Yes, you read that right. No, your eyes are not deceiving you and there is nothing wrong with your device. Tom Brady is indeed the new starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The 42 year old who many regard as the greatest quarterback of all time agreed to terms with Tampa Bay 3 days after publicly bidding farewell to the New England Patriots. Brady will reportedly receive $60 million over 2 years.
During his 20 seasons with the Patriots, all Brady did was put together a run of 9 Super Bowl appearances in 18 healthy seasons, winning 6 of them (an NFL record for a single player). To further illustrate what he has accomlished, consider this: In his 20 year career, Brady has 30 postseason victories under his belt. The Buccaneers, a franchise entering its 45th season of play, have a total of 6.
Brady was forced into action in week 2 of the 2001 season as Drew Bledsoe’s backup. Bledsoe suffered a life threatening sheared blood vessel in his chest after a hit from Jets’ linebacker Mo Lewis. As a result, the second year, 6th round pick out of Michigan stepped in and wrote a two-decade story for the record books. But, as evidenced by his signing with the Bucs, he is not done yet.
After swinging and missing on QB of the future, Bucs look to the past to find answers
It’s hard to believe that a guy whose career started around the same time as sports in HD is still going strong, but Brady is indeed not slowing down. His most recent Super Bowl win was just 2 seasons ago in Super Bowl 53. Brady also eclipsed 4,000 passing yards in each of his last 3 seasons with New England. But the biggest upside the Buccaneers hope to gain by this signing? He protects the football.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers appear to be built for winning football. They have spent the last 5 years building a team around 2015 first overall pick Jameis Winston. But from his first NFL pass (an interception returned for a touchdown), Winston has had issues with turnovers. The final straw, it seems, came in last seasons 30 interception campaign. By comparison, in Brady’s last 4 seasons combined, he has only thrown 36 picks. Winston had all the makings of a franchise quarterback except for protecting the football. Playing for a playoff spot with 2 games left in 2019, his 3 touchdown, 6 interception performance over those 2 weeks seems to be what led to Tampa Bay’s decision to part ways.
Brady has the weapons to continue his historic career
Tom Brady will take over an offense that has a lethal 1-2 receiver duo in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. However, during his tenure in New England it was the slot receivers and tight ends making bigger names for themselves with Brady. From Welker to Edelman to Gronkowski. In Tampa, in addition to Evans and Godwin, Brady will have tight end weapons Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard. The slot position remains a question mark at this point in the offseason. The assumption would be that is a role that Scotty Miller is going to assume, provided a deal is not worked out with free agent Breshad Perriman. The expectation is that an inconsistent offensive line will be addressed through the upcoming NFL draft.
On the other side of the ball, Tampa Bay returns key pass rushers Shaquil Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul. This is in addition to a young and rising secondary and a LB unit anchored by veteran Lavonte David. Many believe that the Bucs were a quarterback away from being a playoff team in 2019. While Brady is not the most physical, fastest, or athletic quarterback to ever play the game, he may just be the smartest and the best to ever do it.
And now, he will likely finish his playing days in a Tampa Bay Buccaneers uniform. Which, when you think about what he actually has NOT accomplished in his career, being the first to play in and/or win a Super Bowl at home might be the only thing left for him to notch in his belt. Super Bowl 55 will be played at Raymond James Stadium at the conclusion of the 2020 season.
With the signing of Tom Brady, Tampa Bay might have become a Super Bowl contender.
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