Nobody knows whether Tom Brady will decide to return to the New England Patriots in 2020. But one former Patriot thinks the team would “be fine” moving on from Brady.

Former linebacker Ted Johnson said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft will not push the envelope if they feel Brady does not give the team the best chance to win next season.

Johnson even hinted Belichick would welcome Brady's departure because leaving the Patriots might ultimately be seen as a mistake (via Justin Leger of NBC Sports Boston):

“I think the Krafts and I think Bill Belichick would be totally fine with Tom going to Tampa,” said on “Early Edition,” as transcribed by NBC Sports Boston. “You know why? Because I think Bill thinks Tom isn’t going to win there. They’re not going to be successful. It’s just an inherently bad franchise. Tom going there is not going to all of a sudden turn around their fortunes. “So, I feel like this is getting personal. So I’m basically saying that Bill Belichick wants to see Tom Brady fail. He might, so I wouldn’t be surprised if there would be a part of him that’s like, ‘Yeah, go ahead, Tom. Go to Tampa.'”

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There are increasing signs Brady will don a different uniform for the first time in his career in 2020.

The longtime Patriots signal-caller reportedly had an unproductive phone conversation with Belichick earlier in March, and Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times recently reported the Buccaneers are “all-in” on signing Brady.

Regardless, Brady's decision is sure to have a domino effect on the rest of NFL free agency.