Hey Tom, Next Time Hang Up!
August 3rd, 2022
Click on through to shop at BillCurrieFord.com. Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is ready to help you PERSONALLY and give you the Ira Kaufman discount. Just ask!
BY IRA KAUFMAN
Stephen Ross kept talking — and Tom Brady kept listening.
For Buc fans, that’s the upshot of the NFL’s investigation into allegations the Dolphins owner tried to lure Brady and Sean Payton to Miami when they were both under contract to another franchise.
“Lure” is the polite term for what Ross engineered. This was chicanery of a high order.
“The investigators found tampering violations of unprecedented scope and severity,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “I know of no prior instance of a team violating the prohibition on tampering with both a head coach and star player, to the potential detriment of multiple other clubs, over a period of several years.”
Tampa Bay supporters could care less that Ross first tried to hijack Brady in 2019, when he was under center for the Patriots. That’s Bill Belichick’s problem.
But things got personal last season, when Brady was a Buccaneer trying to lead his team to back-to-back championships. Somewhere along the line, the Dolphins reached out to both Brady and his agent, Don Yee.
The message was simple: take your talents to South Florida in 2022. You can be a part-owner of an NFL franchise and hey, if you want to play for us, we’ll take care of that, too.
And if anyone is naive enough to suggest Ross himself wasn’t an active participant, you didn’t hear Goodell’s final putdown of this spinning Dolphin.
“I know of no prior instance in which ownership was so directly involved in the violations,” Goodell said.
Buccaneers co-owner Bryan Glazer and family were the targets of an end-around, writes Ira Kaufman.
Ross turned 82 in May, so according to the dictionary, he qualifies as an octogenarian. He also qualifies as a penny-ante hustler whose net worth is estimated at $8.2 billion. Ross didn’t care that 17 months ago, Brady signed a contract extension with Tampa Bay through the 2022 season.
He tried an end around the Glazers, bypassing NFL protocol by speaking directly with the player and his agent without permission from a rival franchise. Ross took the same route with Payton, who was under contract with the Saints.
The middle man in this shell game was Yee, who represents both Brady and Payton. What a coincidence.
The league says Brady will not face punishment for his part in this sordid affair. After all, the only thing he did was take the call.
Really? How about the idea that these talks would have ended immediately if Brady or Yee had informed Ross that Brady was off limits until 2023.
That didn’t happen, so Ross kept sweetening the offer. If not for the Brian Flores lawsuit, we very well could have had the Bucs in an untenable position — with their star player pushing for a trade.
Truth Hurts
On the final day of Buc mandatory minicamp in June, I asked Brady about the offseason rumors linking him to the Dolphins. He had to know the question was coming, but he fumbled. He said he talks to a lot of people, as if that feeble response was going to satisfy Buc Nation.
What he didn’t do was deny the reports. Now we know why — they were accurate.
Now that the truth is out, will Brady’s teammates see him in a different light, knowing he thought about jumping off the pirate ship?
Absolutely not. All Brady is thinking about at this point is bringing another Vince Lombardi Trophy to One Buc Place.
His teammates know that and respect him for that. But it sure looks like this will be Brady’s final season with the Bucs. A year from now, he might be watching the Dolphins work out at training camp as a part-owner. He could be living in South Florida while the value of NFL franchises continues to soar.
What about that 10-year deal with Fox? Fuhgeddaboudit.
One word of caution for No. 12. Do you really want to deal with Stephen Ross? The man knows his real estate, but he has no clue how to win in the NFL. Since Ross became majority owner in 2009, the Dolphins have made the playoffs once … and they promptly lost.
He’s the poster child for the maxim that money doesn’t buy you class.
Do the right thing the next time around, Tom. Hang up on him.
Ira loves that lifetime warranty on new and used vehicles!
Ira Kaufman Talks Tom Brady & His Miami Mess, Chris Godwin’s Return, Kyle Trask Struggles & Future, Todd Bowles’ Revelation, Mike Evans’ Hamstring, And Much More
August 3rd, 2022 at 1:29 pm
Well resumed Sage…
Maybe is because I am old enough, but I wont lie here….´
I want to win of course, and I think we are blessed to have TB12 on our beloved Bucs.
But if I was his teammate, I would be somehow disspointed…..
Kind of contradictory here but is how I see it….
Kind of mixed fellings…..
August 3rd, 2022 at 2:08 pm
How about the idea that these talks would have ended immediately if Brady or Yee had informed Ross that Brady was off limits until 2023.
I realize the NFL has anti tampering rules with players under contract, but are potential ownership in Franchises talks or front office positions talk prohibited?
Also, I go back to the double standard of teams are free to negotiate deals with coaches during playoff season, but players are forbidden- just seems so hypocritical and also- a talented player talking about future opportunities with another team during the season gets labeled disloyal and tampering charges are thrown around yet a talented player holding out and demanding a trade tends to get more media sympathy.
