“Without A Doubt” Tom Brady Will Leave Bucs
December 16th, 2022
Bucs QB Tom Brady.
So Joe suspects unless word comes from Tom Brady or Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht, fans will increasingly hear the following more and more as the free agency dinner bell creeps closer (legal tampering begins March 13).
A former colleague of Brady with the Belicheats, Michael Lombardi, the former NFL general manager and coffee fetcher for Bill Walsh, Al Davis and Bill Belicheat, was pretty adamant yesterday that the next four games or so will be Brady’s final ones with the Bucs.
Host Patrick Meagher of VSiN’s “The Wrap Radio” asked Lombardi why the Bucs offense is so horrible. And Lombardi rattled off the reasons. (At times on his podcast, “GM Shuffle,” and on various media, Lombardi suggests he is an intimate of Brady.)
The inability to run the football is a huge reason the Bucs offense is bad, Lombardi said, and then he noted Brady’s yards-per-attempt is the worst in the NFL and the worst of his career.
And for Lombardi, this is an unforgivable sin.
One reason for the bad stat is Bucs coach Todd Bowles doesn’t want no-risk-it; no-biscuit throws. And this offense is built for that. So as a result, players are being asked to do what isn’t their strength. You know, square peg; round hole?
And the other reason is failing offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich has no clue how to craft an offense around what Bowles wants. Joe is saying that, not Lombardi.
Combine the two and you have an unmitigated disaster.
As for Brady waving goodbye to the Bucs, Lombardi said, “I would say, without a doubt, that’s pretty accurate.”
You can see the clip of Lombardi in the VSiN video below.
"Brady is probably not back in Tampa Bay next year." – @mlombardiNFL
Michael breaks down the Buccaneers struggles this year and why they have been so ineffective on offense. @TheWrapRadio
For more, go to https://t.co/3zTr7Qa66B pic.twitter.com/hKNsqgX3SZ
— VSiN (@VSiNLive) December 15, 2022
December 16th, 2022 at 4:11 am
If the Bucs win the superbowl then he will retire for good. TB12 is not a quitter and will try one more year with the Bucs if they don’t go all the way. Just my opinion.
December 16th, 2022 at 5:11 am
If you think this year was bad wait til next year. Bowzo will channel Lovie. They will get Runaround Sue for QB.
December 16th, 2022 at 5:32 am
If he is so damn tight with the Glazers and they have eyes and ears then how and the hell does this coaching staff stay around after this year? We have talent and it looks like we don’t. That says all there is to be said about this team.
December 16th, 2022 at 5:45 am
Nail on the head Joe. Bowels is trying to change what was working offensively in 2020/2021 and has succeeded as Leftwich is incapable of making adjustments, he was barely competent to call plays for BA’s no risk it no bicuit O and can not adjust out of so predictable lame game planning. The result, a bad offense and a team that probably has almost quit on these coaches who should have been fired mid-season. Its amazing TB12 has not been knocked out of a game yet.
December 16th, 2022 at 6:18 am
Briefly we were the toast of the NFL. Attracting big stars and playing great football. Unfortunately, due to gross mismanagement of the team, it’s back to being the Yucs again starting next year. Make the Glazers pay at the box office. Ultimately, they are responsible for this disaster.
December 16th, 2022 at 6:18 am
Congrats Joe , This is the best diagnosis yet of what ails the team…
” coach Todd Bowles doesn’t want no-risk-it; no-biscuit throws. And this offense is built for that. So as a result, players are being asked to do what isn’t their strength. You know, square peg; round hole?
And the other reason is failing offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich has no clue how to craft an offense around what Bowles wants. Joe is saying that, not Lombardi.
The ownership, needs to show some Leadership! It is obvious to see individual players making BUSINESS decisions ….. on the playing field in the middle of the GAME….. WHY can’t ownership SEE IT….. IT IS TIME THEY MAKE SOME BUSINESS DECISIONS THEMSELVES…… I now have to leave for Dr. appt. for acute severe Depression.
Combine the two and you have an unmitigated disaster.”
December 16th, 2022 at 6:24 am
I’ve said all year it’s Bowles. I’ll go a conspiracy step farther and say that the 11 days off in training camp was Brady contemplating re retiring because of the offensive shift being dumped in his lap. Immediately after Brady left during the scrimmage the Bucs spent the rest of the time there working on ground and pound ball control.
