Many a people go fishing for big prize off the coastline of Tampa/St. Pete. Rarely do any of them ever catch a fish this big.
That’s right, Tampa Bay, what was once thought only a pipedream appears to have become a reality.
The man commonly considered the greatest quarterback of all time, or at least inarguably the ring-bearingest, will now be donning a Tampa Bay Buccaneers uniform. The odds of that happening were about as unlikely as a deadly plague sweeping the nation and we all know how that ended up.
While both these things happening in the same week might seem like the seventh sign of the apocalypse, Tom Brady leaving New England behind to play with an all new video game-like offense in Central Florida is about as real as the unemployment lines are long. With Tampa’s impending Wrestlemania being cancelled, this is the news Tampa needed to put a smile back on its sad, St. Patrick’s Day cancelled faces.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve criticized Buccaneers ownership and management for either not giving a damn or not knowing any better but this time around, whether you agree with the move or not, the Bucs made by far the biggest splash of the NFL off-season.
Repeat after me, Tom Brady is a Buccaneer.
Pinch yourself, Tampa Bay. This fall, the helmsmen of New England’s Evil Empire will be playing in a stadium that resides right across the street from where Baseball’s Evil Empire spring trains. Bucs fans can only hope Brady has the same winning impact. If you hated Tom Brady in the past, prepare to bring that hate down South for there’s a new sheriff in town.
By signing Brady, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers become immediate contenders in the NFC, which is something that hasn’t been said about this team for a very long time. The Bucs haven’t won a playoff game since 2003. Over that same period, Brady has won 27, which is 11 more than any other quarterback in the history of the game!
I’ll give you a minute to let that sink in.
With all that being said, the Buccaneers all but traded the rights to a 26-year old quarterback for one who is considerably older (42). While that might sound crazy, the only thing about it that makes sense is that ye of the boundless interceptions, Jameis Winston, was the 26-year old and Tom Brady, ye of the multiple Super Bowl rings, is the elder.
This is not something that Tampa really does. In fact, it’s not something any franchise really does. In our lifetimes, we’ve seen Peyton Manning go to Denver… and win a Super Bowl. We’ve seen Joe Montana go to Kansas City… and come close, until he was leveled by Bruce Smith in the 1994 AFC Championship Game. What those two franchises have in common is that they both went all in to win, which is something the Buccaneers without question just did. And that is something Bucs’ fans have been waiting for a very long time.
We can only hope this ends like Manning rather than Montana but there is work to be done before we go crowning anyone. This Buccaneers offensive line is one that kept its former quarterback scrambling for years. Meanwhile, in New England, Brady’s was a uniform that rarely got soiled. Tampa’s O-Line hardly wants to go down in history as the group of men that ended Tom Brady’s career. They’ll need to keep him upright. He wouldn’t have come here if he didn’t think he couldn’t be protected but right now, that has to be Tampa’s biggest concern.
One thing that is no longer a concern, however, is putting butts in the seats. Tampa was one of those low-drawing NFL teams, subject to television blackouts back when that rule was still in place. They couldn’t get fans through the turnstiles. What for? To see another L? That should no longer be a problem. Tampa now has two years to win a Super Bowl with their aging, albeit highly decorated QB. It should be fun to watch.
Whether you agree with the acquisition or not is irrelevant. One thing is undeniable: the Buccaneers proved to everyone they are all in.
Tampa has had big name quarterbacks in the past. Doug Williams played here but he is far more remembered as the Super Bowl winning quarterback of the Washington Redskins. Steve Young played here but is more considered a Hall of Fame, and yes Super Bowl winning quarterback, of the San Francisco 49ers. The Buccaneers lone Super Bowl-winning quarterback is Brad Johnson and even he is more associated with the Minnesota Vikings. The Bucs have never had a quarterback to call their own. Winston was supposed to be that guy but after five straight years that will be remembered more for turnovers than anything else, Tampa Bay starts anew.
Brady will NEVER be remembered as a quarterback the Bucs can call their own… unless, somehow, he manages to bring a Super Bowl back to Tampa Bay which, unlikely as it sounds, still brings hope to a fan base that has rooted for hope for so long. It would only further cement Brady’s legacy as the best ever.
It’s a bizarre state of affairs with Brady coming to Tampa but all eyes are upon us now as their head coach, Bruce Arians, landed the biggest fish of all. We’re all just waiting to see how he cooks it.
Truly the apocalypse is upon us lol!
Jackal…
Next thing we know, you’ll have short hair.
