Brady hasn’t reneged his contract in my opinion. But who knows what’s up behind the scenes? Gonna have to enjoy every game he plays for us this yr.
April 18th, 2022 at 9:14 am
“As the Pirate Ship Turns”
“Keeping Up with the Krewe”
“All My Buccos”
“General Front Office”
“Ugly Brady”
“Retirement He Wrote”
“Real World – RayJay Stadium:”
BA & Brady should try to monetize this imaginary “beef”
April 18th, 2022 at 9:19 am
I thought the NFL banned coach trades after the Gruden trade.
April 18th, 2022 at 9:35 am
“If that was the case, then Joe believes the problem was Brady and not Arians.”
Yes! The problem is that stupid GOAT Brady ! This team would be so much better if Brady bounced and BA stayed!! LOL!!
Such a dumb statement. Brady played with Billy B for decades and BA blew it in 2 years LOL. I mean , he is the laziest coach in Bucs history so….
Blame Brady !
Joe reposts this story every other day and never attaches a new angle / opinion to the story. Sometimes I feel like I’m going crazy. Am I reading the same story with the same opinion every day? Should I stop clicking?
Joe should have his own sources. Kind of embarrassing to rely on MSM “sources”
What does Joe’s sources say about BA / Tom ?
Sure would be nice if Bucs media had some sources for a story they repost every other day.
April 18th, 2022 at 9:36 am
Amen Deemo.
It’s getting tiring reading this over and over
and over
April 18th, 2022 at 10:19 am
Pretty much RPK. we all know Joe has sources because he got things right before anyone else did.
It would be nice to hear more about the sources then reposting what was originally Mike Florios refuse.
April 18th, 2022 at 10:40 am
One has to wonder WHY Brady has not put all of this to Bed ?
All he would have to do is simply get on Social Media, and make a post refuting all this, yet he has not.
April 18th, 2022 at 10:41 am
Thank you Joe. Finally something rational. Of course the maroons will be out in full throat knowing that their secret sources are tighter than the professional Rappaport’s.
April 18th, 2022 at 11:04 am
So you have 2 headlines on YouTube. One reads, Gio Bernard is working hard to get in shape. The other one reads Aaron Rodgers is screwing monkeys in Mongolia!! Which are you going to click on? That’s how they make money. Click bait. Peter Kong’s source is Mike Florio.
April 18th, 2022 at 11:09 am
Offseason fake news. That’s all, NFL reporters have to have something to talk about while there’s nothing going on so their imagination becomes their source.
April 18th, 2022 at 11:12 am
As Joe has pointed out numerous times, I wish Brady would just come out publicly and throw cold water on this mess. But he won’t. It keeps his name front and center. I’ve grown tired of it now. Let’s just move on and focus on the draft and upcoming season
April 18th, 2022 at 11:18 am
Saints are the dirtiest team in the league.
April 18th, 2022 at 11:43 am
Webster, do ever stop being a political shill for all things left?
April 18th, 2022 at 11:44 am
^^^ do you ^^^
April 18th, 2022 at 12:01 pm
Joe, Best article about this situation I’ve seen!!! Thank you!! I hope the national media focus on something REAL for a change!!
April 18th, 2022 at 12:06 pm
Most, not all, national sports people didn’t give a care in the world about the Bucs until Brady came here. In fact, they would laugh at the Bucs and paid little to no attention. Once Brady came here that changed. Most national guys still can’t remember our GMs name. Now these national sports reporters want us to believe they know everything about the Bucs and have the inside to valuable information. Bucs fans are not buying it.
April 18th, 2022 at 12:19 pm
The other completely insane thing that makes this all nonsense, is that Miami has the worst OL in the NFL. Why would 45 year old Brady go there?
April 18th, 2022 at 1:03 pm
all i noticed is BA got a chill new set of glasses and was looking good, and healthier too…
he dropped weight and looked much less flushed in the face all the time…
then poof…he stepped down
April 18th, 2022 at 1:09 pm
These stories defy all logic. Think about it.
1 Brady runs off Arians and has to still see him daily? Not likely.
2 The Glazers can a coach who won a Super Bowl for them? Not likely.
3 Arians leaves because of a player? Not likely.
4 Brady didn’t like the loose atmosphere that he benefited from the most? Not likely.
5 Brady wants to go to the Dolphins and learn a new offense? Not likely.
6 Brady wants to be one of several celebrity owners of the Dolphins? Not likely.
7 Mike Florio is as bad as a teenager girl with all his rumor mongering? Likely.
April 18th, 2022 at 1:52 pm
Keep going WillieG. #8,Sean Peyton had already been contacted by Miami and told them he wasn’t coaching this year before the Flores law suit came out. #9, Peyton is still under contract with the Saints. #10, Brady is still under contract with the Bucs. #11 a player cannot be part owner and player at same time. #12, why would the Flores law suit stop them anyway? It had nothing to do with Miami.
April 18th, 2022 at 2:32 pm
Joe cannot say for two reasons:
1) The intel was told to Joe under strict confidence not to be used for publication.
2) Joe cannot confirm it.
And Joe can assure you that you’ve never read or heard of this angle before because Joe has yet to read it or hear it from anywhere else.
April 18th, 2022 at 2:36 pm
Brady may be the GOAT on the field but he is getting annoying shilling his stupid “brand” all the time and not addressing real issues.
If you were Arians would you appreciate him staying silent while 90% of the media thinks he was let go on Tom’s orders. If it’s not true than it’s really a d$&k move by Brady to say nothing to refute it.
April 18th, 2022 at 2:48 pm
Joe, you are never going to get a job on one of those sports yelling shows if you keep acting responsible. That’s why I read here everyday.
April 18th, 2022 at 3:28 pm
Thanks Sparky! 🙂
April 18th, 2022 at 5:04 pm
Wait a minute. Are you saying that you have access to a Bucs inside source that has a totally unexplored or unexploited viewpoint on this story, but you can’t repeat it? But you are still welcoming opinions and questions on the issue as reported even though that issue is really irrelevant without the special inside knowledge? I want the Bucs to win because I am a fan of the Tampa Bay region. I live, work and play here.. so I really don’t care if there was/is conflict between Brady and Arians. unless it hurts our ability to win. But if you can shed new light on this controversy maybe the media would stop spinning its’ wheels on this stuff.
April 18th, 2022 at 5:28 pm
Win the first game and BA will be a thing of the past. Who cares true or not? Move on!!!
April 18th, 2022 at 6:07 pm
Left Right Left Right Left. You all keep bringing up your political propaganda up here need some mahderration. Keep it football you hacks
April 18th, 2022 at 6:35 pm
Joe’s explanation above should fill you in why Joe hasn’t shared it. Speaks for itself.
April 18th, 2022 at 8:13 pm
If Brady stays healthy, a big if for any QB in the NFL today, the Bucs are not only going to the SB, they’re gonna win the SB. Period! All this historical stuff with Arians? RIP man. RIP.
April 18th, 2022 at 11:10 pm
Forced is poor choice of words…nudged?
Absolutely.
It’s obvious. Butt’ed heads…Brady retires and suddenly Arians golfcart breaks down
Pure coincidence…buwahahahahahaha
Out of respect for everyone they kept it hush hush
April 19th, 2022 at 12:21 am
The whole thing was hatched by the NFL to keep 👀