Leftwich Firing Will Repel Tom Brady?
January 24th, 2023
On the surface, it appeared that failed and fired Byron Leftwich had a fantastic relationship with Tom Brady.
Each guy talked about how he saw the game through the same lens as the other guy, and there were never any sideline blowups. Of course, for two seasons they had a truly elite NFL offense together.
And then came 2022. The offense was weak and never sustained significant improvement, falling from 30 points per game last season to 18 with a league-worst running game and a derailed deep passing game.
Still, through all the production issues, Brady and Leftwich appeared tight. Brady even said last month “I talk to Byron 100 times a day.”
And it’s that relationship that has a former Buccaneer and a friend of Leftwich thinking Leftwich and other Bucs offensive assistant coaches getting fired is a sign Brady isn’t coming back to Tampa.
Joe is referring to Michael Clayton, the retired Bucs and Giants blocking icon/receiver. He shared his Brady-Leftwich theories with WDAE Radio recently.
“I’m guesstimating [Brady] is more so leaning on the side of not being here, which made this coaching change and eliminating a lot of the offensive coaches easier to do,” Clayton said, adding that other teams with established systems and coaches in place likely would be more attractive to Brady.
Clayton also said Brady is likely to quit football because he won’t get a fat contract after a rough season that ended with a bad performance by him in the playoffs.
“That takes the money down,” Clayton said. “… He looks to be washed up at times.”
The Leftwich firing does conjure many thoughts. Did Brady ask for him to be fired? And/or did Brady approve the firing? The Bucs would have been insane not to consult with Brady on that decision.
January 24th, 2023 at 10:24 am
Clayton’s opinions carry about as much credibility as a deranged parrot.
Clayhands drops another one. Check still in the bank, Michael?
January 24th, 2023 at 10:30 am
Repel? I think that should read “Excite”
If he commits to the Glazers he can ask for a say in the OC.
January 24th, 2023 at 10:32 am
Anyone who watched the games – the predictable, uninspired play calling, the tendency to lean into team weaknesses and run away from strengths, the tone deaf press conferences – could see that Leftwich had to go.
But there is something seriously wrong in that building that goes way beyond just an incompetent offensive staff. The reports that Bowles knew the season was at risk in training camp, but did nothing to intervene. The failure to respond to the injury losses on the offensive line. Brady’s in-game body language (and most recent temper tantrum on “Let’s Go”) despite the team’s support (and, to be fair, indulgence) of his off-the-field trouble.
One Buc Place is a flaming garbage heap of top-to-bottom organizational dysfunction. This has happened too many times under the Glazers…the fish rots from the head.
January 24th, 2023 at 10:42 am
I doubt the “Leftwich Firing Will Repel Tom Brady” because Brady gave his assumed “Farewell” speech directly after the Dallas playoff loss which was before the Bucs fired our super bowl winning offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich. I never heard Tom Brady speak as highly of Todd Bowels as much as he did Leftwich so I think Bowels is the problem because he reminds Tom Brady too much of Bill Belichick. Plus if Tom Brady asked for Leftwich to be fired then the Bucs firing Leftwich wouldn’t repel Brady from coming back. Also I guarantee Tom Brady is not playing for the money because he only wants to win another Super Bowl. I blame “scaredy cat” Bowels because he’s our head coach
January 24th, 2023 at 10:44 am
I agree with Clayton
January 24th, 2023 at 10:50 am
I still don’t get the Brady, Leftnut cohesiveness. Which leads me to believe either Bowles had a hand in the game planning or BL told Brady he did. It was clear from day one Bowles and Brady didn’t hit it off. Can’t wait for the book. There may have been some resentment toward Bowles because BA forced him on Brady without notice. I doubt Brady comes out of retirement to play if he knew Bowles was HC. Brady saw Bowles in action when he pounded his arse twice a season while Bowles was coaching the Jets.
