Tag: Tom Brady

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on December 9, 2018. [ALLEN EYESTONE/palmbeachpost.com] Miami Dolphins Vs New England Patriots 1017633237

Patriots to honor Tom Brady at home opener

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New England Patriots will honor Tom Brady at the team’s 2023 home opener, owner Bob Kraft said Thursday.

“I invited him back to be with us at the opening game and let the fans in New England thank him. … It will be the beginning of many celebrations to honor Tom Brady,” Kraft said on NFL Network.

The NFL will release the full 2023 schedule on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.

Brady, who played his first 20 seasons and captured six Super Bowl championships with the Patriots, announced his retirement after the 2022 season.

“He’s very excited to come back and see our fans,” Kraft said. “It will be a great, great celebration.”

A three-time league MVP, Brady set NFL records for wins by a quarterback (251), Super Bowl wins (seven), passing yards (89,214) and passing touchdowns (649) during a 23-year career with the Patriots (2000-19) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020-22).

Brady, 45, is scheduled to join the Fox Sports broadcast booth in the fall of 2024.

–Field Level Media

Jan 16, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) takes the field before a wild card game against the Dallas Cowboys at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Brady dismisses notion of ending second retirement

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tom Brady jokingly cited his new family responsibilities on Tuesday as his reasoning against ending his second retirement from the NFL and returning for a 24th season.

“Anyone who thinks I have time to come back to the NFL has never adopted a 2 month old kitten for their daughter,” Brady wrote Tuesday on Twitter.

Brady’s response on social media came after “The Rich Eisen Show” suggested that the decorated quarterback could make another comeback, this time with the Miami Dolphins.

Brady, 45, previously had been linked to the Dolphins, with the NFL punishing the club last year for tampering. The league took away Miami’s first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and its third-round selection in 2024.

He initially retired on Feb. 1, 2022. He changed his mind 40 days later and returned to play last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Brady once again retired on Feb. 1, 2023. He appears intent on taking the 2023 season off and will debut as a FOX Sports analyst during the 2024 campaign.

Brady played in the Super Bowl 10 times — or 18 percent of all Super Bowls to date. He was a three-time NFL Most Valuable Player and 15-time Pro Bowl selection. He spent his first 20 seasons with the New England Patriots before joining the Buccaneers ahead of the 2020 season.

Brady is the owner of the most Super Bowl championships (seven), most regular-season wins by a quarterback (251), most postseason wins by a quarterback (35), most passes completed (7,753), most pass attempts (12,050), most passing yards (89,214) and most passing touchdowns (649).

–Field Level Media

Jan 16, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) walks off the field in the final minute against the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth quarter during a wild card game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Bruce Arians: Tom Brady’s personal life impacted ’22 Bucs

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tom Brady dealt with an in-season divorce and other distractions that factored into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers finishing 8-9 last season, Bruce Arians said on Friday.

Arians said in an interview with Rich Eisen of NFL Network that Brady’s second retirement likely is for good after watching him navigate a reversal of his February 2022 announcement. Brady came back to the Buccaneers 40 days after announcing his first retirement, which the New York Post reported was the driving factor in his divorce from wife Gisele Bundchen. Their divorce became final in October.

“The injuries to our leaders was really, really hard,” said Arians, who held the role of senior consultant with the Buccaneers last season but was Brady’s head coach for the previous two years.

“Tom wasn’t himself, you know, with all the things that were going on. And I got to give him all the credit in the world for battling through what he went through last year for his teammates. I think the world of him but it wasn’t the real Tom Brady out there.”

Arians said he believes the Buccaneers should ride with Kyle Trask at quarterback, while also investigating other options. It’s the same approach he suggested to general manager Jason Licht in 2020, when the team was in contact with incumbent starter Jameis Winston while also pursuing conversations with Brady and then-New Orleans Saints free agent Drew Brees.

“I think we’re in good hands with Kyle Trask,” Arians said. “I love Kyle, he’s been there two years now. Blaine Gabbert was a great mentor for him. But just like three years ago, you’ve got to search what’s behind door No. 2. Three years ago, we never would’ve guessed Tom Brady was behind door No. 2. So you do your research, you do all your homework, and then you decide what’s best for you. But right now, I’m very comfortable if Kyle’s our guy.

