This week, Tom Brady took to social media to basically announce that he is coming back for yet another season. Did you really think he was going to end his historic career with a wild card loss, let alone his last career pass be a pick-six?
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7D5twlB76Y/?utm_source=ig_embed
For his most recent contract, the greatest quarterback of all time agreed to a two-year contract worth $70 million that would keep him with New England through 2021. However, there was a provision that prevents the Pats from using the franchise or transition tag on him during this upcoming offseason.
Sources: #Patriots QB Tom Brady’s new deal includes a provision that does not allow NE to franchise or transition tag him for the 2020 season. The final two years automatically void on the last day of the 2019 league year, but he cannot be tagged. Brady will be a free agent.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 5, 2019
According to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports, Brady will not take a hometown discount like he has in the past, and rightfully so. How will the relationship between Brady, owner Robert Kraft, and coach Bill Belichick affect this outcome? It will certainly way heavy on all those involved, and could make or break a possible deal to keep Brady in a Patriots uniform.
So, if by chance Brady decides to test the waters, what are some realistic landing locations for the future Hall of Famer? How about the team that just defeated him in the playoffs?
That’s right, the Tennessee Titans. Brady was teammates with Titans head coach Mike Vrabel for eight seasons. Ryan Tannehill is a free agent after this season, and as we witnessed Saturday evening, the Titans have a potent running attack with Derrick Henry. We have seen the emergence of rookie A.J. Brown and third-year wideout Corey Davis. Brady has not had a threat on the outside since Randy Moss.
You know what coach has helped revitalize older quarterbacks’ careers? Bruce Arians. Look at Kurt Warner and Carson Palmer. The head coach in Tampa has made it pretty clear that he is willing to move on from Jameis Winston. Talk about a roster with offensive weapons such as Breshad Perriman, Chris Godwin, Cameron Brate, O.J. Howard, and Mike Evans. Evans’s name has been involved in trade talks, but if management could swing this, I think he would be fine staying in Tampa Bay and catching passes from Tom Brady. And of course: no state taxes in the state of Florida!
The third franchise that could make a case for the former Michigan Wolverine is the Denver Broncos. Broncos general manager John Elway is not afraid to make a big splash, whether it be drafting Tim Tebow in the first round or taking a shot with Peyton Manning. Both bets paid off as Tim Tebow led the Broncos to a playoff win over Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers, and Peyton Manning helped the Broncos and Elway win Super Bowl 50. While the offensive talent might not be the same as in Tennessee or Tampa Bay, the Broncos’ defense is still solid enough to carry an above-average quarterback like they did with Peyton Manning.
The fourth team that could make a case for the future 43-year-old is the Los Angeles Chargers. Philip Rivers’s time ran out a couple of years ago. The Chargers lost 11 games by seven points or less this past season. If the offense had only put up a few more points in six of those contests, the Chargers would be a playoff team. Like the Bucs, the Chargers have weapons on the offensive side of the ball in Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Hunter Henry, and free agent Melvin Gordon III. Not only do they have talent on the offensive side of the ball, but on the defensive side, too, with defensive ends Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram III. While L.A. technically isn’t home for Brady, who was born in San Mateo, Calif., it is the same state and coastline.
While there are still seven more football games to be played, the rumors and speculations will swirl about the future of Tom Brady. Only he will know where he plays in the fall, and he doesn’t even know yet. Sit back and enjoy the ride, water cooler talk, and fake rumors.