January 24th, 2023 at 11:02 am
Never seen Brady talking to Bowles he is still the head coach just saying.
January 24th, 2023 at 11:03 am
Brady talks to Byron 100 times a day?
Actually, I believe it.
It probably takes that many attempts to understand 2 or 3 sentences.
January 24th, 2023 at 11:08 am
If Brady approved of the job Leftwich did last year….I question his judgement…..Leftwich had a negative of 95% among JBF readers polled
96% is a very hard number to achieve these days.
Bon Voyage, Byron…..and if Tom doesn’t like it….so be it.
January 24th, 2023 at 11:08 am
The speculation is reaching the level of last year’s “is he really retired” fiasco. Ugh. I’m so ready to move on.
January 24th, 2023 at 11:16 am
Tom’s options were limited 3 years ago, if anything they should be even worse today. Maybe he can be a bridge QB for Gang Green and maybe barber-needy Mark Davis goes all-in, but like every other qb needy team is going to be investing in the future. Miami’s O-line isn’t any better than ours and I trust Licht to right that ship quickly next year and bring it back to a top 10 unit. SF has their QB. His best fit is still probably here in Tampa where many over the hill veteran misfits have called home over the years. This time, the grass ain’t greener elsewhere Tom.
January 24th, 2023 at 11:17 am
It’s called being a professional. A QB communicating with his OC is called being the ultimate pro. This team lost its hunger. Everyone wants to criticize Brady when in truth this team went through the motions. Organizational failure. Guys fell into the trap of thinking they could half Azz it and then turn it on when they wanted. Still waiting to hear about all these players who had a good year.
January 24th, 2023 at 11:23 am
Btw if you think his options are limited your nuts. He brings hundreds of millions to whatever team he goes to not to mention the billion plus he brings to the city/area he chooses. Wake up to the real world. It’s all about money. These owners didn’t become billionaires by turning money away. The numbers are out there if you don’t believe the money he brings in.
January 24th, 2023 at 11:25 am
I disagree with Clayton about the contract being a factor as to whether Brady plays again or not. If money was his major motivating factor he can begin working for Fox, a far easier job than playing QB in the NFL. His contracts in recent years with the Bucs and Patriots were always below his true market value because he is all about winning Super Bowls and wants his teams to be able to bring on as many other great players as possible.
January 24th, 2023 at 11:41 am
Been over M Clayton for a while and yes he had one good season and looked promising for the Bucs, but unfortunately needed bubble wrap to play on. They booted him and I guess being on the practice squad or whatever he did for the Giants got him a ring ? His arrogance and takes are ridiculous and WokeDAE allows him to spew every Sunday, but use to be a fan of DAE with Chris Thomas, Big Dog and actually was a fan of Tom and Nightrain. Sadly that station has gone down because of the boss who’s a happy liberal and if you don’t fall in line with him then you get the boot. Just ask JP and Ronnie’s “ early retirement “ Pat and Aaron are a joke and can’t even listen to the shorts dudes Jay and Zach because they are azzz kissers and do whatever Mamola says. Surprised Jacobson stayed on, but I guess needs the money. As much as people don’t like BSPN sadly we have that on our airwaves 5 days a week
January 24th, 2023 at 11:44 am
Clayton stood up for Leftwich and Blowes after every loss. Always blamed the players not the play callers, the preparation or scheme. Anything Clayton says take with a grain of salt.
January 24th, 2023 at 11:47 am
Clayton looked washed up after his rookie year.
January 24th, 2023 at 11:48 am
Click
January 24th, 2023 at 11:51 am
Lastly say what you want, but Lenny is no Ronald Jones and fans can say whatever about and in my opinion he was the missing link to a power run game !!! Just watch his highlights for those 2 years and believe this season of the Yucs would have been better with RoJo in it !!! Just my opinion
January 24th, 2023 at 11:54 am
If there were anything that Brady would request, Bucs management will do it
Clayton is just talking
My guess is we’ll know more after the SB
January 24th, 2023 at 11:58 am
Michael “hands of stone” Clayton doesn’t have much cred in my book. Brady knows that the Bucs were going nowhere with Leftwich at the helm. The only way that Brady returns is with a new OC. It was the most obvious move in the history of the NFL. Brady is a smart man. He knows the score.