“… And he’s worked extremely hard every single day. He’s got all the size, he’s got the arm, he’s got the stature of what we like.”

Arians is extremely confident Brady is not behind any of the doors the Buccaneers will encounter in free agency this time around.

“He’s spent a lot of time with his kids and just heading to the next chapter. He’s got so many things going on, you know, he’s one busy dude,” Arians said.

–Field Level Media

Jan 16, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) takes the field before a wild card game against the Dallas Cowboys at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Tom Brady files retirement papers, Bucs take $35M cap hit

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tom Brady filed his retirement paperwork with the NFL and NFL Players Association on Friday, several reports said, cementing the seven-time Super Bowl winner’s Feb. 1 announcement that his playing days were over.

Brady retired last winter, walked it back 40 days later and played one final season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Buccaneers got three seasons with Brady, winning a Super Bowl in his first year on the scene and losing in the playoffs the next two seasons.

Now the bill has come due for Tampa Bay, as it will take a full $35 million dead-cap hit in 2023 as a result of Brady’s retirement.

Had Brady worked with the Bucs on a contract amendment to keep Brady on the books with so-called voidable years and processed his retirement after June 1, they would have been able to split the dead-cap hit between 2023 and 2024. Instead, multiple reports said, all $35 million will be assessed in 2023, putting Tampa Bay nearly $60 million over the salary cap.

The team’s remaining options at quarterback as of now are Kyle Trask and unrestricted free agent Blaine Gabbert.

Brady played in the Super Bowl 10 times — or 18 percent of all Super Bowls to date — was a three-time NFL Most Valuable Player and a 15-time Pro Bowl selection. He spent his first 20 seasons with the New England Patriots before joining the Buccaneers ahead of the 2020 season.

–Field Level Media

Aug 21, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) smiles on the sidelines during the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Brady not joining FOX until 2024

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tom Brady will take the 2023 football season off, delaying his debut as a FOX Sports analyst until the 2024 season, he said Monday.

Brady, 45, made that announcement on Colin Cowherd’s show on FOX Sports Radio, “The Herd.”

The quarterback, who said last week that he is retiring after 23 NFL seasons, signed a reported 10-year, $375 million deal with FOX before the 2022 season to become its lead analyst. There was no set start date other than post-retirement.

Brady said Monday that he appreciated FOX giving him time to adjust after the 2022 season, which was both professionally and personally trying for the seven-time Super Bowl champ.

Kevin Burkhardt and analyst Greg Olsen, who took over as the top broadcast team when Joe Buck and Troy Aikman left FOX, will call Super Bowl LVII on Sunday.

Brady said he’ll be tuning in.

“I’ll be 50 percent watching the game, and 50 percent listening to those two,” Brady said.

Brady spent 20 seasons with the New England Patriots and three with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played in 10 Super Bowl games.

–Field Level Media

Feb 7, 2021; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) hoists the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

NFL luminaries tip cap to Tom Brady

Posted on | by Field Level Media

He inspired, confounded and dominated peers for 23 years in the NFL, but Tom Brady insists he’s leaving for real this time.

Prominent peers and past allies congratulated Brady on his second retirement on Wednesday, including Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.

“Tom Brady was the ultimate winner. He entered the NFL with little to no fanfare and leaves as the most successful player in league history,” Belichick said in a statement released by the Patriots. “His relentless pursuit of excellence drove him on a daily basis. His work ethic and desire to win were both motivational and inspirational to teammates and coaches alike.”

Brady released a short video early Wednesday announcing his latest retirement. At 45, he was set to enter free agency for the second time in March following a reversal of his February 2022 retirement that brought him back to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for another season.

“Good morning, guys. I’ll get to the point right away,” Brady said. “I’m retiring for good. I know the process was a pretty big deal last time. So, when I woke up this morning, I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first so I won’t be long-winded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay and I used mine up last year. I really thank you guys so much to every single one of you for supporting me. My family, my friends, my teammates, my competitors… I can go on forever. There’s too many. Thank you guys for allowing me to live my absolute dream.”

