Tom Brady’s Motive

April 6th, 2020

A columnist for BSPN New York who penned a critically-acclaimed biography of Bill Belicheat seems to think the move of six-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady to the Bucs is a Hail Mary pass by the two men running Tampa Bay’s football operation.

After what many believe is a boom-or-bust move by Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and Bucco Bruce Arians, Ian O’Connor tries to figure out what lies beneath the surface of Brady’s motivation to pull the Bucs franchise out of the NFL’s sewer and into elite status.

O’Connor is dubious, so he wrote for BSPN.

Tom Brady, the ultimate winner, was committing to play for the ultimate loserville franchise; Tampa Bay’s .387 career winning percentage is the worst among all franchises in the four major sports. Brady was leaving an organization that all but patented the term “culture” for one forever defined by its non-culture. Brady was trading a coach with 31 postseason victories for a coach with one postseason victory, and the greatest roster-builder of all (also Belichick) for a GM who has lost 62 of his 96 games. …

Measured against Belichick, Arians is a stand-up comic with a funny-looking cap and a strange way of managing defeat. “Win or lose, we booze,” is Arians’ oft-stated philosophy. Though people close to Brady believe that he was looking for a little more humanity in his coaching (“Tom was Belichick’d out after 20 years,” said one friend), and that Arians’ let’s-grab-a-couple-beers-and-sneak-in-nine-holes approach will be a welcome change, some league officials who know all parties wonder how Brady will adjust to a head coach who doesn’t quite match Belichick’s maniacal hours or attention to detail.

Yet given Arians’ distinguished history with quarterbacks, the more interesting Brady gamble actually revolves around Jason Licht, the 49-year-old GM who fired two coaches in his first five years and who might have been fired himself had he not persuaded his former colleague in Arizona, Arians, to come out of retirement. (Arians is known to have made Licht’s secured future, via a long-term contract extension, a requirement for taking the job in 2019.)

Although O’Connor is harsh on Licht, he does point out that Brady wanted to play for the Bucs because of the very same roster Licht cobbled together. O’Connor also noted how Belicheat liked and respected Licht when he was with the Patriots.

The way Joe looks at it, buying Brady bought Arians at least one year more year. Look, only one coach Team Glazer has hired survived back-to-back losing seasons, the very same coach won Team Glazer a Super Bowl (Chucky). Arians doesn’t have that on his resume (yet).

With the team going through all the trouble of getting Brady, Joe is pretty convinced Team Glazer is not going to bounce Arians if the Bucs finish, say, 7-9 (again) largely because Brady came here in part because of Arians.

But if the Bucs don’t make the playoffs in two seasons with Brady, well, let’s just say the pressure is on.

Joe will never forget when Bucs co-chairman Bryan Glazer appeared on live radio with Joe’s good friend, “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig, and Glazer told Duemig that if a general manager and/or coach wants to build from within using a youth movement, ownership is fine with that. When a general manager starts buying high-priced free agents, then Glazer said he and his family expect results immediately.

Joe cannot think of a bigger-named free agent than Brady.

30 Responses to “Tom Brady’s Motive”

  1. AlteredEgo Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation. Says:

    Yes…but it will only work if the QB of the future is on the roster this year
    1)- learn from Tom Brady
    20- be ready if Brady is injured and that is very worrisome to be.
    so
    silly scenarios
    trade down with the Dolphins moving to pick #18
    trade 2nd round selection order with the Dolphins and along with getting a later round draft pick

  2. El Buco Realisto Says:

    Brandy’s main motive of coming to Tampa is simple!!!!!!!! And it was not playoffs and Superbowls!!!!!!! Its to pad his passing stats for the record books!!!!!!!!! He came here for all those “weapons for winston”!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He is gunning for #1 in the record books!!!!!!!

    go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    His motivation is quite clear…..he knows he is the best….he has extreme confidence in his ability and he still has a desire to prove it.

    He is absolutely certain he can turn Tampa Bay into a winner….right now….

    He wan’t to prove to the sports world that it was Tom Brady who made the NE Patriots a winner. The best way for him to do that it to win with the Bucs.

  4. Sport Says:

    All fair points. Was there a stipulation for when the youth movement demands $30M per year ($1M per interception)?

    Yeah, they probably weren’t youth buyers in that scenario. Plus the credibility and respect immediately gained by adding Brady is worth it to an owner.

    What was Ian O’s analysis of resigning the vets JPP, SUh and Barret? Did he have any cute anecdotes about our coach on their production last year?

    And Shill Joe, we have a youth movement in the secondary, yet you want to add Vets, why? We know it’s not leadership, because in your world it’s not necessary or needed (until you agree it is important and talk out of both sides of your mouth, which is common when you are a shill, it becomes difficult to remember your last fib).

    In BA I Trust!