Let’s go!
Frankly, I’m really upset. Why? I’m only a little older than Brady, I can throw a perfect spiral at least ten yards, and I was only asking for $15 million.
In my humble opinion, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin may have had something to do with Brady’s decision. Add in the fact that Florida had no state income tax and you have three really good reasons for TB to land in TB.
Here’s hoping that Tom can work his magic one more time. CHEERS!
Also repeat after me that Tampa Bay is the most ideal team is sign Todd Gurley.
As a temporarily transplanted Bostonian who once, as a TV reporter, followed a lanky, scalley-cap-wearing unknown back-up — up and down the stairs of the Massachusetts State House, I am quite surprised and delighted by this development. On the day in question, the essentially unknown Tom Brady was joining fellow Patriot’s Drew Bledsoe and Troy Brown on a courtesy round of visits to Bay State legislators following the big victory in which Brady came in to complete the game an injured Bledsoe had to leave. The rest — is glorious history. TB was basically a back-up at Michigan, right? A low draft pick prospect in the beginning and had Troy never been injured — well….would Tom have ever gotten his chance? Funny how that works. But be advised that Tom may not have his long ball anymore. He’s one-dimensional, but what a dimension! Standing in the pocket, he exercises a great football mind. Here’s hoping the Buc’s offensive line protects him well. And he’ll likely have some great tight ends and wideouts to work with. Here’s praying everybody stays healthy. –
Jeff…
Let’s go, alright, to the games, but at a higher rate.
Just saw today the Bucs are planning on raising their ticket prices.
Can’t say I blame them. If you want to see the goods, you gots to pay for them.
Alex…
Perhaps it’s time to change your agent.
Deac…
Evans and Godwin are a nasty 1-2, perhaps the best in today’s game.
They’ll put up numbers.
I’ve heard rumors that Godwin might be involved in a deal which I hope isn’t the case. Kid has hands.
Either way, I’m pretty sure I speak for everyone here when I say I can’t wait until they play these damn games.
Greg…
I also heard we may be interested in Melvin Gordon.
Problem is, with all that’s going on, we can’t give these guys physicals.
Exactly, the other Greg.
I think we know what Tom Brady’s game is these days, lot of quick outs. Been that way for a while.
Can Mike Evans, he of the few yards after the catch, conform his game accordingly?
There are plenty of weapons for Arians to draw up a healthy enough playbook to keep opposing secondaries on their toes.
This offense, behind Byron Leftwich (and plenty of Brady) will just have to get it together. Make the second season, I say, and then apply what you’ve learned to go the rest of the way.
I can assure you Brady didn’t come down here for just a vacation.
1) You mentioned “big-time” Buccaneer quarterbacks, and didn’t mention Vinny Testaverde. Yeah, I know he was a “have neck hair, will travel” sort of guy, but look at his career numbers stacked up against some Hall of Famers.
2) Odds are prohibitively against Brady taking the Buccaneers to the “promised land.” The very genesis of Dubsism was the fiasco that was Brett Favre going to the Vikings. Granted, this isn’t nearly as hilarious as that was, but I’m sorry to tell you history of Super Bowl winning QBs taking another team to the Lombardi Trophy isn’t on your side. This is more than likely to end in one of three ways.
1) Brady gets the Bucs to the NFC Championship game…a game in which he putts short of the cup, ergo Joe Montana in Kansas City.
2) Brady gets the Bucs to the Super Bowl…a game in which he putts short of the cup, ergo Kurt Warner in Arizona.
3) The Bucs win the Super Bowl with a “Brock Osweiler”-type dragging the the skeletal remains of Tom Brady across the finish line, ergo Peyton Manning in Denver. And before you say you’ll take #3, you need to tell me who your “Osweiler” is.
Dubs…
1) Up until Jameis passed him this year, Vinny was STILL the all-time leading passer in Bucs history. It was a question I’d routinely ask people only to see a small percentage of them actually get the answer right. Probably more known as being a Jet… or a Brown… Vinny was a monster, but not much jewelry to show for it. I only included Doug Williams and Steve Young to prove a point.
and
2) If I had to take a “Tom Brady wins or does not win a Bowl in Tampa” wager, as a betting man, I’d probably have to agree with you and say that he won’t. That being said, for the first time in a long time here in Tampa, there’s hope. And a reason to go to the games. There’s excitement. Most of the time, we walk into the stadium waiting to see how we’re going to blow it. Paying for a ticket to see how we’re actually going to win it will be a relatively new experience.