December 16th, 2022 at 6:40 am
Then start giving Trask playing time, let’s see what he can do before the draft next year.
December 16th, 2022 at 6:41 am
No matter what is going on in the coaches playpen, they have completely destroyed a 13 win team in less than one season
The details don’t matter, the results do
Off with their heads, time to start over
The schedule next year is quite favorable compared to this years draw – AFC south and NFC Central – maybe we can beat a team from the afc next year…
Let Brady pick his HC for the last 2 years of his career and let’s go win another SB
December 16th, 2022 at 6:42 am
Good luck Glazers. You have a complete $hit show on your hands to deal with. For me I can’t wait to put this miserable season behind me.
One of if not the most dissapointing seasons in Buccaneers history. Can we get a round of applause for Todd Bowles and co?
December 16th, 2022 at 7:03 am
If Brady leaves and Coach Cadaver stays, I am done. Bowles has shown he is more dedicated to his outdated ways than he is to winning. He’s also shown an inability to adapt his game plan to his player’s strengths. Lastly, he’s shown that his results with the Jets were not solely due to being in a bad organization. I hope the Glazers fire him and get Harbaugh in here. (But I also wanted Todd Bowles as HC, so I might not be the one to listen to when it comes to hiring coaches.)
December 16th, 2022 at 7:08 am
It’s never too early to start talking the draft
December 16th, 2022 at 7:09 am
Joe Says: “Michael Lombardi, the former NFL general manager and coffee fetcher for Bill Walsh, Al Davis and Bill Belicheat”
Belittling a guy with how many Super Bowl rings?
December 16th, 2022 at 7:13 am
All the talk is Brady to Miami, however Tua is there and playing great. Why would you bring in a fossil and piss off Tua?
December 16th, 2022 at 7:20 am
He is gone. He wanted out after last year.
December 16th, 2022 at 7:25 am
With Brady all but gone, Joe will soon go back to trashing Trask. When he does, keep in mind that Joe is a top evaluator of quarterback talent. Why, just look at what Joe wrote when the Bucs failed to land the great Johnny Manziel in the 2014 draft:
“Can you imagine the excitement today if the team had picked Manziel? Can you imagine the impact? He has been the finest playmaker in college football over the last two years. YOUR EYES TELL YOU THE KID CAN PLAY!”
December 16th, 2022 at 7:53 am
We all knew this. Why would he stay? The team has been trending down all season. It was a memorable run.
December 16th, 2022 at 8:01 am
Agreed, the offense has been changed and doesn’t fit the players. The Bucs can never be a ground and pound team with this offensive line. The issue is acerbated by the fact that Brady is totally immobile and can not extend plays. Brady also bears some of the blame with all of his off the field personal issues which clearly has affected his play.
Brady is gone and this team will sink to the bottom this season if changes to the offensive strategy are not made today.
Brady will find a way to get back to the SB but it won’t be with the Bucs.
December 16th, 2022 at 8:01 am
We literally could have the hogs line of the 80’s , Barry sanders , Jerry Rice, & randy moss & this coaching staff would still totally fubar this team up ! This team will go absolutely no where as long as they are steering the ship !
December 16th, 2022 at 8:05 am
I think that Brady is coming back to us if he doesn’t retire. Regardless, the off-season looks like it’s going to be a lot more fun than this season has been.
December 16th, 2022 at 8:08 am
So if the Bucs lose out—a distinct possibility—approx. what would be their draft position?
December 16th, 2022 at 8:09 am
Nothing is certain with Brady…….SF…..what if Purdy keeps winning….wins a SB….are they gonna bring in Brady?
December 16th, 2022 at 8:09 am
If Brady leaves and Bowles, etc. stay, I become an anti-fan. Like in the Raheem & Schiano days.
December 16th, 2022 at 8:15 am
Joe:
This is not difficult reporting. Brady is not going to stay if he is coached by the worst offensive coordinator and head coach combo in the league.
IF the Bucs make a coaching change, then I think Brady would be interested in returning.
