Today In Patriots History 5 Years ago today

[Mack Herron]

 

[Fuzz]

Didn’t realize it was the same week as the lockdown. Crazy time.

 

[oldrover]

 

[jmt57]

Interesting to look back now at the teams that came close to signing Brady - and the teams that decided to go in a different direction.


- Colts signed Philip Rivers to a one-year, $25 million contract after they decided to move on from Jacoby Brissett.

- Titans decided to re-sign Ryan Tannehill to a four-year, $118 million deal.

- 49ers elected to stick with Jimmy Garoppolo.

- Broncos were 'happy with Drew Lock'.

Tom Brady free agency: Are the 49ers a legitimate possibility? Let's take a look

Brady to the Bay Area is gaining steam

www.cbssports.com

During a recent appearance on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio, Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston told host Adam Schein that it's likely a 50-50 shot that Brady either ends up back with the New England Patriots or signs with the Tennessee Titans, but the 49ers are "closing hard on the outside" in the hunt. He added that there is interest from both the Niners and Brady on a potential marriage.

On top of that nugget thrown out by Curran, Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald reacted to his report with a piece of her own that stated her sources believe he "might be onto something."

The obstacle that would block the 49ers from seriously making a run at Brady would be his former backup in Jimmy Garoppolo, who started every game for San Francisco last season, including Super Bowl LIV. But, the Niners could actually rid themselves of Garoppolo rather easily when it comes to the financials. The club does have an out in his contract this offseason that could clear $22.4 million off its cap and only leave it with a $4.2 million dead cap hit. Financially, it's possible to cut bait either via trade or a simple release.

Playing out Tom Brady's free agency: Four offers, one winner and $60M guaranteed

Want to sign the GOAT this offseason? Prepare to pony up. So we did, soliciting real (sort of) offers from the Patriots, Titans, Chargers and Bucs.

www.espn.com

Brady's contract would also leave room for the Titans -- who have approximately $55 million of cap space to work with -- to re-sign running back Derrick Henry, whose ability to dominate helps keep defenses honest and sets up one-on-one matchups for the receivers. The play-action passing game should be lethal for Brady and give him opportunities to take shots down the field. The Titans, however, probably could not afford to keep free-agent right tackle Jack Conklin. Brady isn't the most fleet-footed quarterback, so general manager Jon Robinson would have to address the tackle position in the 2020 draft.

The Titans have attractive pass-catchers in tight end Jonnu Smith and wideouts A.J. Brown and Adam Humphries, whom the Patriots targeted in free agency last year, to appeal to Brady. Coming to Tennessee would connect Brady with a player in Humphries who has a high catch rate and has mastered the ability to find holes in coverage. Tennessee is also coached by former Brady teammate Mike Vrabel, and Brady and Vrabel still keep in touch.

The AFC South is wide open, which should appeal to Brady. The Titans present the best opportunity for him to cement his legacy by proving he can win a Super Bowl without Belichick.

Tom Brady leaves Patriots: Why signing with the Chargers in 2020 free agency makes sense

Tom Brady could go Hollywood

www.cbssports.com

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers complement of weapons highlighted by Mike Evans and Chris Godwin is unquestionably attractive, but the crop of pass catchers that are currently sitting in Los Angeles may be a bit more favorable to Brady, stylistically.

. . . when I look at the likes of tight end Hunter Henry and running back Austin Ekeler, two players who have been retained by the Chargers this offseason, I think they'd be a match made in heaven for Brady and the learning curve may not be as severe. When you add star receiver Keenan Allen to the mix, it makes the Chargers that more attractive of a landing spot.

. . . he'd also be exposing himself to the second biggest market in the nation in Los Angeles. If Tom Brady is able to land in L.A. and produces on the field, that should do nothing but phenomenal things for his TB12 Performance and Recovery brand in the immediate and long-term. All of a sudden, what is largely a New England-centric brand possibly becomes national or even global. Tampa Bay and most other possible Brady destinations cannot offer that same type of exposure.

