Bucs’ 2023 Season Is Final Chapter Of Tom Brady’s Legacy
May 22nd, 2023
NFL fans know what happened when Tom Brady left the Patriots and headed to Tampa.
The old debate fired up hotter than ever.
Who was more important to New England’s success, Brady or Bill Belicheat? The question was asked across the nation.
The answer came in a hurry. Brady won the Super Bowl in his first Bucs season while Belicheat finished 7-9 with Cam Newton at quarterback and a defense that faded late in the season.
But while Joe thinks Brady is the greatest quarterback of all-time, Joe believes Brady still has one more season of judgment before him. Fair or not, there will be scrutiny of Brady based on how the Bucs perform in their first season without him.
Tampa Bay was 8-9 last season with few pointing a finger of blame at Brady himself. Joe doesn’t hang a lot of blame on Brady for the Bucs’ sad 2022 offense, but The Goat’s great influence appeared impotent when it came to improving the Bucs’ stale playcalling and their energy late in the season.
It was as if The Brady Effect had its plug pulled for no apparent reason.
So Joe thinks Bucs fans — and Brady fans — should prepare themselves for darts being fired at Brady if the Bucs are as good or better than they were last season with Baker Mayfield and/or Kyle Trask starting at quarterback. (Still plenty of Brady haters around the country.)
And if the Bucs stink, well, the Brady gushing won’t stop flowing all year.
May 22nd, 2023 at 12:10 pm
People weren’t shy to give Brady 100% of the credit for the team’s success when he arrived in Tampa but they sure don’t want to give him any of the blame for its failure. Funny how that works.
May 22nd, 2023 at 12:16 pm
Leftwich left. That’s why they will be better, if they are. Neither Trask nor Mayfield will have Brady’s numbers. Or presence.
May 22nd, 2023 at 12:21 pm
Who was more important to New England’s success, Brady or Bill Belicheat?
That´s a stupid question, that is the only truth, both were great and the synergy was awesome until it was not….
May 22nd, 2023 at 12:21 pm
You’re right about the Brady haters Joe…I work with this chick that can’t stand him. Constantly rooted for Brady to lose. Called him cheater and such.
May 22nd, 2023 at 12:26 pm
Brady did not play at a high level last year. Pretty sure most people could see that if they watched more than 1 whole Bucs game. That tied with horrible coaching, young Lineman & mistakes sunk the Bucs last year. They never seemed to be on the same page last year…
May 22nd, 2023 at 12:27 pm
It left as he walked out the door for final time
May 22nd, 2023 at 12:30 pm
It’s unfair to just say 2023 was the final chapter of Brady’s legacy. I would say that his ENTIRE three years with the Bucs was the final chapter in his legacy. Some fans and media have reduced his entire stay with the Bucs to his 2023 season. Let’s not forget he won a SB his first year during a pandemic that limited his offense. He also put up some amazing numbers that year. In 2021, he was just in the MVP race! A subpar season last year is definitely not a defining part of his 23 year legacy. Brady, like Lebron, are held to impossibly high standards at their age because they’re both outliers as they’ve been able to sustain greatness past their prime.
The media already have the hot take machine revved up if the offense is improved from last year. It’s really not that hard to improve on the anemic offense from last year. And, yes, Brady was part of the problem with the offense last year, but let’s not engage in revisionist history and act like his entire stay with the Bucs should be boiled down to his last year with the team.
The media will also engage in revisionist history when it comes to Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers had a down year last year, but the man won MVP in 2021. How little we forget. He, like Brady, also had deficiencies in the offense that hindered their play. They’re both very older players who need more help around them than they have in the past. If the Packers are better this year, fans and media will have the same dumb narrative that people are trying to frame with Brady. For what it’s worth, i predict Rodgers will win the MVP this year. I’m putting money on it
May 22nd, 2023 at 12:31 pm
Brady always has competed to do the best he can within the framework of the coach’s system. That is his nature. He should have retired after the SB win. His pyscho competiveness got the best of him to not walk away. Then the painful divorce during the following football season became his undoing. Football is too emotional a game to play when you are occupied with deep emotional issues or events. Significant emotional events impact us beyond what we realize. Like with Andy Reid’s son car accident before the SB, I knew the Bucs would win. Or Buffalo’s early exit from the playoffs after the Hamlin incident. It is a pattern I seen repeated over and over again with football teams.
