Quarterback Tom Brady is embracing change. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signal-caller decided to leave behind the New England Patriots, his employer of 20 years. And in a lengthy article in The Players’ Tribune, Brady reflected on his career in New England while bidding the region goodbye.
He also touched upon why he landed with his new team.
“Playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is a change, a challenge, an opportunity to lead and collaborate, and also to be seen and heard,” Brady wrote in a story published on Monday.
This is one of Brady’s many lines, which raise an eyebrow. The quarterback’s comments present an obvious question: Did Brady not feel seen and heard in New England? He doesn’t provide an answer. It’s not the only line that might be emotionally loaded.
“Still, I’m excited. Most of all, I’m motivated. I want to deliver for my new team, my new coaches and my new teammates. I don’t want to let anyone down. I’m going to give it everything I’ve got,” Brady wrote. “They’ve welcomed me as one of their own. They want to listen to what I have to say. I’m excited to be embraced fully for what I can bring to the Bucs. In turn I’m ready to embrace fully a team that is confident in what I do — and what I bring — and is willing to go on this ride with me.”
Again, this raises a question: Were the Patriots not listening? Were the Patriots not confident in what Brady does? Were they unwilling to “go on this ride” with Brady? I, for one, have cast doubt on the Patriots’ interest in continuing to work with Brady. Patriots owner Robert Kraft conveyed that Brady’s departure was his decision. But that doesn’t seem to be the whole truth. Bill Belichick, after all, didn’t make a contract offer to Brady, per NBC Sports Boston. The decision doesn’t seem to have been Brady’s alone.
Brady’s departure from New England seems to be a bit more complicated than how it was initially conveyed. And perhaps as time goes on, we’ll see how the decision came together in clearer terms.
[vertical-gallery id=83610]