Ex-GM: Bring Tom Brady Into Center Decision
August 1st, 2022
Joe has said the center call after Ryan Jensen’s ugly knee injury is Tom Brady’s audible to make.
Does anyone believe Brady will or should play behind a starting center that makes him uncomfortable?
That’s no knock on the Bucs front office, only reality.
Even if Todd Bowles wants one guy at center, and general manager Jason Licht wants another, and the O-line coaches have their opinion, Joe will wager that ultimately it’s Brady’s call.
And rest assured Brady won’t go with a guy like Joe Hawley, who was getting mauled up the gut during Tampa Bay’s exciting 2016 season, when weapons were scarce and Hawley was a shade under 280 pounds.
Former Bucs GM Mark Dominik was on the SiriusXM NFL airwaves Friday barking about how Brady’s feel must be key to the Bucs’ decision at center.
Dominik talked about how executing the snap is more than just the end result. Brady has to like the comfort level and there’s always risk that a brand new center will be inconsistent with the snap and “jam [Brady’s] ring finger on his throwing hand.”
Concern No. 2 with an inexperienced center? Dominik says it’s anchoring. “So can you snap it and get your hands on the guy in front of you and at least slow it down, then can you anchor against a 340 pound behemoth of a man across from you that’s about to rip your head off.”
And this is why practicing in pads, which begins today, is everything.
For center hopefuls like Robert Hainsey, it’s time to see if they can execute and hold up against Akiem Hicks and Vita Vea.
It’s obvious to Joe that Brady’s patience is limited. Joe doubts Brady will have a make-the-best-of-it attitude on Aug. 1 like he would on Nov. 1 when other options would be scarce.
The Bucs’ young centers best be on their games or they will be out of the running to replace Jensen in 10 days or less.
All kinds of great stuff in the weekend edition of the Ira Kaufman Podcast following 4 days of camp.
August 1st, 2022 at 5:18 am
‘Former Bucs GM Mark Dominik was on the SiriusXM NFL airwaves Friday barking about how Brady’s feel must be key to the Bucs’ decision at center.’
Duh! Dom really went out on a limb there.
August 1st, 2022 at 6:25 am
My advice. Don’t take advice from Mark Dumbinic.
August 1st, 2022 at 7:31 am
I suspect Brady is already involved…..Dominick states the obvious…..
August 1st, 2022 at 7:46 am
Dumbernik. 28-52, let Michael Bennett walk, paid Michael Clayhands $25 million, the Revis trade and contract. Yeah let’s liisten to his ideas, what a genius.
August 1st, 2022 at 7:51 am
It has been pointed out that Brady had new rookie centers in 2014 and 2015.
August 1st, 2022 at 8:38 am
😂🤣🥲 ok, ok..like the Bucs brass went “oh yeah, think we should get Tom in on this?”Tom is already co-offensive coordinator co-GM and any thing else he wants…gee joe, must be tough to be one of the brightest in the industry,kinda like Cossel was…
August 1st, 2022 at 8:46 am
Brady is 45!! I feel like I have to keep reminding people of this fact when they keep bringing up his time with new OL in NE. Because Brady is still playing at a high level, we forget that he’s lost some mobility since then. If you want a better example, look at 2019. They couldn’t protect Brady and his played suffered as a result. Their center was out that year due to blood clots. 2015 is a long time in football years. He also was beat like a rag doll in 2015 and that got the OL coach fired and they begged for Dante to come back.
August 1st, 2022 at 9:18 am
Dominick is the worst gm to ever hold the position but he does have a point only it’s common sense we’d wait to see how he holds up in pads. I have a feeling it will be up to Brady
August 1st, 2022 at 9:40 am
Get Jason Kelce down to Tampa. Cmon Licht and Brady work your magic
August 1st, 2022 at 11:45 am
In 2019 the New England wide receivers were ranked 32nd (last ) in the league at getting separation. Brady threw the ball out of bounds and in the turf a lot that year.
August 1st, 2022 at 11:50 am
Mark Dominick is an ex-GM for a reason. Beats me why anyone would listen to him.
August 1st, 2022 at 1:28 pm
I’m saying it again Hainsey will do the job
August 1st, 2022 at 5:38 pm
The team has already pretty much proven if Brady wants someone, the team with get them if at all possible. This is just stating the obvious.
August 2nd, 2022 at 12:27 pm
Call Dante’s Sanecki ,Brady’s outstanding line coach, he always kept Brady standing upright. You can’t tell me there isn’t enough great backup center’s somewhere, other than that center from Cleveland who they didn’t even want. Trade some second round picks or something, because after watching yesterday August 1st, Vita vea and Hicks showed what Shipley must have missed training Hainsley.