Bruce Arians: New England Didn’t Allow Tom Brady To Coach
January 18th, 2021
The unofficial quote of the year for the Bucs was delivered by offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich back in April.
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger shared a text exchange with Leftwich during an exchange on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
“I texted Byron and said, like, ‘Hey, don’t screw it up.’” referring to the Bucs signing Tom Brady. “And he said, ‘All I got to do is get out of the way.’”
It seems Bucco Bruce Arians took Leftwich’s line and ran with it, and last night he put it into fantastic perspective for NBC Sports uber insider Peter King.
Patriots fans might choke on their Pop-Tarts after reading what Arians said.
“Consummate leader,” Arians said of Brady. “Has been all year. Got the air of confidence that permeates through our team every day. I allow him to be himself. Like, New England didn’t allow him to coach. I allow him to coach. I just sit back sometimes and watch.”
Ouch!
Well, Joe can’t ignore all the success the Belicheats had with Brady, so it’s not like they blew it keeping more of a leash on Brady. But it is fun to think that maybe Coach Brady, finally free to work without someone over his shoulder, has a lot more to give than he dished out in New England.
Buccaneers legend Derrick Brooks is here this morning to talk about yesterday’s physical and aggressive masterpiece. It’s more TAMPA TWO with Ira Kaufman from The Identity Tampa Bay and Joe.
January 18th, 2021 at 9:17 am
I hope he wants to stay in Tampa after he retires from playing. He would make a great head coach
January 18th, 2021 at 9:17 am
Dang ….ouch is right….i love it !
Belicheat wont need to start his fire place this morning cause that right there is a full BURN!
😂
January 18th, 2021 at 9:19 am
The true mark of a great leader is to trust those under their leadership……
This statement from Arians causes me to gain total respect…..a complete absence of ego.
January 18th, 2021 at 9:20 am
Watching nfl network this morning
Did you see brady go meet with brees and wife and kids on the field after game. He threw a td pass to brees kid. Thats class boys
The goat 🐐!
January 18th, 2021 at 9:22 am
I hope the Joe’s don’t mind the name change…I promise I’m not attempting to post as a “double agent”. It’s an ode to two former number 1 overall picks…who threw countless picks and provided either poor or no leadership whatsoever. There’s a TB12 in town…Tompa Bay it is!
January 18th, 2021 at 9:25 am
Bird…the GOAT indeed.
January 18th, 2021 at 9:31 am
I get that, but where did he learn everything from? Now with his experience and being around a great coach he has been built into being the perfect coach. He’s awesome!!! I love that Arians got him here and I love Licht got Arians. What a turnaround. Go Bucs!!!!
January 18th, 2021 at 9:32 am
Well not allowing him to coach = 9 SBs and 6 rings. Nothing to scoff at it. Whatever worked worked damn well and obviously not nothing to be against…But….then we have Leftwich here not McDaniels so Brady should be coaching all he wants to
January 18th, 2021 at 9:34 am
I wasn’t a Brady fan when he played in New England. Thus, I had mixed emotions when he signed with the Bucs. But, as I said before the season began if he is able to resurrect this downtrodden franchise he will unquestionably be the GOAT. He is the GOAT. Now go get us a conference championship and a ticket to the Superbowl.
January 18th, 2021 at 9:38 am
I can see Belichik not allowing Brady to coach, because he is such a butthole control freak.
January 18th, 2021 at 9:41 am
Please be reminded: Brady leaving New England didn’t just happen last year at contract time, it started earlier. And TB21 was great about it all throughout. IMO, Belichick forced Brady out. TB always gave the Patriots a friendly contract. Many other teams would have signed him, if he wanted to leave earlier. Belichick’s arrogance said: I can win with anyone and my coaching. Obviously, he underestimated what was going on…for 20 years. Now, Belichick is claiming that it’s about the money; they team paid for past year’s Super Bowls. And everybody knows that if you want top dollar, NE is not the place. And the rumours circulated that Brady had more influence than Belichcik…which came up during the Garrapollo trade; Belichick throwing TB under the bus. Note: Kraft loved TB; didn’t want him leaving. Summary: that relationship was not simply about a final contract. TB was always about winning and putting the team first. And guess which team TB12 now puts first?
January 18th, 2021 at 9:48 am
Gronk summarizes the difference between Belicheck and Arians and he said “FREEDOM!!!”