December 16th, 2022 at 8:17 am
beanbag are you a relative of Bowels or leftnut. Everything he wrote makes perfect sense. Joe wrote A previous article about Evan’s decline, how is it possible ALL these players are declining at the same time? Someone pointed out, where are the big sets used the last two seasons? Now all you see is Ko lining up at FB. Every team/QB needs a running game in order to achieve. Look what the Bucs did to Dallas when they shut down their run. The same would have happened last week if McCaffrey was shut down, Purdy didn’t beat the Bucs McCaffrey did and he did again last night. NO RUN NO WIN.
December 16th, 2022 at 8:31 am
You never know what the off season will bring. “Mr. Peyton, Mr. Glazer is on line one”.
December 16th, 2022 at 8:43 am
This team was not assembled for Dungy ball, and the Goat has had a tough season. Two reasons alone that the coaching staff and Brady should be moving on.
December 16th, 2022 at 9:02 am
The team has collectively given up. You cannot put toothpaste back into the tube. I don’t see Brady returning to this mess.
December 16th, 2022 at 9:10 am
right NOW the NFC South is in a transition… All 4 teams are racing to build to be a contender for many years NOT JUST NEXT YEAR!…
If Tom was in mid 30s or even early 40s, him leaving would be horrible news…
The Bucs need to be in a state of urgency searching for a gifted young Talented QB to lead this team to winning seasons over the next decade+…..
2023 Season Bucs HC Jim Harbaugh and QB Derek Carr would not be horrible!
2023 Bucs Hc Todd Bowles and ?QB, count me as checked out now
December 16th, 2022 at 9:12 am
I agree with Tye except I’d like to see Lamar Jackson.
December 16th, 2022 at 9:17 am
I seem to remember many throws downfield missed by brady this year. Hard to run the ball with bad OL and nothing running backs.
December 16th, 2022 at 9:23 am
Ira Kaufman is on record saying it’s time to focus on a young new QB next year. Whether that’s Trask or someone else. The second this dreadful season is over there’s going to be some major changes to this roster. They’ll be getting rid of alot of familiar names for salary reasons amongst other reasons like shytty play. I’m in agreement. Time to blow this thing up.
December 16th, 2022 at 9:23 am
Good adios… he didnt even wanna play for us this year, and tried to take off to Miami. Luckily the dolphins are better off without him
December 16th, 2022 at 9:31 am
Anybody that thinks Brady is returning to a team with bad coaching as well as the worst cap situation the team has seen in a decade is crazy
December 16th, 2022 at 9:53 am
I’m all for it. Bye Brady.
December 16th, 2022 at 9:55 am
This is exactly it Joe. Its confusing why the glazers and Jason were and are continuing to drag their feet in firing some personnel when early on in the season you could see where this was heading and the mismanagement was flashing red lights. When the defense mic’d up are calling out plays before they happen then you know this was a failure. A change should have happened long ago if they were really all in this season.
December 16th, 2022 at 10:14 am
As long as we keep any/all of these coaches, I dont doubt the GOAT will jump ship. And I dont blame him one bit. Nobody deserves to go out with an imcompetent bunch of buffoons, especially not the GOAT. Glazers are you paying attention?
December 16th, 2022 at 10:19 am
All I’m reading is a bunch of allegations and innuendos. The bottom line here is that the OLine can’t block worth a hoot. Can’t run block, can’t pass protect. No one’s giving them any help (extra OLineman, TE help, etc) so we’re struggling across the board. BL isn’t doing anything to try to compensate so we’re stuck in a rut. This offense WAS built for no risk it no biscuit but that was yesterday and yesterday’s gone. Gotta have the horses to make it work.
December 16th, 2022 at 10:19 am
Brady has proven one thing. He is unpredictable. The eye test tells me he works every down with two goals in this order; 1. Dont get hurt under any circumstances, 2. Make a play. It LOOKS like he is placing his health before accomplishment. That’s fine. We should expect that with a 45yo QB.
Now, if he leaves, I suspect its not for another team. It’ll be for furthering his entertainment career.
If he stays in the NFL I bet its with the Bucs. 1st off…what other team is going to mortgage ’23 on a QB who looks skittish, seems to have lost his deep ball precision and may have a mechanics issue with his rotator cuff? And what OTHER team allows him to be this close to Miami besides…Miami?
