Kyle Rudolph Says Tom Brady Recruitment Started In 2021
July 26th, 2022
“Chill out, Byron, Julio Jones will be in here next week.”
Score another one for the Tom Brady Effect.
The newest Buccaneer, former Pro Bowl tight end Kyle Rudolph, says he’s been a student of all things Brady since college at Notre Dame. There, Rudolph played for Brady’s good buddy — and his old Patriots playcaller — Charlie Weis.
The way Rudolph described it on the GoJo podcast, the college head coach version of Weis slapped a Notre Dame logo on his Patriots playbook and made his offensive players watch a ton of Patriots film. So Rudolph knew all about Brady the quarterback 14 years ago.
Weis later connected Brady and Rudolph, and that led to the duo talking about Rudolph joining the Bucs for the 2021 season, Rudolph’s first as a free agent. Rudolph explained that the Bucs tight end room was loaded and he had about 14 teams wanting to sign him.
Rudolph went for the money with the Giants and got cut when the team blew out its head coach and general manager after the season. He said he hit free agency this year with a different attitude.
“It’s like, at this point in my career, you know I’m not going 4-13 again,” Rudolph told GoJo. “I want to go to a bonafide winner, a team that can compete for a championship and, you know, usually along with that comes a Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback…. Those things seem to kind of go hand in hand. For me at this point, the only thing I have left to do is win a championship. You know, I’ve done everything else you can possibly do in this game from, you know, from an individual standpoint.”
The Brady-Rudolph chatter didn’t stop at the spring of 2021 and, per Rudolph, he was on the phone with Brady in May.
“[Brady] was like, ‘Don’t know what Gronk’s going to do but we need you down here anyways,’ Rudolph said. “[Brady] definitely played a huge part in the decision that I made to go down there.”
Rudolph went on to talk about how pumped up he is to play for a winner and to play with Brady, and he’s a huge Cameron Brate fan, calling him extremely underrated.
Joe can’t wait to see who Brady recruits next. The Bucs still have enough cap room to bring in an established and quality name.
July 26th, 2022 at 6:38 am
I’ve said it before, but you can not overstate how important Tom Brady has been to this team, in every aspect. The best recruiter a team could ever have. Let’s pause to thank the good Lord for Tom’s presence. Atheists and agnostics, smoke ‘em if you got‘em.
July 26th, 2022 at 6:42 am
Perhaps he recruits Scottie Scheffler? We’re pretty set on the football side…but his golf game. Could use some work! 🏌️♂️
July 26th, 2022 at 6:48 am
I mean the dude would have gotten paid more money somewhere else.
So he takes 2 mil here to make a run at a championship. And if he really fits in and meets escalators (lets say for example 600 yards..6 tds) then he gets an additional 1.5 mil …and everyone wins. Otherwise 2 mil for a veteran presence is pocket change.
He is a big target. He will be needed around goal line. And as possession receiving tight end who can move chains. He doesnt need to reinvent the wheel here. We have evans , godwin and gage to do the heavy lifting. And lenny and better cast of receiving running backs out of backfield.
We need tds and not fgs against some pretty good offenses this year . 32 points a game would be nice. That seems high but lets remember the article joes put up a few weeks ago. We are playing good offenses this year and ehhh defenses. Defenses last year much more difficult. So even with injuries and loss of gronk …32 points a game is a start.
BeCause our defense will be better …well , if we can stay healthier then last year.
July 26th, 2022 at 7:03 am
Soooo is Julio coming or not lol I’m sure they want to see what some of these young guys have on the field before signing some more vets but with that loaded bank account JL has Tom Brady has a few more phone calls to make to further load this team up
July 26th, 2022 at 7:08 am
Is Trey Flowers available? If so, I’m sure TB don’t have a problem bringing in another former teammate of his.
July 26th, 2022 at 7:49 am
Flowers is a free agent…
The only problem with Tom recruiting edge rushers is they all want to sack him as a goal……
July 26th, 2022 at 7:56 am
32 NFL teams, and Brady is the 33rd franchise. He’s a stand alone unit.
Appreciate it while we can.
July 26th, 2022 at 8:01 am
Suh.
July 26th, 2022 at 8:08 am
I would hold off on signing Julio Jones unless we had a few injuries early in the season. We have plenty of young developing WRs – Miller, Darden, Johnson, Grayson, Thompkins – I would rather see one or more of these guys step up and become a legit NFL WR…
This isn’t 2015 Julio Jones – it’s 2022 Julio Jones.
July 26th, 2022 at 8:13 am
Trey Flowers, or even Carl Nassib would both be awesome adds. JPP still out there, but he’s need to come back as a backup and would he be willing to?
Alternatively, Sheldon Richardson would be a great upgrade at the 3rd DT as well.
July 26th, 2022 at 8:16 am
# 1 question by far and #2 isn’t even close !! Is Wirfs Ankle 100 %
July 26th, 2022 at 8:16 am
Tom Brady is undoubtedly the most important player in Bucs history.
July 26th, 2022 at 8:22 am
At this point, Julio Jones can pull a hamstring opening the mail box
July 26th, 2022 at 8:33 am
++++
July 26th, 2022 at 8:33 am
I wish the Bucs could’ve gotten Brady sooner in his career. This is so much fun that it’s going to suck once he retires.
