“That’s The Beauty Of Having Tom As Your Quarterback”

September 15th, 2021

Tom Brady has final say.

It was the shakeoff seen ’round Tampa Bay.

Of course, Joe never saw this from the press box Thursday but wrote about it the next day after watching the replay on GamePass, it blew Joe away.

Joe had never seen a quarterback shake off a playcall the way it was done by park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, smartphone-phobic, waffle-grilling, trophy-throwing, roller-coaster-scared, numbers-rules-peeved, helmet-tossing, football-punting, Bucs-Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady

Offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich radioed a play into Brady’s one-way helmet receiver during the Bucs’ game-winning drive against the Cowboys.

It was as if in close World Series game a catcher signaled for a fastball to a fastball hitter with men on base. Then the pitcher, or in this case Brady, bounced his head back-and-forth and hollered, “No, no!” Brady could have just changed the play without reacting, like many quarterbacks do.

Wild!

Yesterday, Leftwich was asked about this. In short, Leftwich said Brady always has the final say about a play and that Leftwich explicitly trusts Brady’s input or reasons for changing a play.

“It’s Tom Brady (laughs)!” Leftwich said. “So if he sees it — like I always tell him — if you see it on the field, sometimes that guy’s eyes, the guy behind center, that guy’s eyes is better than mine from the sideline. …

“That’s the great thing about Tom. He’s been in every situation. Every situation possible, he’s been in. Sometimes he can see it and he can feel it because he’s out there in the grass doing those things.

“That’s the beauty of having Tom as you quarterback. You can just put it in his hands and he will do great things with the football.”

Apparently, Leftwich had no idea NBC cameras picked it up and he chuckled that reporters were aware. Leftwich thought it was pretty funny that the nation got to see this.

Leftwich made it perfectly clear: When in doubt, you can never go wrong by always trusting Brady.

32 Responses to ““That’s The Beauty Of Having Tom As Your Quarterback””

  1. James Allen Lofton Says:

    What helps Tampa being so great is that there are big egos effecting the teams performance.

  2. QB whisperer Says:

    The word is affecting. And if I saw Tom Brady doing his “ No,No” thing at my wedding, I’d dump her and marry the maid of honor. TOUCHDOWN!!!

  3. Señor Harry in Costa Rica Says:

    For those of you who insist on “Brady is calling the shots” or “BA is in charge”. That is just great teamwork. Brady looking to Lefty for direction, then disagreeing. Then Lefty calling a new play and we are off to a WIN!

  4. JGhotier Says:

    Not sure why NOW we are making more talk about this “shakeup seen ‘round Tampa Bay” or how Joe “has never seen a QB shake off a play like that”….

    We just had it happen last year at the Super Bowl on our own Bucs team. We did all watch the SB last year?! He did the exact same thing, but on the BIGGEST stage last year and was MUCH more animated (including his body language) in doing so

    Remember the “NO, NO, Same, same…..no, no, Okie, Okie by 5….Yes”

  5. Joe Says:

    We just had it happen last year at the Super Bowl on our own Bucs team. We did all watch the SB last year?!

    What Joe sees from the press box is often a totally different game than what networks broadcast. Not even with binoculars (which Joe uses) could we see a closeup like NBC had in the video above.

    A telescope, maybe.

    (Joe has watched the Super Bowl several times. Never saw/noticed Brady shaking off a play like in the video above.)

  6. Biff Barker Says:

    The word is affecting. And if I saw Tom Brady doing his “ No,No” thing at my wedding, I’d dump her and marry the maid of honor. TOUCHDOWN!!

    Whisperer,

    This is a seriously good idea!

  7. JGhotier Says:

    YouTube “Tom Brady YELLING at the Bucs”

    If anything is the “shakeup seen ‘round Tampa Bay”, it should be the ORIGINAL one seen on live broadcast at the Super Bowl (and the video is just as good, sans Leftwich reaction). It’s in a bigger game and he’s much more animated and demonstrative in calling off the play towards the sideline.

    Just my opinion, but check it out!

  8. Listnfrmafar Says:

    Joe, JGhotier is correct, at the end of the SB in the 2nd to last or last series of the game it was pretty blatant Brady shook off the sideline and next play threw the ball away down the right sideline. He did it a few times mid season to but not as visible. I assume now that BL was called out on it, moving forward it will be less noticeable. Last I checked Brady has a little more experience at QB than BL.

  9. August 1976 Buc Says:

    It is good to see BL being humble about it. This bodes well for the Bucs.
    We have all seen Tom get into with coaches on the sidelines at times over the years.
    So this is much better to see BL being humble than being an idiot kind of coach that trying to pull coaching rank on Tom.

    BL is just being real and letting the GOAT go about his Victorious Business as a QB

    GO BUCS!!!!!

  10. Joe Says:

    Joe, JGhotier is correct, at the end of the SB in the 2nd to last or last series of the game it was pretty blatant Brady shook off the sideline and next play threw the ball away down the right sideline.

    LOL Never noticed that before. Just another reason to watch it. 🙂 (Joe was at the game so clearly didn’t see it when it happened.)

  11. PassingThru Says:

    Leftwich is trying to laugh it off now, but for anyone interested in seeing the final minutes of that game, it is up on youtube.

    Leftwich was clearly hot under the collar with having his call shaken off, the camera crew caught his reaction. Then after Succop kicked the game winning FG, everyone was celebrating, but not Leftwich who was deep in a serious conversation with Brady.

  12. Joe Says:

    It is good to see BL being humble about it. This bodes well for the Bucs.

    Not a huge believer in Leftwich (yet) but to Joe, this seems like a no-brainer. Any coach who wouldn’t give Brady the final say on a play while he’s on the field would be a moron. Like Leftwich said, Brady has seen it all.