In any case, it’s just business – I’m glad the NFL only punished the owner and not the player.
August 3rd, 2022 at 2:11 pm
Brady got some nerve. This franchise (Bucs) has bent over backwards for him since day 1. And here we find he’s conspiring to jump ship in the most devious way.
I see him in a completely different way now and that’s a shame.
August 3rd, 2022 at 2:16 pm
Ira I know you from being on with dog. All brady was doing was trying to keep his wife happy. Bruce Beal is the billionaire friend of Brady. Brady doesnt want to get divorced so he looked into Miami because thats were gisele wanted him to go. Gisele and kids dont live with Brady in tampa during the season. She lives in Costa Rica comes back for games. This is inaccurate. –Joe Brady loves playing so much he is willing to live by himself. Gisele hates football and every season brings the couple closer to divorce. Blame GISELE she also really hates Belichick
August 3rd, 2022 at 2:20 pm
To be part owner and “allegedly play qb” all 32 owners would have to give green light. You think anybody in dolphins division would ok that? Nah
We ll see if he plays there next year
I think its more about future endeavors now. He lives there. He would love to be nfl owner / executive there . Cause his boy beckham owns Miami MLS there. His wife is totally a south beach diva.
In the end …who cares…if he does play at 46 for dolphins 99% of real buc fans on this site will watch 0 of his games. Well unless he plays bucs
Just so thankful he is giving this non winning franchise 3 great years of hope. I mean we actually think we will win the game w him at qb. Even down with a minute left In the game
Go
Bucs
August 3rd, 2022 at 2:21 pm
Why in the world would Brady have so much interest in going to a franchise that hasnt been relevant in 20 years? Not to mention a team that the Bucs throttled 45-17 last year.
Brady mismanaged this whole situation. Im guessing Brady was mainly interested in the idea of being a part owner, which in that case he could’ve just pulled a Derrick Jeter and darted to Miami to run the marlins after his playing career.
Tom, if your in love with Miami so much (like many celebrities are) just wait it out in Tampa for 1 more year then you can go enjoy your luxury home on South beach.
This doesnt change my opinion of Tom at all, I always new he was kinda a diva but he was better at hiding it in years past. Anyways, week 1 we will all forget about this.
August 3rd, 2022 at 2:27 pm
DW45, is that you posing as Tbbucs3? (too soon?)
Suh.
August 3rd, 2022 at 2:31 pm
I’m certainly grateful that Brady didn’t get suspended for his part in this….but if it was as egregious as the NFL says it was, it’s hard for me to understand how Brady was a passive, innocent participant.
August 3rd, 2022 at 2:46 pm
We all know who blew the whistle on this. B.Flo. without a whistle blower, hard telling how much of this goes on. Probably a lot. Fact is that the league has only taken away a teams first rounder on three occasions. All involved Brady, either directly or indirectly. If the league modified the punishment to include discipling players for tampering, it wouldn’t happen hardly as much.
August 3rd, 2022 at 2:49 pm
If he’d have hung up the fins would have their first rounder. Way to talk Tommy. Pretty sure 99.9 percent of humans are listening to those offers. Be dumb not to.
August 3rd, 2022 at 2:56 pm
Jeter was the pimp
August 3rd, 2022 at 3:00 pm
As far as his teammates, in a team meeting:
Bucs players: “Tom, you all-in this year? You with us?”
Tom: “I’m all-in.”
Players, in unison: “Cool. LFG get this ring!!”
August 3rd, 2022 at 3:12 pm
Hilarious that some of you continue to act like you know Tom and Gisele personally with your comments. Worse than a bunch of gossipy old ladies.
August 3rd, 2022 at 3:16 pm
@TBBF
Example of Tampering. The following chain of events is enumerated here as
one example of a violation of the policy against tampering with another
club’s players:
1. A club’s representative, or a third-party intermediary of that club (Club
A), is involved in a private meeting or conversation with a player (or his
representative) who is under contract to, or whose negotiating rights are
held by, another club (Club B); and
2. The League obtains substantiation that after or during the above contact
with the player, Club A has stated, publicly or privately, its interest in
obtaining his services (see “Public/Private Statements” below); and
3. Contract problems or other disputes subsequently arise between the
player and Club B (for example, the player’s failure to report on time to
Club B).
