Did (Insane) Money Buy Tom Brady Happiness, Freedom Or One Final Drive?
May 12th, 2022
Early focus.
So Joe once again must give props for the snooping by Kevin O’Donnell of WTVT-TV Channel 13. He scoured the Bucs’ OTA photos on Buccaneers.com to find a photo of quarterback Tom Brady participating before Joe did.
(Joe wonders if Bucs security would shoot down a drone if it was launched from the nearby Panera Bread parking lot to snoop on practice?)
Now keep in mind Brady’s rare OTA appearance came on the heels of the ground-shaking announcement, made hours before. It was learned from FOX big-shot Lachlan Murdoch during an earnings call that he and his dad Rupert hired Brady to work NFL games, and probably do a lot more for FOX given Brady’s crazy salary.
It was roughly two years ago just after Brady signed with the Bucs that Brady appeared on the “Howard Stern Show” and told the King of All Media that he quit going to OTAs with the Belicheats because his wife, the model Gisele Bündchen, threatened to divorce him because of his extreme commitment to his team.
So an extra third of a billion dollars in the bank can buy a grown man a bit of freedom, eh? Next thing you know Brady won’t have to take out the trash or trim the shrubs.
Of course, when Brady came to the Bucs, there was no offseason conditioning or minicamps due to The Sickness.
Then last year Brady held haphazard practices at the Yankees Minor League Complex down the road from One Buc Palace on Himes Ave. Brady finally started working out at One Buc Palace with veterans, but not participating in OTAs, as then-Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians sweet-talked Brady into using football facilities rather than an outfield grass for safety concerns.
So Brady shows up for OTAs on the same week rookie minicamp is scheduled? This has Joe thinking a few things:
* Could it be that Brady is extra (!) motivated knowing this is his last year? Or at least his last year with the Bucs? If it is, why not go all out?
* Brady has to make sure his receivers must play at their best or even better until Chris Godwin returns. No one is worried about Mike Evans but until Godwin is back, Breshad Perriman, the immortal Cyril Grayson, Scotty Miller and Tyler Johnson will likely be counted on more than ever before. Now is the time to get more work in and more preparation.
* Brady has to get on the same page as new receiver Russell Gage, the Bucs’ big free agent signing. It’s easy to say Gage will be fine but there is an element of chemistry the two must develop. That won’t begin to gel unless Brady is throwing passes to Gage.
* Since rookie minicamp begins tomorrow, and Joe is going to take a wild stab and guess the rookies are already in town, might running back Rachaad White and tight end Cade Otton find themselves running routes and catching balls from Brady at some point during their down time this week? The sooner those rookies get up to speed and bond with Brady, the better it will be for all.
Joe finds this fascinating that Brady (perhaps chancing an ugly, expensive, high-profile divorce?) has decided to participate in an OTA practice.
May 12th, 2022 at 9:10 am
It’s almost alarming that Brady decided to show up to OTAs.
May 12th, 2022 at 9:17 am
Joe it amazes me you still doubt the football maniac Tom Brady is. Yes, this is his last hurrah. He ain’t leaving that 375 mill lying on the table. That’s going in the bank right after this season. And yes, Brady might be the most determined he’s ever been to go out on top. They say a candle burns brightest before it goes out.
May 12th, 2022 at 9:27 am
Rachaad White maybe, but Otton is still rehabbing from surgery that remedied the foot injury that ended his season at UDub. Glad Brady is in the building and the rookies can mark out over sharing a facility with him, so they can get that out of their systems and get back to work.
May 12th, 2022 at 9:33 am
I think Brady knows this is his last year, and we have new talent he needs to bond with
May 12th, 2022 at 9:36 am
Sure….the more reps Brady.. can get with Otton, White & Gage……
The least is Gage….he’s a professional, experienced NFL WR…..it won’t take him a long time to develop chemistry with Brady.
May 12th, 2022 at 9:42 am
Do we really think Brady retires AFTER winning a Super Bowl?
I mean has that ever happened?
Why would you quit when you just proved you are still elite?
My point is it sure feels like this is the end, but what if this team goes 20-0?