His kids are in Miami so I think he will place a priority on being close to them. You know no matter how friendly he and his ex appear he doesnt want her telling the kids…your Daddy isnt here today because he is practicing in Vegas or San Fran or Denver. Hell, if he invests in a slick helicopter he can get his massage in the 1:45 flt between Tampa and his Miami neighborhood and show up ready to tutor the kids after school or teach them about Bitcoin or whatever.
December 16th, 2022 at 10:22 am
It does figure that if ANY organization makes Brady’s last yr look bad it’ll be us. I hope we get our sh*t together these last 4 games and he gets a good send off or solid foundation for next yr just so the Bucs organization doesn’t bear the brunt of the “you screwed up Brady” conversation.
December 16th, 2022 at 10:26 am
WHy would he even consider coming back?????
December 16th, 2022 at 10:27 am
I loved this coaching staff and was grateful that BA did what he did to keep it together after he stepped down as HC. But for a coaching staff to have “fixed” an offense that was not broken but was one of the top-scoring offenses in the NFL they should be charged with First Degree Stupidity. It is really maddening. I’m sure that all the Defensive Coordinators in the league are grateful though.
December 16th, 2022 at 10:35 am
Rumor has it and I hope it’s true. Tom is going back to New England for one more title run. At least there he’ll have an NWFL ( national Woke football league ) caliber coach. And not ” progressive” appointee “. And fingers crossed he brings The Gronk with him.
December 16th, 2022 at 10:46 am
Why would Brady want to stay? He doesn’t have many years left to play, he wants to enjoy them and win another ring or 2. That ain’t happening with the Bucs. By and large, the draft picks have been poor and FAs busts, and team leaders like David and Evans getting on in years. Other than Wirfs and a few others, the cupboard is bare. Time to clean house starting with the front office.
December 16th, 2022 at 10:54 am
Don’t blame Brady at all if he leaves. It will be rough couple of seasons for the Bucs, but hopefully they can get an infusion of young talent in the draft and rebuild.
December 16th, 2022 at 11:18 am
The Bucs will definitely bring in another OC, however, Todd Bowles shouldn’t have any say in how the offense is ran, sorry to say it. We’ve seen the results of that and it’s a disaster. For me i would like to see Bowles fired, i doubt it will happen, his in-game management is just horrid and i don’t think it will improve. Ultimately Bowles is just another Lovie Smith.
December 16th, 2022 at 11:21 am
Sad day if Brady leaves the bucs. If you can’t make the offense work with Brady as QB, then, Blowzo and Leftnut have to look at the mirror and resign in shame.
December 16th, 2022 at 11:33 am
Bucs fans, time to move on. It was going to happen eventually. It’s rebuild time. Bite the bullet now. Maybe look at some excellent QB in the draft. Would love of course to have Arch Manning as QB in the future. However, would granddaddy Archie even allow him to ever be a Buccaneers if selected in the draft anyway?
December 16th, 2022 at 11:55 am
Tom should have listened to Giselle and done what’s right for the kids.
December 16th, 2022 at 11:57 am
Its criminal, the way we wasted our last year with Brady.
At the very least, we should fire the entire coaching staff
December 16th, 2022 at 11:57 am
“Elita Vita Says:
Would love of course to have Arch Manning as QB in the future.”
He’s in high school and hasn’t played a single down of college ball.
December 16th, 2022 at 12:13 pm
I guess we will find out next year if Brady is the only reason the Bucs have been a playoff team.
December 16th, 2022 at 1:08 pm
At least next season Bucs go back to low cost stadium seats allowing everyone to watch them tank.
December 16th, 2022 at 2:06 pm
i personally would love to see brady back in a bucs uniform next season , and i think its honestly realistic , most teams have their qb of the future and NE has mac jones plus their system theyve built and BB is still there , so i dont see brady going their ,his best option to win is with us , we get a new hc or oc one that brayd is comfortable with and will allow him to take control of the offense like BA did , also this defense will get upgrades in the draft / free agency as we have a decent amount of cap , plus this o line will get better with replacing smith and wirfs and jensen being fully healthy we keep mason and hainsey as gaurds and get a new tackle , plus the wr are still elite and cade is improving same with rachaad . this team is still loaded i just think changes need to be made , but we CANNOT LET TB12 WALK . simple as that .