Similar to how a Los Angeles pairing could enhance his TB12 brand, signing with the Chargers and being in Hollywood could do wonders for Tom Brady's post-NFL endeavors and open up doors that Tampa and most other places (including New England) can't. . . . simply being in the Hollywood scene would open up more opportunities for Brady to appear in films, find more lucrative sponsorships and all the things that come with being a star in Los Angeles.

Tom Brady has agreed in principle to sign with the Buccaneers

Tom Brady won't be playing for the Chargers. The former New England Patriots quarterback has agreed in principle to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

www.latimes.com

The Chargers made a push for Tom Brady, but they were again foiled by the quarterback.

Tom Brady almost joined Bears in 2020 free agency after 'stealth' recruitment | FOX Sports

Tom Brady, Chicago Bear?!? The GOAT revealed on FOX Sports' Eagles-Buccaneers broadcast that he was much closer to signing with Chicago in free agency than most knew.

www.foxsports.com

"Ultimately, Chicago was a team — and I never told that story before — they were very stealth in their recruitment," Brady said. "I was seriously considering them.

"But in the end, it came down to Tampa. It was close to my son Jack.



That last line doesn't make sense to me. Bridget Moynahan lives in Tampa? I assumed it was either NYC or Hollywood.

Revisiting Tom Brady's free agency that ultimately led to him leaving Patriots, signing with Bucs

Here's a look back at Brady's 2020 free agency before he returns to Foxborough

www.cbssports.com

 

[ViperGTS]

Still blame that b***h Giselle for screwing the Pats over.

 

[TheRainMaker]

It just wasn’t meant to be. Had he stayed, he would’ve rotted in his last years in NE. Bill had been struggling badly in the personnel department going on 7 to 8 years at that point in time.

 

[The Brandon Five]

I'll never forget getting that news and then learning that Baker had shutdown everything in Mass starting on 3/17. He shut down bars in Boston on Saint Padraig's day. And somehow lived to tell the tale.

 

[signbabybrady]

Still blame that b***h Giselle for screwing the Pats over.

It was all Krafts fault. He should have never gone behind Bill's back and gave him the no Franchise clause.

 

[signbabybrady]

It just wasn’t meant to be. Had he stayed, he would’ve rotted in his last years in NE. Bill had been struggling badly in the personnel department going on 7 to 8 years at that point in time.

Lol struggling with personnel while winning 3 Superbowls and losing a 4th. I would love to have that personnel problem now.

 

[borg]

Still blame that b***h Giselle for screwing the Pats over.

Brady's bromance with Guerrero might have had something to do with her level of frustration.
Getting morning "glute" massages in the back of the van on the way to work was quite the set up.
I suspect the custody agreement read something like: Husband keeps the glute masseuse; wife keeps the judo instructor.

 

[Real fan 02]

We've been in a rebuild every since then...

 

[Nikolai]

Thought this was a Covid thread too...

Yeah, pretty calamitous week. Been in a rebuild mode since then...


...yeah, from both things.

 

[signbabybrady]

 

[PancakeBlockPaul]

Still blame that b***h Giselle for screwing the Pats over.

It was her jujitsu sifu/teacher who did the screwing in this case....

 

[1960Pats]

It just wasn’t meant to be. Had he stayed, he would’ve rotted in his last years in NE. Bill had been struggling badly in the personnel department going on 7 to 8 years at that point in time.

I would have much preferred the Pats let Brady finish his career here and lose (just like they did) than let him finish his career on another team and win his 7th SB compared to the Pats 6.

The proper ending should have been for both Brady and Belichick to finish their careers here.

 

[1960Pats]

I'll never forget getting that news and then learning that Baker had shutdown everything in Mass starting on 3/17. He shut down bars in Boston on Saint Padraig's day. And somehow lived to tell the tale.

Never let a serious crisis go to waste.