January 18th, 2021 at 9:50 am
Brady learned from Willie And Teddy and those pats veterans when he was young. He sure didn’t learn interpersonal skills from BB or Macdaniels. Brady himself says that those guys shaped him .
January 18th, 2021 at 9:50 am
The BL hate is embarrassing and down right sad…..just like Brady, BL is by far the best OC we’ve ever had point blank period…..
Coaches coach…players play…
Folks around the league who know and play(ed) the game are praising BL for a great game plan and some clueless fans are complaining about our offense only scoring 30 points….lol…
BL AND BOWLES WORKED MAGIC
GO BUCS
January 18th, 2021 at 9:51 am
TBBF
Great point about BA not letting his ego get in the way.
Bill Belichik will certainly be in the HOF. I believe a strong case could be made that it’s entirely because of Brady. BB needed Brady…not the other way around.
BB is a GREAT Defensive Coordinator. How many great DC’s are in the HOF.
As a head coach…take away Brady and BB is a LOSER…LITERALLY.
I’m not being hyperbolic here…consider some FACTS!
BB had just ONE winning season in 7 years he had to coach without Brady including his first and last in NE and the 5 in Cleveland.
ONE WINNING SEASON IN SEVEN TRIES. C’mon man!!! That sucks!
BB’s winning % without Brady… .428
BB is now 55 games behind the late Don Shula for most wins. He’s not gonna make it without Brady. Again an excellent DC…not even mediocre as an HC
BB’s plaque in the Hall should have a giant asterisk..*Thanks to Tom Brady
January 18th, 2021 at 9:52 am
I love having brady on my beloved buccaneers, but make no mistake about it, tom had his choice of where he wanted to go, several teams wanted him, he CHOSE US, he was not lured by anyone, maybe except OUR EXCEPTIONAL RECEIVING CORP’S headed up by future hall of famer ME 13, and perennial pro bowler CG 14, TOM WANTED TO MAKE A STATEMENT, and take what was a downtrodden franchise although one loaded with talent, and show the world that truly He is Thee GOAT bar none, I used to hate him thru the years, the more he won, I started to respect him, and that turned to admiration, and a love and appreciation for not only his talent but his professionalism, he is a class act, thanks Kraft and BB for being so narrow minded, AND MAKING A HUGE MISSCALCULATION, and THANK YOU TOM, FOR CHOOSING US, & RIGHTING THE SHIP, LFG BUCS !!!!!!!!
January 18th, 2021 at 9:53 am
You also can’t discount that Belicheck always casts off players past their prime earlier than most would. Doesn’t overpay for past production when the future (appears) to only offer diminishing returns. It’s smart business typically, but he obviously errored in doubting the goat.
January 18th, 2021 at 9:54 am
It’s ALWAYS been Brady…. Belichick was a losing coach every single year until Brady came along then he made all these playoffs and super bowls… Now Brady is gone and Belichick is learning it wasn’t HIS genius that won all those games… There’s just something about Tom… I hope to God, I pray please pleeeeeease Brady if you want to get into coaching when you retire pleeeeeease be the bucs off. Coordinator!! AT THE LEAST!! If not head coach when Bruce leaves!!
January 18th, 2021 at 9:57 am
Stop with the BL hate. The Saints played to take away the pass. Opening up the run game. BL took what they gave him. That’s his job. That’s a great Saints D . Brady’s audibles to the run were timely also. That’s how u win grinders. Bucs proved they can win defensive , grinder type games.
January 18th, 2021 at 10:02 am
Arrogance, Belichick’s assistant coaches were quoted saying they could of won with any QB. Ironic Pat’s are home working on their XBOX skills. Since 2016 Pat’s were 32nd when it came to salary cap as Bill made $25 mil. The Grasshopper is now the teacher. My guess Bill & Kraft are in hiding, held up somewhere on Bill’s boat 6 Rings where they cannot hear the Boston sports media bark how Brady is the main reason all their winning success. To confirm it even more look up Belichick’s record pre Brady. Good for you Bucs fans you have the GOAT!!
January 18th, 2021 at 10:06 am
813bucboi
Geez man give it a rest. 3rd & 1 is not the time to throw deep.
May I remind you that you used to have a hard on for Vern Heargraves too… how’d that work out?