  5. stpetebucsfan Says:

    “Brady was trading a coach with 31 postseason victories for a coach with one postseason victory”

    I hope the Patriots go 5-11 this year!!!! Brady is trading a coach who had ONE playoff victory in the six years he was HC BEFORE Brady!!!!

    Got that? Brady is trading a coach who had ONE playoff victory before him for a coach with One playoff victory. That does not count the post seasons BA contributed to including SB wins.

    AGAIN…BB was a LOSING coach BEFORE Brady. He did not put up those glowing records WITHOUT Brady.

    Let watch the next five years and see how how the man who always looks as if he sniffed sheit gets without Brady. He has NO excuse!! If Brady fails he will be viewed as too old…bad franchise…Covid etc…if BB fails he has NO excuse.

    And again…BB was a FAILURE before Brady simply google for yourself and see his career stats.

  6. Buczilla Says:

    If we don’t make the playoffs this year then getting Brady would have been a waste of time. He is a clear “short term” upgrade over Jameis and I expect no less than a 10 win season. If we can get our running game in the top 20 and our defense continues it’s climb, then 12 wins or more is doable. I usually get kicked in the balls when I am overly optimistic about this team, but what the hell?

  7. Pryda...sec147 Says:

    You got rid of Winston! Its super bowl or bust. Smh

  8. Sport Says:

    Hello Moderation!

  9. BucsFanSince1976 Says:

    Any and I mean ANY season record that does not result in a playoff game is grounds for immediate TERMINATION of LICHT BRAIN-PERIOD……………..

  10. Pewter Power Says:

    If your looking for negative outlook come here. Buying Brady bought Arians one more year? Lol you jokers give the most content which brings the most criticism.

    I mean damn duh of course they won’t fire anyone one year after the best free agent signing in team history especially it being a quarterback and I don’t even understand why that’s hard to assume but you still have to say only one coach Team Glazer has hired survived back-to-back losing seasons like they would waste time of giving him a new coach in the last year of his contract, he could easily decide to retire than deal with that nonsense. You write a negative articles all day long then say no one wants the Bucs to succeed more than us but will keep bringing up the last decade like comparing Brady to Winston who was pure trash. So yes let’s not have an opinion of optimism let’s just keep writing about losing.

    The guy that cost Arians a winning season is the guy who can’t find a job. Mr pick 6 was the issue

  11. Joe Says:

    you still have to say only one coach Team Glazer has hired survived back-to-back losing seasons like they would waste time of giving him a new coach in the last year of his contract,

    Is that a fact or is it not? And if that is a fact (it is), then why play ostrich?

    If all you want is rah-rah “the Bucs are great” pap on a team that has the longest playoff drought in the NFC, Joe may suggest you stick with Buccaneers.com.

  12. ©MadMax Says:

    Whoa, whoa, whoa…just back up a minute….Brady see’s what we’re building here and the right opportunity to step in and be a part of it. Thats what winners do! We’re almost there and he is helping us complete it….simple as that.

  13. LaMarcus Says:

    Lol Joe ^^^

  14. BrianDorry55 Says:

    If this team doesn’t make the playoffs in three seasons with Arians…two seasons with Tom Brady…and an extra damn playoff team for each conference, just put us out of our misery and move the team.

  15. Craig Says:

    I still think Brady felt betrayed by the Pats and Belicheck-down last season. His pay structure was supposed to help make a team around him that could compete. Last season it didn’t.

    Now he wants to prove that he is the bigger part of all those championships. He will be out to prove a point and will make this team ready for prime-time.

  16. Smashsquatch Says:

    I’ve been saying for the last five years Brady is going to fall off a cliff and the Patriot’s dynasty will end. In fact, I’ve been rooting for this along with many other fans who have wished for the demise of the Patriots. Belichick’s questionable ethics (spying illegally), Brady’s need to have his balls inflated just right (Gisele is a high standard), Kraft having his rubbed out by a strip mall masseuse and all the Lombardi trophies make it easy to wish evil upon the greatest dynasty of all time.

    Fast forward, now I find myself making excuses as to why Brady’s arm still has plenty zip and he’s far from being washed up. Patriots fans now find themselves in an awkward position of having to root against their hero. Whether you want to or not, all of us will soon be forced into choosing which side of the fence to sit: Brady or Belichick? Early indications show there are many Bucs bandwagoners among the national media and Pat fans are choosing allegiance with their team. What will the rest of the NFL fans choose to root for?

    I can’t wait to see this all play out. The Bucs have already won as the relevance immediately thrust upon our beloved franchise is priceless. I just can’t get enough of it.

  17. stpetebucsfan Says:

    Here’s a freaky thought. Is is possible that QB’s not considered that the Bucs currently have more talent on the roster than the Patriots?

    Hard perhaps to imagine…we are after all Buc fans..but that doesn’t make it any less true.