Brady will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2028. Another recent retiree, J.J. Watt of the Arizona Cardinals, is in line for enshrinement in the same class.

“Greatest of All Time. No question, no debate,” Watt said. “It’s been an honor and a privilege. PS – The newly retired group meets on the golf course every morning at 10am. Drinks are on the new guy, so bring your wallet.”

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has claimed the torch from Brady with his third Super Bowl appearance in four seasons. But they were 3-3 in head-to-head matchups, and Brady beat Mahomes and the Chiefs to bring the Buccaneers the franchise’s only Lombardi Trophy.

Mahomes, preparing to play in Super Bowl LVII in Arizona next week, replied to Brady on Twitter with three goat — make that, GOAT — emojis.

One year ago, Brady’s retirement was met with congratulations from all corners of the world. LeBron James to Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter to Alex Rodriguez and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson all joined in wishing the NFL’s winningest quarterback farewell.

Former teammates and friends had a good time spinning Brady’s re-retirement in their favor, including Julian Edelman’s invite for Brady to join him for a new competition.

“You only get one super emotional reaction to the goat retiring, and I used mine up,” wrote Edelman, a three-time Super Bowl champion on the Brady-led Patriots. “So I’ll just say this. Learning from you as a player, teammate, leader, son, brother, and father has been the experience of a lifetime. Love you buddy. PS. Pickleball partners?”

There was less emotion and fanfare following Brady’s second retirement announcement on the day before Groundhog’s Day 2023, and Brady is not scheduled for a retirement press conference.

At this time in 2022, Shaquille O’Neal offered what would later look more prophetic than comical with this tweet: “no man get your butt up and do one more year.”

Jeter, who rented his spacious mansion in Tampa to Brady and his family upon their Florida arrival, did share a note to Brady on Twitter.

“Congrats @TomBrady on an unbelievable career. It was fun to watch!”

–Field Level Media

Jan 16, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) takes the field before a wild card game against the Dallas Cowboys at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Brady: ‘I’m retiring for good’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tom Brady announced Wednesday morning that he retiring “for good” from football.

Brady, 45, initially retired from professional football last Feb. 1. He changed his mind 40 days later and returned to play the 2022 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

On Wednesday, Brady took to social media and said the following in a video:

“Good morning, guys. I’ll get to the point right away. I’m retiring for good.

“I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning, I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first. I won’t be longwinded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay, and I used mine up last year, so really thank you guys so much to every single one of you for supporting me.

“My family, my friends, my teammates, my competitors — I could go on forever, there’s too many,” Brady said in the video, fighting back tears. “Thank you guys for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn’t change a thing. Love you all.”

Brady concludes one of the most decorated NFL careers of all time. Among his records: most Super Bowl championships (seven), most regular-season wins by a quarterback (251), most postseason wins by a quarterback (35), most passes completed (7,753), most pass attempts (12,050), most passing yards (89,214) and most passing touchdowns (649).

He is a three-time NFL Most Valuable Player and a 15-time Pro Bowl selection.

Brady spent his first 20 seasons with the New England Patriots, then joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead of the 2020 season and led them to a Super Bowl championship in his first campaign.

In 2021, he led the NFL in passing yards (5,316) and passing touchdowns (43) before those numbers fell to 4,694 and 25, respectively, in 2022 as the Buccaneers finished 8-9. Tampa Bay made the playoffs as the champion of the weak NFC South before getting hammered by Dallas in the wild-card round.

–Field Level Media

Jan 16, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) drops back to pass against the Dallas Cowboys during a wild card game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Dolphins not expected to pursue Tom Brady

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Miami Dolphins are not expected to pursue Tom Brady should the seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback opt to return for a 24th NFL season, ESPN reported on Sunday.

Per the report, the Dolphins are committed to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and pleased with his development under head coach Mike McDaniel.

Brady, who will turn 46 in August, stands to become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the league year.

On his “Let’s Go!” podcast with SiriusXM earlier this week, Brady went with blue material in response to Jim Gray’s question about his timeline for a decision about whether to play next season.

