In case you’ve been living under a rock, nobody can make up their mind on Tom Brady. At the start of the NFL Combine, most reports stated that executives around the league expected Brady to return to New England for the 2020 season. That narrative changed when Jeff Darlington tweeted that he’d be “shocked” to see Brady return to New England. Adam Schefter followed that up by stating that Brady and the Patriots have yet to begin contract negotiations.
Multiple beat reporters proceeded to refute this report, citing Belichick’s unwillingness to negotiate without clarity on the proposed CBA. These drastic shifts in tone over the course of roughly 48 hours means only one thing: nobody knows anything. Ultimately, there’s no point to read into any reports about Brady’s intentions, because it’s nothing more than mindless speculation.
Nobody Knows Anything About the Tom Brady Free Agency Decision
A Familiar Road
Watching the media overblow business in Foxboro is an annual tradition at this point. While the dynasty is closer than ever to coming to an end, those around the league are doing their best to speed up the process. Last year at this time, all eyes were on Director of Player Personnel Nick Caserio. According to multiple reports, Caserio wanted out of his contract and couldn’t wait to leave Foxboro. Less than one year later, the longtime executive signed an extension to remain with the Patriots organization.
Of course, who could ever forget the 2018 offseason? After losing the Super Bowl LII and trading away Jimmy Garoppolo, New England’s dynasty was over. Bill Belichick reportedly hated Robert Kraft, Tom Brady wanted to retire, and Belichick could even leave for the New York Giants. This drama, internal chaos, and overall frustration led to New England winning their sixth Super Bowl in franchise history.
Granted, the Tom Brady situation is a little bit different than the previously mentioned scenarios. The six-time Super Bowl champion will probably hit free agency, and he might want to see what other teams can offer. However, any speculation that Brady is desperate to leave probably isn’t rooted in fact. History shows that these types of narratives tend to get overblown with the Patriots. Chances are, this is no exception.
Tom Brady Still Fits in New England
Winning is all that matters to Tom Brady, and the Patriots still represent Brady’s best chance to win another title. Bill Belichick is still a great coach, Brady won’t have to deal with adjusting to a new coaching staff/scheme, and the defense should be one of the best in the league. The only thing lacking is offensive weapons, and Belichick has plenty of time to get those.
Free agency and the NFL Draft should both have plenty of solid options in the passing game. Guys like Amari Cooper, Hunter Henry, Emmanuel Sanders, and several others are set to hit the open market and could immediately bolster the offense. As far as the NFL Draft goes, this class of wide receivers should be one of the best in recent memory. Brady will obviously decide before the draft, but he could be persuaded to sign if Belichick promises to invest in some young talent.
The Patriots Still Need Brady
The Patriots make sense for Brady, and Brady makes sense for the Patriots. New England doesn’t have an heir to the throne, and the free agents leave a lot to be desired. New England’s relatively subpar draft position means that they won’t have the chance to trade up for an NFL-ready starter, so they’ll need somebody under center in 2020.
Just because the Patriots haven’t begun negotiations doesn’t mean they don’t want Brady back in New England. The new CBA partially changes how the salary cap works, and it would be foolish to sign a big-money contract without knowing the long-term ramifications of said decision. The New Orleans Saints are doing essentially the same thing with Drew Brees, and nobody thinks he’s leaving the Big Easy.
There is a chance Brady leaves New England for greener pastures. However, he could also return on a two-year, fully-guaranteed deal. Nobody knows what he’s going to do, and only time will tell where he goes.
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