May 22nd, 2023 at 12:33 pm
Joe says: “It was as if The Brady Effect had its plug pulled for no apparent reason.”
The Brady effect was pulled when Brady bolted training camp for almost 2 weeks
May 22nd, 2023 at 12:34 pm
JOE: “Brady won the Super Bowl in his first Bucs season while Belicheat finished 7-9.”
An apples and oranges comparison, really. The Bucs were loaded, except at the quarterback position, which is why Brady chose the Bucs. The Patriots were not loaded.
May 22nd, 2023 at 12:40 pm
@Lol. The fact that we even expect a 45 year old to play at a high level is amazing in itself. People forget he was 45! Warren Moon was one of my favorite QBs of all time, and no one expected him to win at his advanced age. The old man should’ve retired after he won the SB after leaving the Pats. He had nothing to prove and it would only lead to what’s happening with the current discourse that’s being discussed about him. Yeah, he had still had stuff left in his tank as proven by his 2021 season, but I would rather go out on top. I don’t care if I could still play at a high level.
May 22nd, 2023 at 12:41 pm
Tom Brady had a passer rating of 90.7 with 4,694 yards, 25 touchdowns and 9 interceptions in 17 games in 2022.(statmuse)
I wonder how many QB’s in the history of the league would like to have these stats as their “down” year?
May 22nd, 2023 at 12:49 pm
Last year’s Bucs offense – led by Tom Brady – was hard to watch….
There is a very high probability that the 2023 Buccaneers offense will score more than 18 ppg.
May 22nd, 2023 at 12:50 pm
Well said, gp.
May 22nd, 2023 at 12:53 pm
Offensive line play was horrid last year.
May 22nd, 2023 at 12:54 pm
It’s reductive thinking to say just because a team is “loaded” it will automatically equal success. To say all this team needed to win a SB was a competent QB is foolish. I’ve seen great QBs without a “loaded” team win a SB. Last year with Mahomes being one example, and Brady won with lesser talented skill players. Let’s not act like he had great skill players his entire career.
Finally, even with a talented roster. Brady and Leftwich weren’t just passengers during our run. They were an integral part of the team. Let’s not forget that our offense averaged 30 points during our SB year. That’s pretty good. Yes, our defense played great during our SB run, except for the WAS game. Something people seem to forget. We wouldn’t have made it out of the WC if the offense didn’t play lights out. Leftwich had some of his best play calling during the playoffs in our SB year.
May 22nd, 2023 at 1:12 pm
Brady was the reason for the turnaround. It will come to light this season or should I say come to Licht this season.
May 22nd, 2023 at 1:31 pm
It was all Brady, Not Ariens or Bowles. w/o Brady lucky to win a game or two.
May 22nd, 2023 at 1:33 pm
Brady looked more like a deer in headlights than a goat last year. His stats were a mirage. Regardless, the 2023 Bucs’ outcome won’t impact Brady’s legacy one bit. He can blame the porous line & Lefty for his final year dud.
May 22nd, 2023 at 1:45 pm
I’m optimistic for the Bucs to have a better record this season because I think (and pray) the offensive line performs better. The running game should improve as will pass protection. If the defense does its job and ST does theirs to give the new “we can’t risk it, where’s my biscuit?” offense good field position and extra possessions, it could be a 10 win season (with some luck thrown in). Not to mention an upgrade at OC. Yeah, Canales is still an unknown, but a goldfish with a headset would be an upgrade.
That wouldn’t and shouldn’t reflect poorly on Brady for last year’s decline any more than blasting the RBs who had no holes to run through.
I believe Lenny had about 2.5 yards after contact and his average gain was about the same number. Hard to get good numbers when you’re hit immediately. We’re going to miss his dependability and sure hands but he was a cap cut I’m sure.
I’m grateful for all that Brady brought. A SB victory, back-to-back division titles and playoffs all 3 years (even though last year was nothing to be too proud about). Oh, and swept the Slimy Saints last year, too. Lol
May 22nd, 2023 at 1:50 pm
I’m always excited for the season.
May 22nd, 2023 at 1:51 pm
Brady’s career had to end sometime. Look at Farve. He went to the NFC championship with the Vikings and the next year he just fell off the cliff.
May 22nd, 2023 at 1:58 pm
The whole team was emotionally drained after the roller-coaster offseason was punctuated by losing Jensen.
We made Todd Bowles our head coach.
Dropped passes happened too much all year, but for a while it was unbelievably bad.
Todd Bowles is our head coach.