“Jim, if I knew what I was going to (expletive) do, I would’ve already (expletive) done it. I’m taking it a day at a time,” Brady said.

And when Gray asked if he was “antagonized by the question,” Brady said “You’re scratchy. You’re scratchy. I appreciate you asking. Thank you.”

Brady retired briefly last February, only to return to the team while going through a divorce from his supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen.

Brady previously had been linked to the Dolphins, with the NFL punishing the club last year for tampering. The league took away Miami’s first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and its third-round selection in 2024.

Whenever he finally decides to step away, Brady will conclude one of the most decorated NFL careers of all time. Among his records: most Super Bowl championships (seven), most regular-season wins by a quarterback (251), most postseason wins by a quarterback (35), most passes completed (7,753), most pass attempts (12,050), most passing yards (89,214) and most passing touchdowns (649).

He is a three-time NFL Most Valuable Player and a 15-time Pro Bowl selection.

Brady spent his first 20 seasons with the New England Patriots, then joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead of the 2020 season and led them to a Super Bowl championship in his first campaign.

In 2021, he led the NFL in passing yards (5,316) and passing touchdowns (43) before those numbers fell to 4,694 and 25, respectively, in 2022 as the Buccaneers went 8-9. Tampa Bay made the playoffs as the champion of the weak NFC South before getting hammered by Dallas in the wild-card round.

Tagovailoa, 24, led the NFL with a 105.5 passer rating in 2022, completing 64.8 percent of his passes for a career-high totals in yards (3,548) and touchdowns (25). He also had eight interceptions in 13 starts.

The Dolphins face a May 1 deadline to exercise the fifth-year option on Tagovailoa’s rookie contract.

Drafted No. 5 overall by Miami in 2020, Tagovailoa has passed for 8,015 yards with 52 TDs and 23 picks in 36 games (34 starts).

–Field Level Media

Jan 16, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) takes the field before a wild card game against the Dallas Cowboys at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Profane Tom Brady explains he’s still undecided on ’23

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Retirement isn’t the only dirty word Tom Brady is kicking around while contemplating his plans for 2023.

On his “Let’s Go” podcast with Sirius/XM Radio, Brady went with blue material in response to Jim Gray’s question about his timeline for a decision about whether to play next season.

“Jim, if I knew what I was going to (expletive) do, I would’ve already (expletive) done it. I’m taking it a day at a time,” Brady said.

And when Gray asked if he was “antagonized by the question,” Brady said “You’re scratchy. You’re scratchy. I appreciate you asking. Thank you.”

Brady is an unrestricted free agent and big changes are afoot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who fired offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich one year after making a head-coaching change. Brady turns 46 in August but set a record for passing attempts and total seasons with 25-plus touchdown passes in 2022 at age 45.

He retired briefly last February, only to return to the team while going through a divorce from world-famous model wife Gisele Bundchen.

Gray also asked Brady about receiving a fine letter from the NFL last week for a failed attempt to trip Cowboys safety Malik Hooker following an interception in the wild-card loss to Dallas.

“I tried to trip him, but I didn’t. I don’t know how you can get fined for something that didn’t even happen. Are they fining an intention? It’s like targeting, and you miss the person you hit, and they still call it targeting. I’ve gotta figure out and understand why this is the case. It’s a little odd. This is why I wish our NFLPA was stronger.”

Several teams are in the market for a quarterback.

The New York Jets are operating on orders from owner Woody Johnson to find the “missing piece,” which he defined as a veteran quarterback. Brady just completed his 23rd NFL season, 20 of them with the Jets’ AFC East rival New England Patriots.

Brady’s former New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, where quarterback Derek Carr is on the trade block.

The Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts, recent constants on the offseason QB carousel, are back for another spin this spring, as are the Houston Texans.

Those three teams own draft picks in the top 10 of the 2023 NFL Draft and might opt for a younger, cheaper model of quarterback. Alabama’s Bryce Young, Field Level Media’s top-rated quarterback in the upcoming draft, was born 15 months after the Patriots drafted Brady 199th in 2000.