January 24th, 2023 at 12:03 pm
Does anybody really think Brady is going to come back to Tampa, to install, run, and thrive in year one of a new offense with Leftwich & Christensen gone(Gabbert also)? The same Tom Brady, that took time off last training camp when lots of teams around the league are installing/refining their playbooks because our playbook didn’t change much? Clayton makes a good points, but commenters in this thread seem to be triggered by the “He looks to be washed up at times.” line, because its kind of true. I’m all good on spending another offseason at the alter waiting for a Tom Brady decision to play at the ripe age of 46, cause 45 yr old Brady didn’t look that hot. Time to get younger, time to move on
January 24th, 2023 at 12:05 pm
\He’s been in Miami this week touring Miami Country day for his kids.. He gone!!
January 24th, 2023 at 12:05 pm
Yucs2Bucs you are spot on. Mamola is a pos Chicago liberal transplant bringing his wokeness to Tampa Bay.
January 24th, 2023 at 12:05 pm
These fools to get these interviews the qualifications is simply do you love hear yourself talk, what you say doesn’t have to make sense at all but can you just talk on and on about nothing
January 24th, 2023 at 12:11 pm
If people didn’t listen…
January 24th, 2023 at 12:19 pm
Just watch the 9ers. There’s motion’s everywhere. Blocking in the run game. Smart moves. Hurry up when needed. It’s crazy how boring n terrible this O was !! Fricken joke
January 24th, 2023 at 12:24 pm
Brady is not the quarterback of two years ago. He is definitely not strong. enough to carry this Bowles dumpster fire to the playoffs again. 5 to 6 wins is the most this team will get with or without Brady and 3 of those wins will be in this stinky division.
January 24th, 2023 at 12:34 pm
Doosh, I seen you’re post and I has to laugh.
January 24th, 2023 at 12:44 pm
Distinctively remembered Bowles mentioning in training camp a focus on the run game for 2022-23. Needless to say, we definitely needed it but it didn’t work. With Oline injuries and reduced weapons, we had no balance. Not sure what exactly Leftwich could do about that. Starting a LG that’d NEVER played LG on top of being a rookie and a C that’d never snapped in a live game (except a little mop-up duty) wasn’t conducive to facing a first place division sched against top D lines. (including the RUN HEAVY/DEFENSIVE MINDED AFC North).
But understandable that Leftwich had to go and Brady perhaps with him. We need a more mobile QB. Someone who can scramble for a 5 yd 1st down at least 2-3 times a game as well as sit in a pocket and fire it. Js. Brock Purdy is proving they don’t have to be top 10 draft picks either.
January 24th, 2023 at 12:50 pm
claytons opinions are like a mike clayton drop over the middle for a 1st down!!
January 24th, 2023 at 12:53 pm
I agree that most of the season SO MANY of the Bucs just going through the motions, or at times per 45, “bored” in game. It insults the fans and the game itself… which is why there should be injury clauses intact so players can get paid even if hurt AND the clause that can also block some of the extra money if players are going through motions and not producing.
Something tells me the $$ would be a main driver even if ring complacency kicked in.
January 24th, 2023 at 12:55 pm
Brady isn’t without liability in the failures of this season!!!
January 24th, 2023 at 1:02 pm
Brady is done. Why do you people want him back? You have to build a brick wall around him just so he can push the ball 25 yards downfield. Did he engineer a couple comebacks? Yes, but if he would have completed some +5 yard passes in the first 3/4 of the game there wouldn’t have been a need for a comeback.
