ICYMI: 49ers GM John Lynch Tried To Trade For Tom Brady

Robert Alvarez

6 years ago at 12:45 pm ET

Kelley L Cox - USA TODAY Sports

The New England Patriots made headlines last week before the NFL’s trade deadline when they sent backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to the San Francisco 49ers for a second round pick, but it was a trade that didn’t happen that had the internet buzzing Sunday during the teams bye week.

According to FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer during the “FOX NFL Sunday” telecast, 49ers GM John Lynch made one of the more bold trade suggestions to Patriots head coach Bill Belichick this past spring during his first attempt to accquire Garoppolo, which was at the time rebuffed.

“So Lynch calls back,” Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer said. “‘Garoppolo’s off limits. Will you trade us Tom Brady?’ Belichick said, ‘What did you just ask me?’ [Lynch said], ‘I’m asking would you trade us Tom Brady? You said Garoppolo’s off limits.’ He goes, ‘Did you just ask me if you’d trade Tom Brady … Did you just ask me if I’d trade the greatest quarterback of all time?’
“And [Lynch] said, ‘So is that a no?'”

John Lynch is a legend for trying to trade for Tom Brady 😂

(via @JayGlazer) https://t.co/sggaVkeLOx

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 5, 2017

During Monday’s scheduled appearance on WEEI radio’s “Kirk and Callahan” morning drive program, Brady was asked about the newly released story and his thoughts about the possibility of being traded out of Foxboro.

“I have never really thought about that,” he said, via WEEI. “I mean, everyone has the opportunity to go to another team or get traded, or cut, or released. I have played with so many great players that that has happened to, several times, and coaches too. Player movement is not new to anyone. You try and play well and try and add value to the team and you try and be a great player and if you’re not a great player for the team you are on then you try and be a great player for the other team that you are on.

“The best thing you can do as a player is just play well. If you do that, I am sure there is some team out there that will want you. When you think about playing well, that is what you try and do and you do well for the team I have been on for a long time. I have always tried to approach it the same way. I just try and do the job the best I possibly can. Show up every day with a good positive attitude, try and lead the team and we try and win games. I have been very fortunate to be part of a great organization that focuses on those things too. None of that has changed.”