January 18th, 2021 at 10:07 am
It was a great game planning by Leftwich and Bowles. They definitely did their homework. Saints defense is not a walk in the park, same thing with the saints offense. Great job to the coaching staff. Next week is a much bigger homework and please continue studying hard. Dont let this win get in your head. It’s done, move on.
January 18th, 2021 at 10:09 am
Jmark
You had a hard for Winston chump….how’d that work out?…
Brady had a man open in the flat twice….BRADY chose to throw deep….what don’t you clowns understand?…
You act like BL called 4verts on 3rd&1….lol…
GO BUCS
January 18th, 2021 at 10:13 am
As much as I didnt like some of the plays they ran on 3rd and short, lets just give them the benefit of the doubt that they had to run them to keep the saints honest later in the game.
January 18th, 2021 at 10:14 am
Jmarkbuc..lol.
January 18th, 2021 at 10:17 am
813..where’d you see these men open in the flat?
They show some kind of replay or something…I never saw anything on the replays.
January 18th, 2021 at 10:20 am
87
Look at the replay…3rd&1 fournette was open in the flat…Brady threw deep to AB….
GO BUCS
January 18th, 2021 at 10:20 am
Bucboi you must have me confused with someone else.
Not close to being a Winston fan… not in the same area code.
January 18th, 2021 at 10:24 am
Bucboi
So if it’s a bad decision, it’s on the six time Super Bowl winning quarterback. All the good decisions are BL’s is that about it?
It’s OK for you to like BL but every post singing his praises is ridiculous. He ain’t all that… who has asked him to interview?
January 18th, 2021 at 10:25 am
The Belichick vs Brady debate won’t be settled this year (if ever), as Brady moved on to a loaded team (plus attracted even more talent as in AB, Gronk, etc.) and Belichick was left to coach a decimated team. So not a fair comparison. If Belichick moved to coach the Bucs and Brady stayed with the Pats, I still think, the Bucs do very well this year and the Pats suck (with Edelman out, they don’t have a single receiver, half the defense took the year out due to Covid, etc. I don’t think even the GOAT could salvage that ship).
In my opinion, the first three Pats Super Bowls (early 2000’s) Belichick accounted for 60% of the success and Brady 40%. Since then it had been the other way around – Brady 60%, Belichick 40%.
Just an opinion, you can’t prove it either way.
January 18th, 2021 at 10:26 am
Saints played 2-deep, because they thought we could not run the ball (which, history said was the correct move). We are so much a better team than we were at the break it’s incredible
January 18th, 2021 at 10:27 am
Why don’t BA shut up and stop talking about locker room stuff! Does he not have a filter or at least leave private matters private?
January 18th, 2021 at 10:29 am
Jmark
Nawl it was you….
I’m saying neither BRADY OR BL are perfect….but clowns like you never want to give BL credit and bash him every chance you get….
BL called a great game…Brady played great but he also missed a couple throws….but folks never want to talk about that….
I hope no one does interview him….can you imagine the best OC in Bucs history leaving?….that’ll be a sad day for TRUE BUCS FANS….
GO BUCS
January 18th, 2021 at 10:37 am
The clown known as “Brady is a cheater”, aka El Buco Realisto, predicted a 48-3 Saints win. How can one person be wrong so much?
January 18th, 2021 at 10:38 am
anyone tell Winston this is why he HAD to go… He was holding the Bucs back!
January 18th, 2021 at 10:40 am
Belichecks way worked…..for a very long time. To change from what’s working to accommodate Brady and Gronk, that just wasn’t the Patriot Way. Hindsight is always 20/20. Much is made of Brady leaving the Pats but it could have been more a longevity move then anything. His two top destinations were warm weather climates. He gave everything to NE and i think he wisely negotiated an agreement to be able to leave to extend his career. I think Craft and Belicheck were ok with parting ways. Let’s not forget Belicheck has sent top tier guys packing in trades with no disregard for hurting anyone’s feelings.
