Did Tom Brady Order Jason Licht To Get Leonard Fournette Signed And Sealed?
June 24th, 2022
“Tommy, you saved me!”
On face value, the notion that a quarterback would direct an NFL general manager to sign a player seems a total stretch. But remember that the quarterback in question here is Tom Brady, who the Bucs coaxed back from retirement.
The timing of this story is too delicious, but Joe senses it is untrue or is missing a couple of key pieces.
Playoff Lenny appeared on the “Rich Eisen Show” yesterday and had an awesome story about Brady’s reaction when Playoff Lenny visited the Belicheats in March. Joe brought that story previously and it is funny. However, there is a twist that Playoff Lenny newly revealed yesterday (to Joe’s knowledge).
Playoff Lenny said when Brady, who had just unretired, called to scold him about visiting the Belicheats on a free agency tour, Playoff Lenny explained he had to look out for himself, though he preferred to remain with the Bucs and play with Brady.
Brady, per Playoff Lenny, then told him he would call right back. And before Brady got back to Playoff Lenny, Licht (or one of his underlings) called Playoff Lenny with a contract offer.
Hhhmmm?
“He says, ‘Man, I will call you back. I will call you back,'” Playoff Lenny said of Brady’s call. “So next thing you know, Tampa calls me with an offer.”
Eisen then asked Playoff Lenny point-blank if Brady ordered Licht to step up with a contract offer. Playoff Lenny sort of hemmed and hawed and didn’t directly address the question.
Joe will take this a step further. When the Bucs and Brady were in talks about Brady returning, did Brady demand that Licht re-sign Playoff Lenny as a condition of his return? Or did Licht promise to re-sign Playoff Lenny if Brady returned? Those two options are certainly plausible.
It’s kinda cool and funny to think that Brady called Licht and barked, “Damn it, Jason, Lenny is up in New England! If Lenny signs with that motherf@#$er Belichick I’m outta here. Get it done!”
Of course, only Brady, Licht and Playoff Lenny likely know what really happened.
June 24th, 2022 at 5:18 am
Love your reenactment of the Brady/ Licht call, Joe!
June 24th, 2022 at 6:15 am
Makes sense! Lenny is the RB version of Gronk…reliable.
I have to admit I did enjoy the reenactment as well Clean.
June 24th, 2022 at 6:50 am
I’m sure Brady had input. Hell, anyone playing for less than market value so the team can sign other players, deserves to have some say so in those signings.
Joe, didn’t Derrick Brooks take less money so the team could sign free agents? And didn’t he have some input on how that money was spent? I seem to remember that happening.
June 24th, 2022 at 7:55 am
His success brings success to everyone
June 24th, 2022 at 7:56 am
Suh.
June 24th, 2022 at 7:56 am
His success brings success to everyone
June 24th, 2022 at 8:34 am
All I can really say is, we are so lucky to have Tom Brady!
Tampa was not his first choice, so thank God the 49ers did not want him.
I am sure Brady has input, but it is not like he is our General Manager.
June 24th, 2022 at 8:51 am
Old news, Gronk, AB, Mason, etc., who do you think is running the show? Bucs want to win don’t they?
June 24th, 2022 at 9:50 am
It is simply good business to give Tom what he wants.
June 24th, 2022 at 10:23 am
Brady doesn’t order Licht what to do. I know people like to think that it works that way because it gives them football boners. It’s always about power with some of you guys (probably the same people who vote for spray-tan sociopaths).
There is a difference between making a plea to Licht, expressing his opinion on Fournette’s importance, and issuing an order. Licht was persuaded and the offer was made. Licht likes to keep his most important player happy and that makes sense. If Fournette wasn’t in their plans, that offer would not have been made.
June 24th, 2022 at 10:38 am
I think the Bucs were always planning on getting Lenny back! Did the Bucs panic and over pay Lenny because Brady panicked…maybe. But, your use of the the word order is ridiculous. The staff and the players want to win. Clearly, Brady knows football and has ideas of the players he wants to round out the team. I think the team works together the make sure they have all the pieces. Why try to make that a negative?
June 24th, 2022 at 11:17 am
I’ll be so glad when all this soap opera baloney ends and we can start talking about football again
This is the most absolutely INSANE off-season I have ever, ever seen … And the bucs aren’t even the worst of it
Imagine waking up and reading “JoeBrownsFan.com.
Imagine reading about Dan Snyder first thing every morning oh, we do, but it’s a laughing matter for us. Redskins fans … Not so funny. Commanders my azz! I’ve got a command for ’em.
So crazy as out Tampa soap opera is we still have people to look down on.
June 24th, 2022 at 12:31 pm
Fred – JoeBrownsFan – LOL !!!
June 24th, 2022 at 2:06 pm
Playoff Lennie is barely in the top ten of current NFL RB’s salary wise.
His 7 million this year moves him past Nyheim Hines who was 10th with 6.2 million.
He’ not far behind Saquon Barkley’s 7.8 million
But after than he appears to be a genuine bargain…would you rather have Fournette at 7 million this year and next OR
Alvin Kamara at 15 million…Christian McCaffery..16 million both fine RB’s but there are only so many touches for ANY player. Do we not think Playoff Lennie will be at least half as effective a those two.
McCaffery has to heal..and Kamara will be suspended for the brutal beatdown in Vegas…but even if Kamara played the entire season I like the overall #’s Playoff Lennie is poised to put up. Lennie put up better numbers last year. This season…especially if Gronk is retired..Lennie is going to get his share touches!
June 24th, 2022 at 2:25 pm
Sasquatch
Agree…..Brady didn’t order Licht……first of all….Brady doesn’t order anything….and second….Licht wouldn’t acquiesce.
An impassioned request is more like it.
June 24th, 2022 at 2:27 pm
It was kinda puzzling to see Lenny in NE. I seriously doubt it was an attempt to drive up the price for Tampa. I believe Bill was genuinely interested. It almost certainly would’ve meant trading Damien Harris. Stevenson has more upside and is younger than Harris. It’s very unlikely Bill would’ve kept all three backs. Who knows, Bill might have sent Harris to Tampa, had he signed Lenny.
June 24th, 2022 at 4:22 pm
Sasquash you little diluted buckaroo. Gage, Harmon, AB, Gronk, Mason, Bell. These guys pick up the phone when TB12 calls. Voice mail when Licht rings them up.
June 24th, 2022 at 5:10 pm
That’s cool either way and I’m happy that we got Lenny back.
June 25th, 2022 at 12:13 am
Litch is a smart guy. Why don’t you listen the GOAT, who is very polite and gentle. One year of Tom must be better than five years without him. Paying a little bit more for his tools is better than finding a new good QB.
June 25th, 2022 at 3:54 am
Hey, that’s exactly what Brady barked! You must have the recording too! We have a new Kordell Stewart in the NFL: Tom Brady, the first NFL player / coach / GM.
June 25th, 2022 at 6:59 am
The reason ROJO is gone and Fournette is on the Bucs. Is 1 word, TRUST.
All the people that complained about how the coaches were doing ROJO wrong were just not understanding who runs the huddle.
That would be TB12.
ROJO was a liability that at times blocking let people get a shot on Brady.
That is a quick exit to ride the pine.
Along with the fact he just has not gotten better at catching the ball.
And Brady’s TRUST is why Lenny is back in a Buc Jersey.
Brady said come on Lenny, and Lenny signed.
GO BUCS!!!!