4600 YDs on 733 attempts, 6.4 yards per attempt, 25 TDs, 9 INTs. 1 TD pass every 29 attempts. Zero elusiveness and zero threat of throwing outside the pocket. Those are Mike Glennon numbers and attributes.
Everybody is living in the past.
January 24th, 2023 at 1:04 pm
Clayton tells the truth. Brady simply didn’t look good at times and really doesn’t have the mobility to extend plays. I am not saying he can’t win with the right team, just that Tampa is no longer the right team for Brady.
January 24th, 2023 at 1:05 pm
Clayton says a lot….I started tuning him out when was constantly proclaiming nothing was ever Winston’s fault.
January 24th, 2023 at 1:17 pm
Maybe the next OC that is hired we can understand more than 1/2 of the words that comes out of his mouth.
January 24th, 2023 at 1:19 pm
Joe, you need to get over brady coming back bro. It ain’t happening, like Gronk was never coming back.
January 24th, 2023 at 1:19 pm
The problem with the Bucs is anytime they draft a QB they don’t do much with them because they don’t give them time to sit. They usually just throw them in there right away & don’t really give them a chance to learn & then they go somewhere else & most of the time do better. Steve Young perfect example. He became a better QB when he went to SF. I just don’t trust Trask much because no QBs have success coming out of there. Tebow struggled Grossman struggled Wuerffel struggled & Leak struggled & they all came out of there. Not many QBs make it out of Michigan, Ohio St, Alabama & USC, too! Only ones that actually did anything were Palmer Theismann Starr Namath & of course Brady. Fields & Jones are just starting & Tua has been dealing with a bunch of injuries recently.
January 24th, 2023 at 1:41 pm
Bobby M. Says:
January 24th, 2023 at 1:05 pm
Clayton says a lot….I started tuning him out when was constantly proclaiming nothing was ever Winston’s fault.
______
Sticking up for JayMiss and Lefty?
Hmmmmmm………..what do those things have in common.
It’s a real mystery.
January 24th, 2023 at 1:43 pm
I think it was understood by all involved this would be Brady’s last season here. With BL, he was trying to make the best of a bad situation. He knew without Gronk, AB and a recovering Godwin, it was going to be a tough year. He’s not coming back here. Clayton is completely wrong. It’s never been about money for Brady. He looked washed at times, because of a bad line, no run game and an antiquated offense run by a bad coordinator. He was asked to win games by himself. He isn’t that guy anymore. That’s quite different than being washed up. I think he played injured too. That shoulder hit did something to his rotator. You don’t lose that degree of arm strength in 9 months. The finger bothered him also. I can’t understand why some want to lay the blame completely on him. If they had a run game and a healthy line, this would’ve been an 11 win team.
January 24th, 2023 at 1:54 pm
Tony Says: “I just don’t trust Trask much because no QBs have success coming out of there.”
That idiocy is why they didn’t pay you to draft Favre (Southern Miss), Rothlisberger (Miami of Ohio), Allen (Wyoming), Warner (Northern Iowa), etc. The list is long. Look it up, dummy.
January 24th, 2023 at 2:00 pm
I will miss all the Leftwich Quotes, like this one when asked about Tom Brady. “He Do What He Do” LOL
January 24th, 2023 at 2:01 pm
I will miss all the Leftwich Quotes, like this one when asked about Tom Brady. “He Do What He Do” LOL
I just tried to post this, and it said Duplicate Comment Detected!
I will try again, because this Blog “Does What It Does” LOL
January 24th, 2023 at 2:11 pm
@beano
Dude I’d have more faith in a QB coming out of there then a QB coming out of Florida. You forgot Mcnair on that list, too! He came out of Alcorn St. I want both Josh Allen coming out of there & Josh Allen coming out of Kentucky over Devin White, too!