The only thing Brady/his reps did “wrong” was listen to the offer, that’s it and why he isn’t being punished. If it came out Brady planned to announce retire, file his paper work, and then come back Miami would have still had to have gone through Tampa to acquire him. Think back to the combine when BA said “nope bad business” when asked if Brady would return if the Bucs would trade deal his rights or listen to the answer to how he’d hypothetically request 5-1st round picks to deal an unretired Brady away, which was basically “hell naw” but with numbers
August 3rd, 2022 at 3:18 pm
Brady has fulfilled any and all obligations he has with the Bucs. He turned around a joke of a franchise the first year he was here and made the Bucs relevant again. Getting the chance to be a % owner in a billion, with a B, franchise that only increases in value with out spending any of your own money is an opportunity that anyone would listen to. Of course we don’t want to see Brady leave. We know what it’s like to have some of the worst QB’s in NFL history. Plus we don’t want to see our Super Bowl contending team to go back to the outhouse of the NFC.
August 3rd, 2022 at 3:20 pm
Ira, you state”all Brady is thinking about at this point is bringing another Lombardi Trophy to One Buc Place”. I would state this more accurately as All Brady is thinking about at this point is bringing another Lombardi Trophy to ONE TOM BRADY.
August 3rd, 2022 at 4:13 pm
Brady is out for Brady, no matter what he says.
Actions speak louder then words.
He could have nixed all this by refusing to take the call from Ross, but he didn’t.
Just like he could have ended all the rumors about him by simply calling a press conference to refute them, but instead he milked all the rumors for more free publicity for him, and his brand.
It is what it is.
Tampa was not Brady’s first choice, and only after the 49ers turned him away did he come here. People need to remember that, and the fact that Brady is not building a home here in Tampa.
If I were a betting Man, I would say that unless we win a Super Bowl this year, Brady will not be back.
August 3rd, 2022 at 4:29 pm
Brady was tempted by partial ownership, all the other were details.
Hard to believe it has almost been 30 years since the Glazer’s bought the Bucs for 192 million, QB chump change these days
August 3rd, 2022 at 6:08 pm
When it is all said and done, I am thankful for Brady coming so far for 3 seasons.
The Bucs have been relevant for the first time in decades.
Would I rather not hear about the maneuvering going on with and by Brady, sure, but it what it is.
To go from player to ownership is very enticing. But again whatever. This is not a perfect world by any means.
The bottom line for me as a fan of the Bucs, I do not care if the Bucs were the 8th choice or whatever for Brady to come and play, just glad he came.
This franchise stopped being an ongoing dumpster fire for the first time since the run from 1997-2002.
The Bucs so far, won their 2nd Lombardi with Brady, and that is the bottom line, and may win one in Feb 2023. We will see. At least the Bucs will be a good team this year.
GO BUCS!!!!
August 3rd, 2022 at 8:51 pm
Who cares. Apparently the tampering happened before he signed here. But he still signed. Just appreciate the man and stop getting all jealous and feeling betrayed. Are we men?
August 3rd, 2022 at 9:12 pm
We should give Brady some ownership to keep around after he is done playing
August 3rd, 2022 at 9:15 pm
We should give him some ownership shares to Brady after this year to keep him around when he’s done playing
August 3rd, 2022 at 11:33 pm
There are stories that the Bucs were actually well involved by the end and pretty much it was all worked out.. Kinda sucks but lets just see them compete for another ring this year and the GOAT can go do whatever he wants.. As for the article.. how does a pro journalist type “could care less”? Cmon Ira
August 4th, 2022 at 12:34 am
Tom brady did not need to do anything ..TOM BRADY WAS RESPECTIVELY 43 IN 2019..ON A TEAM THAT DID NOT WANT HIM…he was given a sham contract ,humiliated, betrayed by an organization he gave his all too…bradys an emotional guy and vindictive..HANG UP ..TO HELL WITH THAT ..THE PATRIOTS SAID DONT LET THE DOOR HIT YOU WHERE THE GOOD LORD SPLIT YOU…and obviously there was nothing to it ..because dolphins weren’t even in the mix in FA..fast forward brady in last contract year …bucs gm every year is year to yearBRADY HAS EVERY RIGHT TO FIELD HIS OPPORTUNITUES ..and I bet thst is part of contract….he completed 13-4 season and playoff win and a comeback…yeah he was all In!!!!
August 4th, 2022 at 3:46 am
Geezella wants the Miami thing.
August 4th, 2022 at 11:52 am
Brady is done playing after this year. His talks with Miami were centered on part owner. He had no desire to play for them or he would have done it in 2020. Brady only wants to play for a team that has the talent to win a super bowl. Even with Hill Miami doesn’t measure up. If Brady had stayed retired he could have become part owner at Miami and there would be nothing wrong with that. However he decided to play one more year with the Bucs on a cap friendly deal. Brady didn’t do the Bucs wrong anyone who thinks he did isn’t looking at all the facts.
August 4th, 2022 at 12:31 pm
Chris Tucker@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Says:
“Brady is not building a home here in Tampa.”
Pretty sure I remember hearing Tom and Gisselle bought a $5 or $6M home in the area. Seems like it was Clearwater or somewhere on the water in northern Pinellas…