When it comes to free agent quarterback Tom Brady, if it’s not the New England Patriots tied to him, the next team names in line are interchangeable between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Los Angeles Chargers. A few reports swirled up rumors that linked Brady with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
During yesterday’s press conference, general manager Jason Licht planted all the seeds to blossom these rumors, without even naming Brady. “We’re not saying we don’t want Jameis,” Licht said. “We’re just saying we want to check what’s behind door number 2, 3, 4.” Of course the Buccaneers have plenty of other things to focus on outside of the quarterback position. Both Licht and coach Bruce Arians haven’t given much, if any detail on where the team is headed in terms of quarterback. “I know what I am doing at the quarterback position. Jameis Winston doesn’t know, but the team does.”
This could all be an effort to drive the price of Winston down so the team can allocate more money into keeping their defense together. After all, Winston, although technically not yet a free agent, hasn’t really been linked to any other teams in the free agency.
The Buccaneers offensive weapons are exactly what Brady and the Patriots have been missing. Wide receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and soon-to-be free agent Breshad Perriman, as well as tight end O.J. Howard – we all know how much Brady likes throwing to tight ends.
“I had Andrew Luck as a rookie, I had Carson Palmer later in his career. I just like winners,” Arians said at Tuesday’s press conference. There isn’t any quarterback in the history of the NFL that would fit the winner category anymore than Brady. Licht was also a scout on the Patriots in 2000 when the team drafted him in the sixth round.
Also, during the radio row trip on Sirius XM’s NFL Radio, Arians spoke more about Winston’s 2019 season performance. “There’s a lot to love, just the mistakes sometimes you scratch your head. I think there were about 10 [interceptions] that weren’t his fault, but I would’ve liked to see a better December.”
Brady will officially become a free agent on March 17th at 4:00 p.m. EST.
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