Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Tom Brady And The Bucs
August 31st, 2022
Bruce Arians
Back at the combine in February 2020, Bucs quarterback coach Clyde Christensen spilled that he was given the task to start studying and producing scouting reports on quarterbacks Drew Brees, Philip Rivers and Tom Brady.
The Bucs were quarterback shopping and on face value, what better way to try to damage your avowed enemy like the slimy Saints and at the same time better yourself?
All three quarterbacks were to be free agents that spring.
Well yesterday, former Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians seemed to confirm Christensen’s revelation.
Arians was in New York City to do a TV “carwash” hopping on various shows to help raise awareness for health checkups. Arians went through a medical episode during the season in 2016 that nearly ended his coaching days. And we all know Arians is also a cancer survivor.
So on CBS Mornings co-anchored by Nate Burleson, Gayle King and Tony Dokoupil, Burleson, the former wide receiver and co-host of “Good Morning Football,” asked Arians how the Bucs landed Tom Brady. Arians hinted the Bucs had their sights set on Brees or Rivers and were floored that the Belicheats let Brady escape New England.
“It shocked me that he was able to leave New England,” Arians said of Brady. “Then, when you look at Drew Brees, Philip Rivers and Tom Brady all becoming free agents, you are like, ‘No way.’
“So you have to do your due diligence. We did our homework. [Laughs] [Brady] The guy can still play, alright? And lo and behold, we are on the phone. …
“So you have to do your due diligence. You have to do your homework. The guy can still really play! … We hit it off. We got lucky.”
The Bucs didn’t just get lucky. They hit the home run of all home runs.
But how wild would it have been if Brady stays with the Belicheats and the Bucs somehow pried Brees away from Sean Payton and the slimy Saints? That would have been funny as hell.
Also, King asked Arians straight up, where was Tom Brady when he went on his 11-day vacation from training camp? Arians said only, “Oh, it was very personal.”
You can see Arians’ full appearance on CBS Mornings in the CBS video below.
Hat tip: @RJBrown129.
Former @Buccaneers head coach @BruceArians says he "knew it was time" to leave his top role — and prioritized making sure one of his "guys took over."
He shares what it's like working with Tom Brady and the 2017 health scare that changed his perspective. pic.twitter.com/l2k4syM5qm
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) August 30, 2022
August 31st, 2022 at 5:00 am
Don’t believe there was ever a realistic possibility of Brees leaving the Saints. Shouldn’t be on the list.
August 31st, 2022 at 5:33 am
Many haters here still deny the Tom Brady effects.
August 31st, 2022 at 6:44 am
Now it’s time to start working on Jimmy G–underrated SB QB free in 6 mos.
August 31st, 2022 at 6:46 am
“The Bucs had their sights set on Brees”
Talk about rainbows! Brees had the weakest arm in the NFL, throwing in the low 50s-mph.
August 31st, 2022 at 7:27 am
If we were looking at Brees might as well look at the younger version–Jimmy G
August 31st, 2022 at 7:30 am
And that’s when the tampering started. Brees wasn’t going anywhere and Rivers was done, he was to exhausted popping out kids during the off season. I will give BA credit for two things, 1. Beating cancer & 2. Landing Brady by telling him I’ll stay out of your way unlike Belichick, that is until his ego got in the way believing he should get more credit, went all Woody Hayes and popped a piston. Spiraled downward for there, forced retirement.
August 31st, 2022 at 7:35 am
Getting Brady brought me back to watching pro football again. I still followed it through online and print media but with all the negative issues swirling around the game I couldn’t stomach to watch it anymore. The final straw was having my favorite team draft a low character guy a QB. I just couldn’t route for Winston. When it looked like they were going to extend him in 2020 I wasn’t sure I would return to the pro game at all. Class act Brady came in, ultimate jerk Winston left. No matter what happens after this year. Barring a complete mental breakdown by the front office, we’ll be passing the reins to a QB I won’t be embarrassed to root for.
August 31st, 2022 at 7:39 am
Brady sure looked good in the short time he played, against the Colts.
He can sure bring some Drama though.
LOL, the latest crazy rumor about where he was for 11 days that I have read accuses him of having plastic surgery.
August 31st, 2022 at 7:41 am
Brady sure looked good in the short time he played, against the Colts.
He can sure bring some Drama though.
LOL, the latest crazy rumor about where he was for 11 days that I have read accuses him of having plastic surgery.
Somehow, I have triggered the duplicate comment detected filter
August 31st, 2022 at 7:57 am
I love BA, I wish he was my dad.
August 31st, 2022 at 8:28 am
BA loves his BS. Wonder how long it took him to get to NYC on his golf cart?
Guy was always on that thing here
August 31st, 2022 at 8:53 am
Best coach in Bucs history. I give him props.
August 31st, 2022 at 9:03 am
I remember in 2020, BA’s preferring was:
1. Brady.
2. Teddy
3. Keep Jameis
August 31st, 2022 at 1:00 pm
Clyde Christensen — an OC so bad he got Tony Dungy fired. That’s how I’ll always remember him, regardless of how people try to forget that entire period of time and pretend like he wasn’t insanely awful.
August 31st, 2022 at 1:03 pm
Beeej Says: I remember in 2020, BA’s preferring was:
1. Brady.
2. Teddy
3. Keep Jameis
———–
What you remember is what the fake news media claimed. Why would BA want a noodle arm QB who is afraid to throw the ball running his deep ball offense? The whole thing was made up to get clicks. If Brady wasn’t available, Winston was back, they weren’t going with a career backup QB who throws 3 yard outs to help his completion percentage on 3rd and 17.
August 31st, 2022 at 5:34 pm
Rod, you the man, tell it like it is. BA was inline for another 7-9 season AT BEST!