January 18th, 2021 at 10:48 am
Sqrd0q, you answered your own question, surround the GOAT with talent. Belichick did not that is why team is decimated. BB is the GM he is in charge of draft picks. 2020 Pat’s had no TE, no QB, and other than Edleman who would start as a #2 no receivers. Not exactly the recipe for a winning team. They did have a great special teams unit & oline. Oh, by the way Brady went 12-4 in 2019 with NO offense other than Edleman. That’s the facts. Brady asked for input but was discounted. BA appreciates the player, BB not so much, drop u on a dime. Karma
January 18th, 2021 at 10:48 am
Well I disagreed with some of the play calls at 3rd and short for long passes, I actually think there was a method to the madness. The New Orleans Saints pass defence was ranked 21st in the NFL by pro football focus. The reason for this was not the quality of the defensive players but rather that they led the league in holding and pass interference penalties. Anyone of those deep shots had a significant chance of ending up as a pass interference based on historical play by that defense. So a 30 or 40 yard pass play that’s completed or is PI is the same.
January 18th, 2021 at 10:49 am
Hey everyone just ENJOY THIS DAY. lol It has been 18 yrs to the day after they seal clubbed the 49ers in the divisional round and then moved on to shut down the VET in Philly on their way to destroying the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII. So again, enjoy today!!!! GO BUCS!!!!
January 18th, 2021 at 11:07 am
Roethlisberger to BL: ‘Hey, don’t screw it up.’” referring to the Bucs signing Tom Brady.
BL to Roethlisberger: ‘All I got to do is get out of the way.’”
Hey 813bucboi … Kudos to BL. He’s done an excellent job of doing what he said he’d do.
January 18th, 2021 at 11:13 am
Fact: Brady wanted out after Belichick kicked Brady’s business partner and body coach out of the Pat’s facilities, and refused Pat players from going to him for additional counseling and help.
January 18th, 2021 at 11:18 am
@Listnfrmafar … “Oh, by the way Brady went 12-4 in 2019 with NO offense other than Edleman. That’s the facts.”
Uhhh, you MIGHT want to add in that 2019 12-4 season record that the Patriots DEFENSE ranked #1 in Points Allowed (only 225 pts) AND also #1 in Total Yardage Allowed (at only 4414 yds).
And oh ya, in their 12 wins that same DEFENSE gave up a TOTAL of 110 points … as in 9.2 PPG average. And oh ya, contributed 32 takeaways in those 12 games to MAYBE help the Pats’ offense out by giving them some short fields to work with.
Tom Brady is an excellent QB and has had an awesome career. But one thing about excellent QBs that I’m confident all of them would tell you: they’re blessed to play on excellent TEAMS.
January 18th, 2021 at 11:19 am
Self confidence means everything in any human effort. But an overblown ego can get in the way at times. Tom Brady’s second incarnation as an NFL QB has allowed him to blossom like a desert flower here in Tampa Bay. Kudos to BA for keeping his own ego in check when needed. TB and BA have both set superb examples.
We finally have a champion level team precisely because we have a whole bunch of stars who unselfishly play for each other.
Enough said, go Bucs! Bring home that Lombardi!
January 18th, 2021 at 11:21 am
@Listnfrmafar: +1 🙂
It’s good for football. It’s great for Tampa, And it’s ideal for TB. This team can keep winning, and not just this year.
And because TB12 is such a team guy, I won’t say it’s all Brady. It’s not. However, his influence and inspiration- beyond just throwing the ball -is immeasurable. Let’s just say: this is a top team that needed TB12 to get to the top, yeah?
January 18th, 2021 at 11:25 am
813 to DR: Offense will take time to gel…
DR to 813: we should be scoring 30+ a game….
813 to DR: BL IS WORKING MAGIC
DR to 813:…….
He’s eating crow now!!!!!…lol…
I’m sure Big Ben wishes he had BL now…..the Steelers don’t even have a OC right now!…lol…
BL is one of the main reasons why we’re here….can’t deny that….
GO BUCS
January 18th, 2021 at 11:38 am
There’s numerous reasons why Brady left the Patriots. But the biggest reason is that Bill is always shipping guys out when he feels that they are not worth the money they are asking in his eyes. Watch what happens with Stephon Gilmore. He’s older and is a free agent. Bill won’t pay him or match an offer on the open market. Up here in New England, that also has been the Patriot way unfortunately. Ask Randy Moss.
January 18th, 2021 at 11:52 am
I’m just going to ask you straight up 813. Are you BL?
January 18th, 2021 at 11:55 am
813 is actually BL Jr. Thats his daddy!!
