Non-football fans might know Tom Brady best as the legendary quarterback of the New England Patriots but in 2020, he shocked the world by announcing that he would be leaving his team of over 2020 years. Since then, he has been the quarterback for the new Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The move was an interesting one and as Brady himself put it, a challenge for this career.
“Choosing to leave New England, and the only team I’ve known for 20 years, to join a new football team is a great opportunity, a great change, and a great challenge,” Brady stated following the announcement. A change in environment for a veteran of the game is as risky as it is exciting and almost a year after this announcement, we take a look back at how Brady has fared.
Brady and the Bucs; a Year In
Since Tom Brady joined the new Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he has garnered positive media attention for both himself and the team. Fans of the team were very excited for Brady’s arrival particularly because they hoped it would increase the relatively-overlooked team’s chances at a Superbowl championship. So far, this has proven to be true.
They are now at the top of the NFL’s DVOA table and Brady can boast 535 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions in the Bucs’ games against the Packers and the Raiders. Fans, many of whom have money riding on Brady’s performances, are particularly impressed at his ability to perform well despite being over 40.
It is also believed that Brady has boosted the morale of the team, in the same way, that he did when he still played for the Patriots. Still, there is a notable link between the pressure put on Brady by the opposition when it comes to his dropbacks and the overall performance of the Bucs.
While Brady is legendary for his ability to work well under pressure, the Bucs have appeared to work hard to keep the heat off him, especially considering his age. Brady does seem to be implementing some tricks from his classic plays with the Patriots and this has produced positive results so far; Brady brings his seasoned skills to the team and his teammates protect him on the field. Overall, a win-win for all involved.
However, the future of Brady’s career with the Bucs depends heavily on his relationship with the head coach Bruce Arians. At the start of the season, many of the tactics used appeared to be from Arians’ playbook. It was assumed that it would take some time before Brady’s style could be infused in the team’s performances.
We have seen more of Brady’s influence as time has gone on and hopefully, this will help the Bucs’ come the championships. Brady has never had trouble being a team player and most fans are betting that he will integrate smoothly as time goes on.
With some of the biggest games of the season coming up soon, that is all they can hope for.