July 26th, 2022 at 9:16 am
Julio Jones is washed up. When fans, Joe included, talk about bringing in these aging vets remember, someone has to play special teams. Where would Jones even fit? He’s not beating out any of our starters, so he’d have to contribute somehow to teams. Same with bringing in another old edge rusher, or Suh for a few snaps on defense. Can only dress so many players on game day. I can’t see any of these old guys lining up for kickoffs, and punts. Enough already.
July 26th, 2022 at 9:56 am
We’ll see if Tom bothers to even spend time with Rudolph. I’ve followed Tom’s entire career, and I was ecstatic when he joined our team. I loved his obsessiveness and detailed love of the game. His leadership has been unmatched, but I must say I HATE this whole new”Tampa Tom” Since he’s joined us, it’s been all about self promotion and his various business ventures.
He just posted a picture of him in swimwear. The whole underwear promotion was absolutely cringe worthy. What other star QB is as active as him on social media? His IG page went from football pictures and philosophical quotes to full on Tampa Tom promotion. I promise you if he were still in NE there is no way he would be promoting his brand on the day of training camp. I hate to say this because I really don’t care for the Patriots, but I wish he would return to “Patriot Way” Tom. That Tom was football all the time. I’m sorry, but at this point I would prefer Joe Burrow leading this team.
Will one courageous reporter ask him if he’s really fully committed because he has all those other business ventures going on? I know you can count out Jenna Laine.
July 26th, 2022 at 10:12 am
@Beeej
LMAOOOOOOOOO
July 26th, 2022 at 11:18 am
I would forget Jones. The offense is pretty well loaded. The Bucs should bolster the defense. Especially the line and dbs. Solid backups for depth in the line, linebacker and defensive backfield. Another versatile offensive lineman would help too. There will be some decent backups after the final cuts teams have to make. Use the leftover money for some solid vets who still have gas in the tank.
July 26th, 2022 at 11:26 am
Super Bowl year… few critical injuries
Last year enough critical injuries and one Bone Head striping as he walked away from the Bucs and the NFL and into the blooper reel of NFL history.
He’ll be toe tagged any day now
July 26th, 2022 at 12:34 pm
You can wish in one hand and 💩 in the other and see which one fills up faster. Enjoy the ride on the Brady Train while it lasts Bucs fans. It will never be as good as it is right now.
July 26th, 2022 at 1:02 pm
Hodad, GOB agrees. Julio Jones was washed up two years ago. I can’t believe after the Richard Sherman fiasco, that any Bucs fan would want Jones. Flowers and Dunlap are likely waiting for a call after a camp injury. They’re likely to get more money from a desperate team.
Who I want is Robert Quinn. He apparently wants out of Chicago per reports. The Bears are in a rebuild, so trading him in conference, shouldn’t be a stumbling block. He’d be the perfect replacement for JPP. He’s 32, so it shouldn’t take a hall to get him. If you want to win it all Mr. Licht, go get him, fake cap not withstanding.
July 26th, 2022 at 1:15 pm
even though he would might be ready until wk 9 or 10; I would opt for OBJ .. Jones is finished. Brady player with Titans HC yrs ago –so TB knows where Jones is –at the end of his career ..
July 26th, 2022 at 2:17 pm
Bucs are still gonna need money for the 53 man roster. Ppl seem to think we have all rookies and backup signed before OTA. I’m down for Julio, one of the best WR all time no matter what people think he looked like playing with Mariotta. If he’s somewhat healthy, and guys will put in much more work to play with Brady. Evans, Godwin, Gage, Julio. Holy crap!
July 26th, 2022 at 3:25 pm
SOE, I think they can find some money in between the couch cushions. The cap is the biggest myth in the NFL. They could and can sign anyone they choose. It’s a fungible cap. They’ll need to reset after Brady leaves anyway. Why would you waste an opportunity like this, because of a fake cap. Just push the money into the future.
July 26th, 2022 at 4:44 pm
^ Not a fake cap. Flexible? Yes… but not fake. And what if Brady decides to come back next year too. Why ph*ck our finances up if we don’t have to? A GM’s job is to balance present and future concerns. I’m not saying don’t make any more aggressive acquisitions, I’m just saying if we listened to all the fools on this board, we’d be signing washed up veterans for 3x what they’re worth and getting nothing in return and watching our hopes for future years go down the toilet. I am also not bracing for a “reset” when Brady leaves. There’s too much talent to just roll over and give up. Keep the winning going after Brady leaves… What’s the point of the culture change in the building if you don’t keep it and protect it?
July 26th, 2022 at 5:15 pm
Look, that’s fine if Tom wants what he wants, and he should get it.
But the defense is the greater need (Tommy). Still.
Yes, please Trey Flowers or Carlos Dunlap.
Defense wins championships. Defense makes it easier on offense. Defense delivers when a QB is old (Elway, Manning etc).
July 26th, 2022 at 10:09 pm
No need to get knickers in a twist about Rudolph/Jones. They are coming for a song, they are solid lockerroom vets, and they are all in. There will be injuries, there will be – moments – that decide the season, and we got a good mix of players to step up. The hired guns disappear from payroll but leave their influence. And don’t think for a moment that we don’t STILL add JPP/Suh/FA to the D….Licht & Co. are playing this “Brady Era” to damn near perfection, shoulda had a ring last year too.