Tom Brady admitted that he pretty much knew he wouldn’t be with the New England Patriots in 2020. And he’s known for quite some time.
Before the 2019 season, the quarterback signed a new contract which expired at the start of the 2020 league year this March. The deal allowed Brady to enter free agency, with a clause preventing New England from using the franchise tag. He made his announcement he was leaving the Patriots on March 17. But he had felt like the day had been coming for about a year.
“I don’t think there was a final, final decision until it happened, but I probably knew before the start of last season — that it was my last year. Our time was coming to an end,” Brady said during an interview with Howard Stern.
Even during 2019 training camp, Brady admitted his future was as uncertain as it had ever been. He said thoughts of leaving New England were already creeping into his mind.
The newly-minted Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback admitted he had no hard feelings against Bill Belichick. No resentment, Brady said. Brady and Belichick spoke by phone on the night when the quarterback drove to Robert Kraft’s house to deliver the news he would be leaving. Brady said there were tears — lots of them. But he didn’t actually tell Belichick in person.
And so the breakup took place. Brady is headed for a new challenge in a new city. Belichick will address a new challenge, too: attempt to win a Super Bowl without Brady.
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