{"id":79353,"date":"2020-01-09T19:35:13","date_gmt":"2020-01-10T00:35:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=79353"},"modified":"2020-01-09T19:36:44","modified_gmt":"2020-01-10T00:36:44","slug":"stop-talk-of-tom-brady-chargers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2020\/01\/09\/stop-talk-of-tom-brady-chargers\/","title":{"rendered":"Let’s Stop This Talk of Tom Brady to the Los Angeles Chargers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Earlier this season, a rumor started floating in the NFL world. A rumor that 2019 would be Tom Brady<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s last season with the New England Patriots<\/a>, and that he would go to the Los Angeles Chargers<\/a> next. Since then, the Patriots season has ended with a one-and-done in the playoffs. As a result, speculation of what\u2019s next for Brady has only shot upward.<\/p>\n

Brady is set to be a free agent this off-season. He has made it clear he will not be retiring<\/a>. The possibility does exist that the Patriots could choose to move in a different direction. But I\u2019m not going to speculate on that. Instead, let\u2019s focus specifically on why \u2013 if he does end up looking for a new team \u2013 the Chargers are not going to be that new team.<\/p>\n

Tom Brady and Los Angeles Chargers an Unlikely Union<\/h2>\n

The Risk for Los Angeles<\/h3>\n

The Chargers are another team that might be in the conversation for a new quarterback this off-season. Emphasis on the word \u201cmight,\u201d because while Philip Rivers<\/a> <\/strong>appeared to decline heavily and is a free agent as well, there hasn\u2019t been any official word yet on what the Chargers plans are. Rivers wants to return but has suggested it\u2019s not up to him at this point.<\/p>\n

However, if they did let Rivers go, Brady just wouldn\u2019t make sense for them. Rivers is 38 and apparently on the decline. Brady is even older at 42 \u2013 turning 43 next August. And he is on the decline as well, albeit not as sharply. Why would the Chargers want to switch an old quarterback on the decline for an even older one who would probably have an even shorter time span as a result? This just does not make sense. If the Chargers did want to find a new quarterback, it wouldn\u2019t be in the form of yet another grizzled veteran on their last legs.<\/p>\n

Not the Best Option for Tom Brady Either<\/h3>\n

Part of the logic behind why Tom Brady would supposedly want to go to the Chargers is because of the whole hometown state thing. And that kind of makes sense, since the other two California teams are set at quarterback for the immediate future with Jared Goff<\/a> <\/strong>and Jimmy Garoppolo<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 and the other remaining team is on its way to Vegas. And Brady would certainly have an upgrade in weapons. He\u2019d have Keenan Allen<\/strong><\/a>, Mike Williams<\/a><\/strong>, Hunter Henry<\/a><\/strong>, and Austin Ekeler<\/a><\/strong>, as opposed to Julian Edelman<\/a> <\/strong>and\u2026 not much else right now.<\/p>\n

But the issue would be playing with a team that typically does not have good offensive lines. 2019 was no exception. For several years, Brady\u2019s tended to struggle more when he\u2019s under pressure. Not to mention that he\u2019d be taking a lot more of a beating than he was in New England. That would certainly accelerate his decline. If he were to actually end up looking for a new team, the Indianapolis Colts<\/a> might be one of the best fits given that their offensive line actually is good \u2013 and that their quarterback situation isn\u2019t entirely set in stone. At his age, how well he\u2019ll be protected is something he should consider in order to avoid a more untimely exit. Sure, he’s been doing a lot of quick-release plays in recent years. But there’s no guarantee that a new team would run the same kind of offense the Patriots have been.<\/p>\n

Last Word<\/h3>\n

In conclusion, this move probably wouldn\u2019t be best for either side, but especially not for the Chargers. Assuming they do move on from Rivers, they\u2019d be better off signing\/trading for another quarterback that isn\u2019t in his late 30\u2019s, or drafting a quarterback with their sixth overall pick. Justin Herbert<\/strong> seems to be a likely option in the latter scenario. It\u2019s also possible they do something like bringing back Rivers and drafting Herbert at the same time.<\/p>\n

This \u201cTom Brady to the Chargers\u201d rumor was easy to dismiss during the season. But now that it\u2019s actually picking up some further steam, this needed to be addressed. The Chargers shouldn\u2019t have much interest to begin with. And for Brady, the grass may not be greener on the other side because of the lack of pass protection. Hopefully, this rumor will be put to rest soon enough even if Brady does end up looking for a new squad.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>