    The following is flushed out a little more on the next Ira podcast: Clyde Christensen was speaking during the offseason about a gameplan they were developing for an opponent. Of course, Brady was involved.

    Brady wasn’t down with the gameplan. He said the defense would do X. Christensen and Leftwich didn’t agree but Brady was adamant. Someone said to Brady, “Are you sure? They haven’t shown this look in four years.” Brady was insistent yes, they would and explained why.

    So the coaches shrugged their shoulders and said, “OK,” though they were apprehensive.

    Sure enough, when the Bucs’ offense took the field, the exact formation/look Brady predicted the defense would show is just what the defense used.

  13. DoooshLaRue Says:

    BL is the MASTERMIND!
    😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

  14. 813bucboi Says:

    not a believer in BL?….damn, the guy won a SB and guided the bucs to the best offense in franchise history….the lack of respect is unbelievable….

    what is it going to take?…another SB?…lol…

    BL IS WORKING MAGIC!!!!

    GO BUCS!!!!

  15. PassingThru Says:

    @Señor Harry in Costa Rica

    Leftwich didn’t call for a second play, that was Brady’s play. The helmet speaker turns off 15 seconds before the play clock expires. If you watch the tape, you can see Leftwich was pretty upset before and after that pass to Godwin.

  16. BucsCoolade Says:

    Brady doin it at a super high level. Nixing the OC is something he wished he coulda done more in his career, no doubt listening to mcDitz and Obrien .. who sukked compared to C.Weis who won 3 SBs in Bradys FIRST 4 years.

  17. 123UROUT Says:

    It was revealed that Leftwich was calling for a run game, and Brady, immediately say… “HELL NO!!!! I’ll do it my WAY “

  18. ATLBucsFan Says:

    MNF with Peyton and Eli broadcast an ESPN channel Peyton talked about pretending to not get the coaches call, ie, helmet speaker not working, and calling his own play. Peyton said you need the trust of the backup QB and others (who heard the call) on the sideline to pull it off. Interesting chatter during the MNF game.

  19. Joe Says:

    the lack of respect is unbelievable….

    When a guy openly admits he doesn’t know why certain plays are called (Joe appreciates the candor), that tells Joe either the OC is a figurehead or he’s not calling the plays.

    When the same guy claims he (?) doesn’t call plays any different (players in motion) than he did previously, yet there is overwhelming data and video evidence to the contrary, that tells Joe, well, Joe doesn’t want to type it.

    And also, Joe has to wonder why an alleged guy in charge of an offense that averaged 30 points a game and won a Super Bowl hasn’t landed one interview for a head coaching gig? Well, could it be other NFL organizations aren’t exactly sold on Leftwich either?

    Perhaps they know something the general public doesn’t?

  20. DoooshLaRue Says:

    ^^^^^^^
    Truth

  21. JimbobBucsFan Says:

    The focus on this incident is overblown. (This is to be expected of course as we are talking about Tom Brady.) I’ve seen similar interactions between QB and coaches in the heat of battle over the years in the NFL.

    We saw it when it occurred during the broadcast because the camera crew is trained to do this. Duuh!

  22. Chris Boyd Says:

    i think its great teamqork. i think tb12 didnt like the calll, then bl sent in the deep back shoulder. this is how a machine should operate!

  23. SlyPirate Says:

    TB12 has more experience than most OCs, including BL.

    TB12 has more success then EVERY OC.

    TB12 has more championships than EVERY NFL franchise.

    Any OC calling plays to TB12 is merely a suggestion.

  24. Mike Says:

    That pass to Godwin was actually illegal formation. Some people noticed it as well.

  25. PassingThru Says:

    @Mike

    I didn’t see that. What was illegal about the formation?

  26. Listnfrmafar Says:

    SlyPirate, good one an OC calling plays to Brady are merely suggestions. Let me 🤔 Brady or BL. Not much of a point to ponder.

  27. 813bucboi Says:

    Joe

    BA has said multiple times BL runs the show…what more proof do you need?….

    As for the interviews, teams most likely know BL is the next HC for the bucs..Dirk was hired after lovie without taking any interviews….you had no problem with that….

    So maybe you’re right…maybe other teams do know something the general public including yourself don’t…

    GO BUCS

  28. David Says:

    They are working great together. BL & TB have now put up over 30 points in what? 9 straight games?
    I’d be surprised if they score fewer than 30 this year

    For those Screaming BL sucks and it’s all Brady… Just stop it. You sound like immature children. It’s called teamwork.
    The OC and the QB and the HC are working together And it’s a beautiful thing. Enjoy the ride

  29. DoooshLaRue Says:

    813,

    I know Leftwich has your undying support, and yes he was the OC of a SB winning team but I really think you’re grasping for straws with that line of thought.
    HCs say all sorts of things to placate the media, so just because BA says he’s running the show…… doesn’t mean it’s necessarily true.
    Maybe it is, but I don’t think so.
    I think BA wants him to succeed but don’t think he’s ceded carte blanche to BL just yet.

    In my opinion, Byron is not HC material, at least not now. He can’t handle simple questions and that’s kind of a useful skill to have as the boss of an NFL football team.

    I’d be fine with Bowles as the next HC. He seems to be a much better candidate.
    Much more of a professional leader.

  30. Doctor Stroud Says:

    This is all overblown. I bet that TB12 agrees with BL’s calls a lot more than he disagrees.

  31. Garry Says:

    Been watching Brady since he played at Michigan in college, he’s the best at winning, everyone he plays with, he convinces players we will win, no other QB has ever had that charisma. Enough said.

  32. Randell Jackson Phares Says:

    Dan Marino did the extra same thing 3 decades ago! So Tom doesn’t get a first time star for that. In fact Dan did it more like wave the coach off and a hell no! Scored a touchdown on the next play!