“I’m Staying Out Of This. I Have No Idea.”
May 30th, 2022
“I know Lenny wouldn’t talk to them, TB.”
A prominent NFL reporter who often shared happenings in Tom Brady’s camp — and widely was hailed for being consistently correct — is talking like he might have been shut down by Team Brady.
The reporter is ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, the pride of Seminole High School in Pinellas County.
Joe knows it’s inevitable that Brady’s future will become a subject of nausea-inducing national debate and disscussion again by Thanksgiving at the latest.
Will he or won’t he retire? Will he come back to the Bucs? Does he want to be a free agent? Will the Bucs do everything possible to keep him? Does Brady want to be an NFL owner?
Well, now it seems Brady has turned off the information flow to ESPN and those answers won’t be coming from the Disney outfit. Darlington was on their NFL Live show late last week and was asked whether fans should consider this Tom Brady’s final season because that’s how Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett is viewing it.
Darlington responded in a very un-Darlington way when it comes to Brady.
“You’re asking the guy who reported Tom Brady’s retirement only to watch him come back 40 days later. Like I’m staying out of this. I have no idea,” Darlington said.
He added that everyone should assume it is Brady’s last season “only to appreciate it the way that we should.” But Darlington added that there could be a 2023 on the field for Brady.
Darlington was a go-to guy for reliable Brady chatter. But Brady now has some form of a contract with FOX Sports, and there’s a great chance he’s pissed at ESPN for reporting his February retirement before getting to announce it himself.
Joe wonders if Brady, in an effort to kill any farewell tour feel to this season, will place a firm gag order on his camp and plug every possible leak when it comes to his future plans.
Miss it Monday? Enjoy the latest Ira Kaufman Podcast!
May 30th, 2022 at 3:53 pm
Cause they jumped the gun lol
May 30th, 2022 at 5:12 pm
Perhaps Brady approved of announcing that he signed a long-term contract with Fox was to get those “hunters off the scent”. Good idea, however it seems it probably won’t work.
May 30th, 2022 at 5:34 pm
Much of the info Darlington get is from Brady’s old man, and super Gs sister. I’ll bet real money Brady told them to go silent, unless he specifically approves a statement or comment. The whole retirement unretirement stuff came specifically from those two. GOB has that on very good authority
May 30th, 2022 at 5:48 pm
SuperG — I like it — and her sister — I probably would like her, at least to look at.
Wishful thinking by SuperG, diluted by SuperG’s sister, meanwhile Brady Senior wants Tom to play forever.
Then add in all the other “experts” who think they know someone who knows someone who talked to a guy who heard someone washing Brady’s socks talking about what he thinks Brady thinks, and you get the press mess we’ve been subjected to for the last 3+ months.
May 30th, 2022 at 6:13 pm
Who cares.
May 30th, 2022 at 6:41 pm
I was rewatching “The Last Dance” on the Bulls. Watching it got me thinking about Brady this year. Before and after every game Jordan kept getting asked if that year was it and was he leaving or retiring. I’m sure it’ll be a long year for Brady being asked that question every day. I wonder how many different ways he has prepared to answer that same ole question. It would get old
May 30th, 2022 at 7:14 pm
Exactly Miller. That’s the reason Brady will remain ambiguous about playing beyond this year. I was shocked when the Fox deal was informally announced. It’s a huge distraction. How many times you think Brady will be asked about Fox and retirement this year? My guess is about 300 times. Like the Price Is Right, if you go over you lose. Bump bata bum, waaaaaaah
May 30th, 2022 at 8:28 pm
Totally agree GOB. I just hope he can keep it from being a distraction to him and the team. He may be mentally tough and in control, but will his teammates be able to handle it???? Fingers are crossed!! Go Bucs!!
May 30th, 2022 at 10:43 pm
I wonder, is Brady doing this to put all the pressure on him and off everybody else? I thought last year everybody was kinda looking to make their brand or whatever instead of concentrating on the game sometime. Especially against the weaker teams. I can see Brady saying, ” put all the drama on me, the rest of you guys just go play football without any pressure.”
May 30th, 2022 at 10:44 pm
I like Scotty Miller. Keep him. He is full of good surprises.
May 31st, 2022 at 10:18 am
I guess with Brady, we just enjoy the moment. I know he’s playing this year, so GOBUCS and kick some butt.
May 31st, 2022 at 12:03 pm
Is he playing this season? Yes, good.
That’s all I care about.