December 16th, 2022 at 3:02 pm
Perfectly fine with a Brady exit next yr. He was made for our Oline of 2020 and 2021, not THIS Oline. This Oline needs a new LT and a mobile QB. Not a Lamar Jackson, but one that can run bootlegs, scramble for a first down, isn’t in the SAME spot 99% of passing plays. So bring on Trask, or whoever that can open the O and mix in some QB bootlegs, roll outs, avoid a rush, etc.
It was great while it lasted and I wouldn’t trade the SB in 2020 for anything. Just being realistic about Brady leaving. He needs an Oline that can protect him as a statue. I watch a lot of games, very few Olines exist where the QB can avoid pressure w/o throwing it in the dirt after 2 seconds. No offense to Brady, glad he came and played for the Bucs.
December 16th, 2022 at 4:05 pm
The Bucs have completely screwed up any chance that Brady would consider coming back next year. Brady is gone. Next Subject
December 16th, 2022 at 4:19 pm
Common denominator to last years final failure to 2022 seasons failure. TOILET BOWLS!!!
December 16th, 2022 at 4:22 pm
That’s what he said 2 years ago , he also said Brady wouldn’t come to bucs.
December 16th, 2022 at 4:37 pm
I’ve never seen a more ungrateful fan base of my entire life. Do you guys really know what the rest of the country thought of you? You were a laughing stock of a franchise, the worst in the history of sports. This guy came here in a matter of three years and made you front-page news Super Bowl champions should’ve been back there again and most of u you guys stick the dagger in him . You deserve the decades of irrelevance that’s coming.
December 16th, 2022 at 4:58 pm
No one wants a sucky QB back anyways. cant’s he just go away and take BL with him now?
December 16th, 2022 at 5:40 pm
Good riddance. GOATalmighty should have retired after the Bucs won the SB and made positive history.
December 16th, 2022 at 6:04 pm
Orlbucfan. And I hope he takes his disciples/ servins with him like NEfan and the rest of the people on here who refused to hold him accountable for his bad play on the field.
December 16th, 2022 at 6:17 pm
Oral, I agree then Bucs could have started their losing way a season earlier instead of just missing the NFC title game because the Buc’s DC doesn’t believe in stats. Todd Blitz should have been fired on the spot but instead because BA wanted his legacy to have the word diversity in it Toilet Bowls was promoted.
December 16th, 2022 at 9:49 pm
Of course, Brady will leave the Bucs and he should. Look Guys, lets keep it real here. The GOAT gave us 2 great seasons. One was a Superbowl. But his time has come. He actually needs to go back to New England and have the final sendoff of the century. He deserves that. Even if he did come back with us, we will not win another SuperBowl with him. He is done. IF..our Bucs were smart, They would start thinking mobility at the QB position. But they are not. Thye are gonna march Trask out there to get seasoned and slaughtered next year.
December 17th, 2022 at 12:37 am
Mike, no one is saying Brady is playing as well as he did the past two seasons, the point is the dynamics of the team changed and other than a few rookies there are no standouts on this team. Your suggestion of a mobile QB won’t change anything. Brady leads the league in contested tight passes. How do you expect a running QB to be that accurate if Mahomes, Allen, Hebert, Jackson, Hurts, Dak etc aren’t? Did you see what happened to Geno Smith last night? The same that happened to Brady. No worries you wish will come through soon enough.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:10 am
I just can’t understand how our run game is so terrible. With a QB like Brady defenses should be game planning to not get carved up by the Goat. We can’t pass and We can’t run. Usually a defense tends to focus on either stopping the run or the pass. This offense is so inept they excel at nothing. Defensive coordinators must laugh watching Tampa’s game tapes.
December 17th, 2022 at 7:33 am
Jeffery, D’s don’t need to focus on the run, they know when it’s coming.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:25 pm
He is leading the division. Get off his back.
December 17th, 2022 at 2:16 pm
We totally need 2 new coaches! These 2 have given us absolutely nothing this year. If they don’t go… will other players also try to bail? Or can they do that?
December 18th, 2022 at 8:59 am
Looks like Joe Biden has been making all the coaching decisions to me !!