 

[Triumph]

It just wasn’t meant to be. Had he stayed, he would’ve rotted in his last years in NE. Bill had been struggling badly in the personnel department going on 7 to 8 years at that point in time.

BB wanted Brady gone so he could have his team back.

Players were confused whether they should follow the program set out by NE Pats trainers or TB12. The Bradys really went nuts towards the end. Chicken coops in Brookline, Mass. Deepak Chopra exposing his tips for a successful life.

Also, BB wanted to be like Tuna and win a Lombardi with a different QB because of the system - play defense because defense wins championships, run the ball, efficient no mistake QB play, a stable of good not great receivers - plug and play. Jimmy was that guy, but Thunder told BB to trade him. That's where the Kraft/Belichick partnership began to come apart.

BB wanted Kraft to fire him so he could recoup every penny owed to him.

 

[Triumph]

I'll never forget getting that news and then learning that Baker had shutdown everything in Mass starting on 3/17. He shut down bars in Boston on Saint Padraig's day. And somehow lived to tell the tale.

Later on, you had to wear a mask to enter a bar or restaurant and then you could take it off.

The whole 6 feet social distance was a crock of 5hit. The actual safe distance is 20 feet plus and that is not totally fool proof.

 

[Wozzy]

Never trust your wife’s karate instructor, that’s the lesson here.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Lol struggling with personnel while winning 3 Superbowls and losing a 4th. I would love to have that personnel problem now.

They won because of the drafts from 2010-2012 with late returns of 2009 with Edelman and McCourty/Chung being used differently. But Gronk was the most important draft pick during that time. Had he been a dud, Tom and Bill would've broken up a lot sooner. This board discussed this many times that the drafts after 2012 were bad. It was ignored because they won with the core guys drafted previously and having Tom Brady at QB. By 2019, you could tell Tom was leaving after the season because the roster had deteriorated so badly. Bad drafts killing dynasties or very good teams are undefeated. We are lucky as hell they won super bowls during that time.

I would have much preferred the Pats let Brady finish his career here and lose (just like they did) than let him finish his career on another team and win his 7th SB compared to the Pats 6.

The proper ending should have been for both Brady and Belichick to finish their careers here.

There was no excuse for Tom to not retire with the Patriots. Bill's worst mistake was continuing to coach this team after Brady left. He should've done the Phil Jackson route by stepping away and then coming back to a team that was ready to win. Continuing to coach took a hit on his legacy.

BB wanted Brady gone so he could have his team back.

Players were confused whether they should follow the program set out by NE Pats trainers or TB12. The Bradys really went nuts towards the end. Chicken coops in Brookline, Mass. Deepak Chopra exposing his tips for a successful life.

Also, BB wanted to be like Tuna and win a Lombardi with a different QB because of the system - play defense because defense wins championships, run the ball, efficient no mistake QB play, a stable of good not great receivers - plug and play. Jimmy was that guy, but Thunder told BB to trade him. That's where the Kraft/Belichick partnership began to come apart.

BB wanted Kraft to fire him so he could recoup every penny owed to him.

It was bad decisions all around. I think Bob didn't like being pushed out of the spotlight and had to make sure everyone knew he was the reason for their success as shown in the documentary. Tom and Bill were getting all the credit and Bob wanted to show it wasn't only Tom that was the reason for their success.

The relationship between Bill and Tom ran it's course. Bill had horrendous drafts from 2013-2019 and was constantly scrambling to fill holes on the roster because of it. I think Tom was starting to see how bad the roster was by his last season in NE. Since they weren't going to give him his meager 2 years at $50M total, he forced the organization to remove the ability to franchise tag him after the 2019 season or else he was going to sit out the season (according to Brian Hoyer).

I'm sure Bill wanted to also show after Tom left that his formula he used in 2001 could still work. As we know, it didn't because Bill's drafts only got worse from 2020 to his final season.

I don't think Bill would do so poorly on purpose to get money owned to him when his legacy took a big hit after Tom left.