Just a few weeks ago, it seemed Tom Brady was heading toward greener pastures such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, it appears the longtime New England Patriots quarterback might return to his former team as he prepares to hit the free-agent market.
With the Tennessee Titans locking up Ryan Tannehill and the San Francisco 49ers reportedly out on Brady, sources told Chris Simms of Pro Football Talk the bidding is down to two teams: the Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
“From everything I have heard, it's down to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New England Patriots.”
Simms reported the Niners were actually Brady's preferred destination, but San Francisco have made the determination to stick with incumbent starter Jimmy Garoppolo. Simms also noted the Patriots might not be willing to pay Brady at an annual average of $30 million, while the Bucs have shown a willingness to do whatever it takes to land the start quarterback.
Brady's market was expected to be a burgeoning one this offseason, but that has actually not been the case. Dianna Russini of ESPN reported Brady had interest in playing for a variety of teams, but only so many teams were reciprocating that interest.
However, Russini did note the Bucs as “all-in” on Brady while also saying head coach Bruce Arians would be comfortable delegating a lot of offensive play-calling and adjustments to Brady.
If it is indeed down to the Pats and Bucs, they pose two very different challenges for Brady. New England have a longstanding history of excellence, but the 2019 season was extremely frustrating. The Bucs have not made the playoffs since the 2007 season, but they have a number of offensive playmakers and a very impressive defense.
What will Brady decide?
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