SHANNON SHARPE (Savannah St)
AL HARRIS (Texas A & M Kingsville)
DARRELL GREEN (Texas A & M Kingsville)
JOHN RANDLE (Texas A & M Commerce)
MICHAEL STRAHAN (Texas Southern)
DONALD DRIVER (Alcorn St)
WALTER PAYTON (Jackson St)
KHALIL MACK (Buffalo) (wanted him also)
LONDON FLETCHER (John Carroll)
JARED ALLEN (Idaho St)
RODNEY HARRISON (Western Illinois)
I could keep going. So before you start calling somebody a dummy maybe think about it before you do because that’s the problem with some of these coaches & scouts. They don’t look to alot of the other schools where some of the talent is also & I definitely would consider some of them, too! So it’s not idiocy because I would look all over for talent coming out.🖕
January 24th, 2023 at 2:14 pm
Chris, it could’ve been worse. Him dos what he dos. I will miss the Leftismz
January 24th, 2023 at 2:18 pm
If Brady is Leftwich supporter, then Brady had to go also.
I doubt it. Brady respects coaches…on the surface. But maybe not in public. A short calm to one of the Glazers would cement Lertwich’s fate either way.
After the abysmal season and playoff one- and- done where there was little evidence of Brady juice, I lean toward retirement.
Unless his crypto losses were that massive.
January 24th, 2023 at 2:21 pm
I just hope the new OC opts away from that flat-brim hat.
January 24th, 2023 at 2:31 pm
Not firing Bowles will drive Brady elsewhere!!!
Let’s be real WHY are we trying to write passed the obvious
BOWLES IS NOT A HC
January 24th, 2023 at 2:39 pm
@beano
JOHN MOBLEY (Kutztown)
JERRY RICE (Mississippi Valley)
TY HILTON (Florida International)
Can keep going.
January 24th, 2023 at 2:43 pm
what if:
the playbook was a combo put together by brady and leftwich…
and that’s why there was so much camaraderie between the two…
and that playbook flopped out hard, and leftwich was the fall guy…but deep down brady knows he flopped out as the co-producer of this crappy offense…
and they never had to pass it by BA or that mysterious red pen for pre-game revisions…
and in essence, when they fired lefty, they sorta fired brady as an OC as well
January 24th, 2023 at 2:48 pm
@beano
VINCENT JACKSON (Northern Colorado)
AUSTIN EKELER (Western St)
HAASAN REDDICK (Temple)
ADAM VINATIERI (South Dakota St)
RANDY MOSS (Marshall)
Can keep going.
January 24th, 2023 at 4:03 pm
Clayton
NEfan Says:
January 24th, 2023 at 10:50 am
“…There may have been some resentment toward Bowles because BA forced him on Brady without notice. I doubt Brady comes out of retirement to play if he knew Bowles was HC. Brady saw Bowles in action when he pounded his arse twice a season while Bowles was coaching the Jets.”
I could be wrong but didn’t Bowles become head coach after Brady “retired?” Brady most likely came back because Arians was gone (possibly forced out by Brady).
January 24th, 2023 at 4:18 pm
@beano
ERIC DICKERSON (SMU)
EMMANUEL SANDERS (SMU)
VICTOR CRUZ (UMass)
RASHEAN MATHIS (Bethune Cookman)
ROBERT MATHIS (Alabama A & M)
ROD SMITH (Missouri St)
CHRIS COOLEY (Utah St)
MARQUES COLSTON (Hofstra)
Can keep going.
January 24th, 2023 at 4:21 pm
@beano
So yeah I pretty much would look all over if I was a scout or a GM & I’d probably do a better job then Licht & some of the fans probably would, too!
January 24th, 2023 at 4:24 pm
CLAYTON: “Brady is more so leaning on the side of not being here, which made this coaching change and eliminating a lot of the offensive coaches easier to do.”
What Clayton is saying – and I agree with him – is that the Bucs would not have fired the offensive coaches if they thought Brady returning was in play. It’s not in play, he’s not coming back, and so the Bucs cleaned house.
