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I gotta say something up front here – I’m a Tom Brady guy. I’m from Boston, I like the Patriots, and I am smart enough to know that Brady is the GOAT.
I’m also smart enough to be able to chastise the GOAT for things that he deserves to be chastised for and this is clearly one of those things – this week it was revealed that his TB12 company received a PPP loan from the government that fell in the $350,000 to $1 million tier of loan payments for companies looking for help during the coronavirus pandemic.
That, quite frankly, is a joke. And a terrible one at that.
While I’ve long been a fan of Brady’s football career, his TB12 stuff has been harder to root for or take seriously. From the pajama pants that are still being promoted as helping you recover while you sleep (I mean, come on), to his recent new product called “Protect,” which is billed as an immunity blend supplement that he released during the pandemic for $45 bucks a bottle, it’s hard to ignore those who yell about Brady being sketchy for selling some ridiculous things that may more may not help a person out.
But now his company is getting up to a million bucks from the government? Money that we taxpayers kicked in from our weekly paychecks?
Yeah, that’s gross.
It’s especially gross when you consider that Brady, who is about to turn 43 next month, recently signed a 2-year, $50 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tom can’t strip any of that money away to help with his TB12 stuff?
We’re all going through tough times – losing loved ones from the coronavirus, losing jobs, being put on furloughs – and for many of us finances are a major concern from the moment we get up to the moment we go to bed.
That’s what makes this so hard to comprehend, that a QB who has made $253 million during his 20 years with the Patriots (and that’s just what he’s made from football) needs some government help?
He doesn’t need the government’s help and TB12 should have never applied for this loan. But TB12 did apply for the loan and got a nice payout.
This is a terrible look for a QB who continues to have bad looks during this offseason, including working out and quoting FDR when the players’ union has suggested players don’t work out in order to protect their health.
Brady was a lot of fun to root for during his days with the Patriots and I’m hoping he does well with the Bucs if there is football this season.
But this PPP loan is not great. No great at all.
Wednesday’s biggest winner: Not the quarantine meals in the NBA quarantine bubble.
NBA teams are starting to gather in Orlando in hopes of being able to get back to playing in what will be a wild few months of basketball action in Florida if all goes according to plan. Some players shared photos of the dinners they got and yeah, it doesn’t look great. These meals will get better once the 48-hour quarantine is over, but right now these don’t look good at all.
Quick hits: Fiers’ tremendous mask… Fantasy baseball advice… Usain Bolt gives daughter a great name… And more!
– A’s pitcher Mike Fiers turned his bizarre facial hair into a terrifying face mask that you need to see.
– My buddy Charles Curtis has some great fantasy baseball advice now that baseball is coming back (we hope). Hint: Don’t prioritize pitchers in your drafts.
– Usain Bolt gave his newborn baby girl a perfect name.
– ESPN has revamped its radio lineup and here’s everything you need to know about that.
– My boss Nate Scott ranked all 9 of Christian Pulisic’s goals for Chelsea and you should check it out because Nate is a nice boss and a big soccer dude.