Gronk was important. He was super gotdang important.
It was mentioned during the Rams game that Tampa, so far, had the worst run game in the history of the NFL
I miss Ali.
Our defense was quitting in the middle of plays.
Lavonte aged out (not a knock)
Evans aged out (not a knock)
Joe Tryon was a 1st round selection.
Todd Bowles.
Logan Hall was a 1st round selection.
Vernon Hargreaves 1st rd.
Noah Spence 2nd rd.
Roberto Aguayo 2nd rd, gave up a pick & moved up.
We released Ryan Succop because he just wasn’t cutting it lol.
Bunting 2nd rd is gone.
OJ 1st rd bye bye.
Rojo 2nd rd gone.
Kyle Trask 2nd rd whatever.
White, picked 5th, will be gone.
Donovan Smith went back to not trying.
Chris Godwin makes such a huge difference, doesn’t he? Man, thank God we got CG back.
Yeah, we’re all set now that Brady is out of the way.
May 22nd, 2023 at 1:58 pm
the OL was the big issue last yr , we just couldn’t run the ball; both Licht’s fault . Put that together with Leftwich & bowleszo = disaster
the loss of Jensen was VERY significant. the effects of that loss in late july was exaggerated when Licht did not replace him with proven vet-he had plenty of time to do it -but chose not to ……
May 22nd, 2023 at 2:10 pm
Footnote
May 22nd, 2023 at 2:15 pm
@gp
Stats cannot be compared over distant years. Due to repeat NFL rule changes over the years to open up the passing game, the average interception percentage of quarterbacks has dropped by about 50%, from around 4% to 5% in the 1960s and 1970s to around 2% today, giving today’s quarterbacks higher quarterback ratings.
May 22nd, 2023 at 2:20 pm
yes all about Leftwich sadly — the wasted season
May 22nd, 2023 at 2:48 pm
This is a stupid point. There are too many other variables… For instance, on defense we got younger, faster, and more athletic. On offense, we’ve changed philosophies and have added some talent. If they’re better on offense, you can’t really say Brady was the problem last year. That’s a stretch. If the offense performs better, it’s likely a combination of things, starting with a new OC and philosophy.
Wish we could stop referencing everything back to Br**y… He’s not here, we’ve moved on, he’s moved on… frankly, it always felt like he was just visiting anyway. I’m excited about the future and don’t care about celebrity QBs.
May 22nd, 2023 at 3:19 pm
Bradys final chapter is he left New England after winning all those superbowls, then winning a superbowl in his first season with the Buccaneers..that’s what people are going to remember
May 22nd, 2023 at 3:20 pm
Players are always more important than coaches. That said, I doubt Brady wins 6 in New England without Bill. They both kept everyone in line, and wouldn’t allow complacency. Don’t forget, it was belichick who devised a defense that ended the 9ers dynasty, and beat the k gun offense. No coach wins without great players
May 22nd, 2023 at 3:21 pm
Brady’s final chapter is that he’s now part owner of the Las Vegas Raiders
May 22nd, 2023 at 4:01 pm
Man I hope baker has 25 td’s 9 int’s and 4700 yards this year. That will be a raging success!
May 22nd, 2023 at 4:02 pm
If baker has 25 tds, 9 ints, and 4700 passing yards this year, we go to the playoffs again.
May 22nd, 2023 at 4:23 pm
Ha 3-14 ought to prove plenty
May 22nd, 2023 at 4:59 pm
But he played for todd bowles..sorry i will always be pissed off at bowles forever for tom brady having his 1st losing season in 23 years. Yes at the end of the day I blame bowles. I refuse to blame brady or have the audacity to blame him after being a bucs fan since 76. Bowles inherited a competent enuff team to have a winning record and add to that the extreme misfortunes of our opponents with their injuries last year. We never looked better from week 1 to week 18…That is the coach!!
May 22nd, 2023 at 5:01 pm
I really wanted to see brady play one more season with the 49ers or raiders just to see the bowles effect
May 22nd, 2023 at 5:23 pm
@chark…Brady with the 49ers this season? With that coach and that talent on both sides of the ball? Fit him for his 8th ring. Lol
I’m looking forward to a very interesting season for our Bucs. Opening day can’t come fast enough!
May 22nd, 2023 at 5:30 pm
TBBF doesn’t throw darts at any player or coach who helped us win a SB……..Gruden, Johnson, Arians & Brady are the best in my book.