–Field Level Media

Aug 28, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) attempts a pass during the first quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Take 5: Tom Brady’s options for 2023

Posted on | by Field Level Media

As engines start for the 2023 NFL season, Tom Brady turns 46 just a few days into training camp in August.

But where will Brady blow out his candles next summer?

Being a 10-time Super Bowl starter and seven-time champ buys Brady something not many others are assured: Options. And plenty of them.

Brady won his first Super Bowl in February 2002, four months after Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud was born.

All teams would have to weigh an investment in Brady against the other options out there — such as Stroud, Alabama’s Bryce Young and potential big-name trade options including Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) and Derek Carr (Las Vegas Raiders).

Even so, the Buccaneers and several other teams are ready to welcome Brady for the ’23 season if he decides to play a 24th season.

Last February, Brady retired.

Retirement was a short-lived hiatus of 40 days and Brady showed the tank isn’t empty. He played in his 48th career playoff game Monday night, has 17 seasons with at least 25 TD passes and set a record in 2022 for completions (490). He attempted 733 passes and played in every regular-season game for the 13th time in 14 years.

When Brady returned to the Buccaneers, he said the time away allowed for reflection and he “realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands. That time will come.”

Here are five potential options for Brady in 2023 other than returning to Tampa:

5) FOX Sports
The retirement door isn’t too shabby.

Brady can walk, trigger a 10-year, $375 million contract agreement with FOX and still have a role on gameday — with a different type of headset.

FOX carved a role for Brady as a color analyst, studio contributor and network ambassador when the time comes to step away from his on-field quarterback job.

The annual average value of $37.5 million exceeds what Brady would likely make on the field in ’23.

When FOX clinched that deal last year, Brady said he was “excited, but a lot of unfinished business on the field with the Buccaneers.”

The network later confirmed plans to pair Brady with play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt to form the No. 1 broadcast team and bring a replacement for the longtime tandem of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. That pair left for “Monday Night Football.”

4) Sean Payton Pairing
Sean Payton has become a big player in the latest coaching cycle, but hiring Payton comes at a steep cost. He’ll likely command somewhere between $14 million — reportedly Sean McVay’s salary with the Rams — and $20 million, the Bill Belichick high-water mark for NFL coaches.

Getting Payton in the building also requires compensation to the New Orleans Saints in the form of players or draft picks. Payton said last week that the Saints wanted a first round pick to free him from retirement.

When Payton was last prominent in the news cycle post-retirement in the spring, it was as the subject of Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross’ tampering suspension. Ross aggressively pursued a pairing of Payton and Brady, who had also retired, with the Dolphins.

There could be more than one spot that aligns for the superpower duo, but Houston makes the most sense. Brady and Payton are familiar with general manager Nick Caserio, the Texans have extra draft picks to pay the freight to hire Payton and the combination of cap space and draft capital means Brady could have a winning roster around him.

3) Indianapolis Colts
When the wheels spin the QB carousel, the Colts are almost always involved. That’s been the case since Andrew Luck retired in training camp 2019.

Colts owner Jim Irsay hasn’t hired a head coach and that could help him gain traction with Brady. Is Indianapolis otherwise ready to win? The Colts aren’t that far off with running back Jonathan Taylor and a defense that carried its water in 2022. A few playmakers on the outside might also help entice Brady to try his luck with the horseshoes.

2) New York Jets
Can you even imagine the drama around a Brady-led Jets visit to Foxborough next season? The cards are on the table from owner Woody Johnson to bring in a veteran quarterback as the “missing piece,” and who better than Brady to exhibit professional quarterbacking to Zach Wilson? The Jets are clearly on the verge, and could float the $30-plus million Brady can command.

The Jets are loaded with young playmakers — presuming running back Breece Hall is back from a torn ACL — heavily invested on the offensive line and had a top-5 defense last season.

1) Las Vegas Raiders
Josh McDaniels might already know where Brady is headed. His heyday offensive coordinator drew up plays for Brady to Randy Moss, and next season could do the same for a Brady-Davante Adams pairing.

Like the Colts and Jets, an established running back — All-Pro Josh Jacobs — would make it easier to break in Brady in a QB dominated division.

–Field Level Media