January 18th, 2021 at 12:05 pm
813
Not a JW fan.. you’re delusional. Check yo sheet.
Or my posts. Or don’t.
January 18th, 2021 at 12:12 pm
@”I just sit back sometimes and watch.”…..”
————————————————-
That is all we ask, that is what we hope is true…..for a second non of the coaches should think that is their merit for our team, our city, our metropolitan area, to be in this wonderful position. Is TB12, and the high class of players we have, and the depth….
Tom brought live to this area…. we LOVE him and we know we are here because of HIM.
Soooo, yeah BA,BL…. stay back and watch.
January 18th, 2021 at 12:22 pm
Just remember who started all this. Brady would never be here if not for Bruce. Bruce would not be here if not for Licht. And who brought Licht here?….Lovie Smith. Give Lovie all the credit. He was the true engineer hahahaha
GO BUCS.
January 18th, 2021 at 12:39 pm
After Jameis plowed this franchise into the ground Jason Licht had one last trick in his back pocket and that was his connection to Bruce Arians. It is all history after that.
January 18th, 2021 at 12:52 pm
@JimmyJack … “Give Lovie all the credit.”
LMAO. That’s awesome circular reasoning JimmyJack. Almost as good as BucBoi giving BL some ‘magical credit’ for not screwing it up by getting out of the way.
January 18th, 2021 at 12:54 pm
813bucboi … Yup, eating crow. Nothing says ‘our OC is a genius’ like our offense scoring 3 TDs based on getting 63 yards of offense. Now THAT’S efficiency.
January 18th, 2021 at 1:25 pm
Yeah JimmyJack, but Lovie wouldn’t be here if not for his prior Bucs service thanks to Dungy. So follow the trail, Arians won with Dungy’s team!
January 18th, 2021 at 1:45 pm
@Steve Gaudreau: Have you considered that TB12 was the Patriots way; embodied it. That mess the NEP threw out this season resembled the Sullivan Stadium ROTS.
Personally, I always wanted to see TB12 surrounded with a great cast. And they’re having fun! I believe that Belichick intentionally suffocated Brady out of NE; made sure to put fringe players or less around him- even on the O-line! That’s what I saw…and was hoping TB would get the heck away from him. Things couldn’t be better in Central FLA…a chance for the Bowl and a promising future for a few more tries.
Have you notised how many good/great players want to come to Tampa, now?
January 18th, 2021 at 2:20 pm
Was nice to see defense finally show up and flex 💪
1 down 2 to go! GO BUCS WIN
January 18th, 2021 at 5:05 pm
Angus you beat me at my own game. And Tampa 2 is dead but we still winning with Dugys team. Awesome
January 18th, 2021 at 10:17 pm
Finally, it dawns on Marblehead. Y’all spent the season marginalizing the GOAT and fiending for J. Winston. Why? Cause ou don’t know a gem when you see one. Now the Bucs are in the NFC championship game yer acting all giddy. You are ONLY there because of Thomas Patrick Brady.
January 18th, 2021 at 10:30 pm
DR
If BL stayed out of the way we’d be 8-8….lol…
Defense forced TOs and the offense cashed in….that’s complimentary football right?…lol…
You make it seem like the saints have the lion’s defense…lol…
BL IS WORKING MAGIC
GO BUCS
January 19th, 2021 at 6:27 am
The fact of the matter is the play of the QB. BL + Jameis= 33/30
BL with Brady = 40/12. BL is good at what he does. Sometimes we wonder what was that play called for, but so many times it is the QB who makes a decision and a different play is run then the one called. I do not know who likes to run a deep play on 3rd and short, BL or Brady, but that really is the play I do not like because it has flopped many times. When multiple drives could have been extended easily, at least 2 times against the Saints. The play that Scotty caught was a 3rd down play that worked. But so many times it has hurt them. Like the Bears game, they could have easily won. Again BL is good, but like Rod Munch has mentioned in multiple posts, BL seemed to love running the Ball on first down every single time for the worst average in the league. Glad to see that has changed. So all and all BL has shown that he is doing very well for a second year play caller. GO BUCS!!!!!!!
January 20th, 2021 at 2:36 pm
BTW, Stephon Gilmore still has one more year remaining on his Patriot contract; not a FA ’til 2022. He’ll be available for trade this offseason, of that I’m sure.