Brady, Buccaneers make it official

Tom Brady is officially a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. Why the rest of the league should be worried.

While we knew it was coming, Friday morning it became official: Tom Brady is a Tampa Bay Buccaneer.

The news came, as these things often do in today’s day and age, on social media, with this post from Brady:

The Buccaneers then announced the signing via a press release, which included statements from general manager Jason Licht (who was with the New England Patriots when they drafted Brady in 2000) and coach Bruce Arians:

There should be something in Brady’s Instagram post that terrifies the rest of the league.

As someone who has followed Brady on every step as his journey, first as a fan and then as an analyst, there are some things that are apparent about how he approaches the game. Things that he says himself. Last season when the Patriots and Brady were working through a new contract, he made a point of restating how he approaches every single day: Determined to prove to the Patriots that he is their best option at quarterback.

That inner drive, that fire, is what has made Tom Brady, well, Tom Brady. The great ones have that ability to self-motivate. Even for a quarterback of Brady’s stature in the game (six Super Bowl rings, arguably the greatest of all time) there is never satisfaction. There remains that desire to prove everyone else wrong. To prove to every team that passed on you in the draft – even the Patriots – that they were crazy for doing so.

If you think I’m joking, look at what he named his production company: “199 Productions.” Brady was the 199th pick in the 2000 NFL Draft.

Now re-read his statement.

“…you earn the trust and respect of those around through your commitment every single day.”

“I look forward to meeting all my new teammates and coaches and proving to them that they can believe and trust in me…”

“I have always believed that well done is better than well said, so I’m [not gonna] say much more – I’m just gonna get to work! #Year1”

Brady, for lack of a better word, is livid.

Now he has something else to add to that manufactured chip on his shoulder: The idea that Bill Belichick did not believe in him anymore. The idea that the Patriots, the franchise that gave him his start, gave him a home, and made him a global star, did not want him anymore. He is back at the start, needing to prove yet again that he is the best option at quarterback for a franchise.

The rest of the league better watch out.