Sure will be hard to walk away.
I think he also proved to himself don’t announce it again unless you are sure.
May 12th, 2022 at 9:50 am
Its 1 day…
May 12th, 2022 at 10:00 am
All-In.
This is more evidence this is Tom Terrific’s last rodeo.
He’s looking for a send-off to retirement with a Lombardi, like Elway and (evil superhero arch-nemesis) Peyton Manning.
That sets him up nicely with Fox.
Savor this one, long-time Bucs fans. As Seals and Croft crooned, “We may never pass this way again.”
Wanna bet Licht cranked up “Back in Black” when TT unretired?
May 12th, 2022 at 10:01 am
BTW: if Brady is all-in, so is Gronk.
They want to go into the HoF the same year.
May 12th, 2022 at 10:08 am
I was surprised to see he was at practice yesterday, dude’s on a mission. A Tom Brady led football team has won the Super Bowl every other season since 2015 and he didn’t win last year so….GO BUCS
May 12th, 2022 at 10:12 am
Photos are so much better at the Bucs website now. They’re finally putting captions of who’s in the photos and what they’re doing.
May 12th, 2022 at 10:28 am
Man, I can’t wait for week 1 when there may be some news to report.
May 12th, 2022 at 10:31 am
I’ve got to pinch myself every time I realize that Tom is coming back for a third season. I get that weird rush I felt when Ronde was running toward the end zone in the 2002 championship game. To the people that have been rooting for the Bucs since 1976 these are the best of times.
May 12th, 2022 at 10:36 am
Suh.
May 12th, 2022 at 10:36 am
It’s a little irresponsible to throw out divorce, even for humor.
May 12th, 2022 at 10:46 am
Agree, JBM.
May 12th, 2022 at 11:31 am
Yeah, I think this is Brady’s last season. As I mentioned last season, I thought Brady might not return with the Bucs this season as he was likely going to hunt for an ownership interest in another team, and then sign as the starting QB for a last hurrah and an improved team revenue stream. It looks like Miami was going to play that angle, up until they got into trouble with Coach Flores.
The TV deal probably kills that exit strategy. I don’t think the owners would be happy with Brady owning a minority interest in a team while his broadcast contract is in effect.
May 12th, 2022 at 12:17 pm
Gisele has more money than Tom according to reports. He might actually come out ahead in a divorce. Maybe if he dumps the hag he can play an extra year or two.
May 12th, 2022 at 12:21 pm
I think any speculation about Brady playing here this season and going somewhere else next is probably moot at this point.
Or at minimum Brady is not thinking about it or planning around it. I’m sure he’s leaving all options open. But he’s FOCUSED if nothing else. He is FOCUSED like the proverbial laser beam on this season. He would never allow a distraction like where he MIGHT play after this season enter his thoughts at this point. Especially with the gold waiting for him from the Murdochss.
May 12th, 2022 at 12:31 pm
Come on, man. That’s no way to speak about the man’s wife.
May 12th, 2022 at 1:27 pm
Didn’t Elway retire after winning his S.B.? Win, lose, or draw, Brady’s heading for that 375 million after this season.
May 12th, 2022 at 1:52 pm
Brady’s pay with Fox will now set the bar for the Bucs/Dolphins moving forward. You want him to play…make it worth it or he’ll head to the booth.
May 12th, 2022 at 2:12 pm
@Hodad: Manning also retired after winning a SB as a Bronco.
May 12th, 2022 at 3:14 pm
Hey goatfarmer you’re a real class act……….Maybe you could take your show on the road
May 12th, 2022 at 4:06 pm
Maybe he finally grew a pair and told his wife that he wants to keep playing so she needs to just deal with it.
And if the BA rumors were true, its hard to argue that he’s too loose meanwhile you don’t want to go to OTAs
May 12th, 2022 at 5:23 pm
Careful westernbuc! There’s some extra sensitive snowflakes on here!
Gisele is reported to be worth $500 million, something like that? And so, net worth to net worth, a 50/50 splt of the assets yields Tom more than his own current net worth.
Extreme sensitivities so noted.