  18. Joe Says:

    Who is…Ian O’ Connor??

    One of the better writers in America.

    Always helps to have an open mind.

  19. Bucsfan77 Says:

    I have been saying since day one Brady came to bucs because he does want to be number 1 in all QB stats and the only way that happens if he comes to Tampa and beast with the weapons we have. Plus the only way he passes Brees is to play them head to head twice a year. To me that is the first and foremost reason he chose the Bucs, also I think he got a taste of wanting to transition to front office after spending time with lynch considering they have a long history of friendship, with that he knows the only way he will be able to walk right into a FO position is to show that it wasn’t just Belicheat that accounted for NE run, and coming to the Bucs and turn them around would make many teams willing to give him a shot.

  20. AlteredEgo Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation. Says:

    Great insights BF77..maybe just maybe the front office of the future is being put in place….naw…what a silly notion…these are the Bucs after all….felt every bit of it since walking into the Ole Sombrero to check out the new thing in town for their first ever pre season game in 76

  21. jerseybuc Says:

    And pray tell, what was the Patriot legacy prior to Brady arriving? Besides one SB appearance, which by the way may have been the worst beat down in SB history, that franchise was a joke. Bringing up the Bucs history from the 70s is irrelevant. Had sports medicine been what it is today and we had a normal owner, that early 80s team may well have gone on a nice playoff run for a number of years.
    Lazy position to take by O Conner, who is a pretty good writer overall.

  22. Pewter Power Says:

    Joe Says:
    you still have to say only one coach Team Glazer has hired survived back-to-back losing seasons like they would waste time of giving him a new coach in the last year of his contract,

    Is that a fact or is it not? And if that is a fact (it is), then why play ostrich?

    If all you want is rah-rah “the Bucs are great” pap on a team that has the longest playoff drought in the NFC, Joe may suggest you stick with Buccaneers.com
    ———————
    Dude you can be a clown sometimes. It’s still stupid and it’s semantics. team glazer took over for the old man fired gruden who they didn’t hire in the first place and of the next 4 coaches only had ever been a head coach before the rest were first time head coaches so who the hell would care if they got fired after back to back seasons everybody doing that everyone dumb enough to make those types of hires in the first place. But go ahead and stick to that like it’s relevant this year.

    No one is asking for rah rah but a little common sense wouldn’t hurt

  23. Joe Says:

    No one is asking for rah rah but a little common sense wouldn’t hurt

    Common sense is looking at the obvious. One coach this ownership group has hired (and yes, Joel Glazer was a key in hiring Chucky) has lasted through two straight losing seasons. And it was the same coach who won a Super Bowl for the Bucs.

    This is a fact. No spin.

    Not sure why you are getting your briefs all bunched up about this. If you have an issue with this, it’s not Joe you should kvetch about. You should call One Buc Palace and ask for Bryan Glazer.

  24. Knuckle Sandwich Delivery Service Says:

    There are times when people should avoid being THE turd in the punch bowl. Some people just find optimism very exhausting and they need some one to share their misery with. Then again if these writers don’t say controversial things nobody will read their crappy articles.

  25. Knuckle Sandwich Delivery Service Says:

    JBF quarantine is back again!!!!!

  26. geno711 Says:

    Both coaching and players make the team. Brady had that with Belichick. I think I am in the majority also thinks he has that with B.A.

    But there does appear to be a few here suggesting that BA cannot get it done.

    Again, I think the Joe’s and I are more in the group that although there is pressure, these professions will be successful here.

  27. Soberinsac Says:

    The winning percentage I can’t defend. We were a expansion team that got the players teams didn’t want. I remember growing up in Brandon in the 80s. We just stunk it was just how it was. Everyone made fun of us. Even a commercial for citrus connection bus had jokes. But we had a nice decade with Monte Kiffen of solid solid defense. Hell the greatest show on turf who many say is the greatest offense of all time. Was held in the nfc championship game by the bucs to 11 points and they had my nightmare lucky touchdown almost at the rend of the game. We lost freaking 11 to damn 6. We didn’t always suck is my point. We had a decade of top ten defense culminating in a dominant super bowl win. I’m sick of hearing how we are some ultimate losers. At least we won a darn super bowl. Isn’t that all that matters.

  28. stpetebucsfan Says:

    SoberinSac

    You are correct about the Buc’s woeful talent in the beginning. Seattle had the same challenge. In the old days expansion teams go no real help. They had superior position in the draft but that’s it. They should have been given an extra pick in every round for the first three years to help them catch up.

  29. Blind Melon Says:

    Here’s the motive… I like it.

    https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/tom-brady-the-only-way-is-throug

  30. Doctor Stroud Says:

    If BA doesn’t make it work this year, you might as well introduce Josh McDaniels as your Bucs coach next year. It’s either that or a total re-build…yet again.