January 24th, 2023 at 4:26 pm
On other words, Brady indicating he is not returning came first, followed by the firings; not the firings first followed, by Brady not returning.
January 24th, 2023 at 4:30 pm
@ Tony,
I didn’t forget anyone on the list. My list was not comprehensive. Learn to read:
“…, ETC. The list is long. Look it up.”
Also look up what “etc.” means, because obviously you don’t know.
January 24th, 2023 at 5:24 pm
@beano
BRIAN WESTBROOK (Villanova)
HOWIE LONG (Villanova)
ANDRE REED (Kutztown)
DEMARCUS WARE (Troy)
OSI UMENYIORA (Troy)
JOHN TAYLOR (Delaware St)
AENEAS WILLIAMS (Southern)
BART SCOTT (Southern Illinois)
BRANDON JACOBS (Southern Illinois)
JASON TAYLOR (Akron)
DWIGHT SMITH (Akron)
DONNIE ABRAHAM (East Tennessee St)
RODDY WHITE (UAB)
Can keep going.
January 24th, 2023 at 5:30 pm
The Chef, no BA retired shortly after Brady came out of retirement.
January 24th, 2023 at 6:00 pm
“Redeemer Says:
January 24th, 2023 at 1:43 pm
I think it was understood by all involved this would be Brady’s last season here. With BL, he was trying to make the best of a bad situation. He knew without Gronk, AB and a recovering Godwin, it was going to be a tough year. He’s not coming back here. Clayton is completely wrong. It’s never been about money for Brady. He looked washed at times, because of a bad line, no run game and an antiquated offense run by a bad coordinator. He was asked to win games by himself. He isn’t that guy anymore. That’s quite different than being washed up. I think he played injured too. That shoulder hit did something to his rotator. You don’t lose that degree of arm strength in 9 months. The finger bothered him also. I can’t understand why some want to lay the blame completely on him. If they had a run game and a healthy line, this would’ve been an 11 win team.”
Completely agree with you, Redeemer. Good stuff, man.
January 24th, 2023 at 6:48 pm
Redeemer, I agree except he can still carry a team but not a bad team where mediocrity is commonplace and accepted by the HC. Bad shoulder or not, he makes no excuses for losing.
January 24th, 2023 at 6:56 pm
I bet Tom’s 100 talks a day with Slo-mo Leftwich went something like, “CAN WE NOT RUN THE F’NG BALL AT LEAST MORE THAN 25 PLAYS EVERY GAME? AND NOT JUST UP THE F’NG MIDDLE ON 1ST DOWN? OR THEY WILL LET YOU F’NG GO!!!!” 100 times a day, day after day week after week, month after month.
January 24th, 2023 at 8:52 pm
The Bucs OL was the sixth best pass blocking team in the NFL last year…at least in terms of sacks given up. Brady does get the ball out quickly OTOH he’s now a freaking gun shy statue squirming around back there with happy feet.
The next team he goes to has to be loaded on the OL. Now some will point out some successful teams that had their QB sacked far more frequently…the Bengals for example…But Joe Burrows is FAR superior to the current version of Brady.
The former Brady might have resembled him a bit in the ability to move and buy time but no longer.
I like TB, appreciate the SB, but he needs to retire for his own health and reputation. Hated watching Willie Mays, Johnny U and others who embarrassed themselves hanging on too long.
The smartest player perhaps to ever play in the NFL…Jimmy Brown who left the game on top and IMHO the best RB to ever play in the NFL.
January 24th, 2023 at 9:00 pm
@Tony,
Ask doc to up meds.
January 24th, 2023 at 10:56 pm
In summary.
Can’t. Get. Drunk. Enough.
January 25th, 2023 at 11:07 am
Brady means instant dollars for any team that signs him for all the tickets and merch he’d sell for them. Clayton is wrong that no one would give him a fat contract.