And, put Gruden back in the ROH, please!!!
May 22nd, 2023 at 5:48 pm
@gp – you nailed it.
Yes, Brady had a few sub-par games and moments last year, but he was hardly the main reason we lost so many games…
May 22nd, 2023 at 6:09 pm
He let that women break him , went out with a whimper
May 22nd, 2023 at 8:35 pm
People wanting to blame Brady don’t seem to understand the fact that he has consistently won for a long stretch of his career. Are we really going to say we blame Brady equally to say, Kurt Warner? Give me a break. Brady is the GOAT.
2022 was marred by off the field issues for Brady where a divorce made him question whether his commitment to football was really worth it at 45. Brady is still better than 90% of the starting QBs in the league, but there comes a time where you have to factor in other priorities. If only we had Brady a couple of years earlier. We would have got 2 SBs in 5 years for sure.
Can you blame a guy going through personal problems? I can’t.
May 22nd, 2023 at 11:11 pm
We had an elite offensive line his first two years. His third year we didn’t and that doesn’t work with a 45 year old statue who doesn’t want to get hit.
May 22nd, 2023 at 11:29 pm
Umm…. I thought this was a team sport?
Or this an attempt to write a Brady story. Let me guess…. Gronk story tomorrow.
May 23rd, 2023 at 1:43 am
Judge Brady by this team?
This team no longer is the Super Bowl team of 2020. It is also not the team of 2021 or even last years team.
Your premise is flawed.
I did not and will not blame the offensive woes of last year on Brady. To the contrary he did a masterful job of allowing us to get to the 8-9 record we had when you consider all the factors. Any QB who says he could have done better is delusional. We have been spoiled by his abilities while playing with superior talent that he had in previous seasons. Talent he did not have last year for various reasons.
This years team is still a work in progress and much has changed this off season. Judging Brady by what Bowles and company do with a new OC is also ludicrous.
How many offensive opening day starters are in the same place as last year? Two!
Hope all the changes work.
Go Bucs!
May 23rd, 2023 at 5:52 am
The bucs gave Brady everything he wanted they let him do what he wanted to do and last year no one had more power than Brady other than the Glazers. They let him bring in any player he wanted remember what Brady wants Brady gets remember? He changed the game plan the day before the game and BL didn’t know until the game started and that’s a proven fact. Joe you had a actually showed it on the site when they asked if he changes the game plan and Brady never denied it. They let Brady take off 11 days in training camp and they also let him go to Robert Kraft wedding a day before the game. No one held him accountable for not flying with the team to the game or back from the game . And most of y’all made BL the scapegoat on offense and Brady was changing the game plan every week. And now Brady don’t even mention the bucs but this is what you get when you make one player bigger than the team. No one had the power to tell Brady no but maybe BA and he got sent up stairs. But now days it’s call haten when you tell the truth!!!
May 23rd, 2023 at 7:02 am
Poor coaching. No Gronk.
Injuries, lack of commitment by team especially with tackling.
Bradys distracting divorce. Saw Brady gave A half enthusiastic pep talk during the game, because it seemed like bench was hardly listening anyway. Most of this is NOT on Brady, too many other factors.
May 23rd, 2023 at 7:57 am
Steve. I know it’s never Brady’s fault and that’s why he done the things he did last year. I wonder if any other quarterback will get away with what Brady did last year? But again this is what you get when you’re organization and fan base is weak. If Brady would have went to the Pittsburgh Steelers he would have never been allowed to miss 11 days of training camp. People get divorce every day unfortunately and they still have to go to work everyday and work hard so if you’re not going to give other people a pass who makes less money than Brady than you can’t give Brady a pass either.
May 23rd, 2023 at 9:19 am
Oneilbuc
I speak to you as a fellow Christian.
What you express as “truth” (not capitalized) is heavily influenced by an obviously palpable hatred bias. It is obvious in your posts.
Let it go Brother!
Let it go, lest it become a weight around your neck that drags you into the abyss.
From one Christian to another.
May 23rd, 2023 at 9:34 am
GP. Where did I lie about the organization and Brady? I don’t hate Brady at all but when any one tell the truth about Brady and how he acted last year people call it hate . And yes if you are my brother in Christ regardless if we disagree about Brady or the bucs!!!
May 23rd, 2023 at 9:49 am
I didn’t say you “lied”.
I did say your statements are “influenced”.
You know who the “influencer” is!
Let it go Brother!
It’s past.