Michael Irvin: Tom Brady Will Play And Will Play GM
January 28th, 2022
Tom Brady chatter.
Plenty of folks believe a Tom Brady return is imminent.
One of them is Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin, one of the big-talking NFL insiders who works for both NFL Network and ESPN (yes, the cash flows well for Irvin).
Irvin was pounding the ESPN TV studio table this week hollering that Brady isn’t about to leave the Bucs because his dream scenario has emerged.
“I would be shocked if he left. Shocked. Let me tell you why. He left New England to play GM. This is his time now to play GM, ” Irvin barked. … “‘I’m going over here. I’m playing GM. ”He still has some talent in that building. This is his opportunity to play GM.”
So Irvin believes the roster challenges in Tampa are fuel for Brady’s fire, Irvin believes, as if general manager Jason Licht and Bucco Bruce Arians aren’t calling the shots.
Obviously, Brady already had a lot of influence and he might try to garner more power with the current leverage he holds. However, it’s a real stretch to call Brady the GM. For example, does anyone really think Brady would have made Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Kyle Trask the Bucs’ first two picks in the 2022 NFL Draft?
Joe’s not calling them bad picks, just not Brady picks.
Regardless, Irvin thinks Brady’s head will clear after quality family time and his cell blowing up.
“Once he rests and some guys start calling. ‘Tom, let’s try to do this again.’ He’ll be back,” Irvin said of Brady. “I refuse to believe we are going to lose Tom Brady. He’ll be back one more year. He’s playing GM. That’s what he wanted.”
Irvin also agreed with the assertion that the Bucs would have come out of the NFC if Chris Godwin or Antonio Brown were healthy, and that Brady knows that and is fueled by it.
January 28th, 2022 at 8:41 am
I don’t buy that either. I do think he will have some say, maybe even ultimatums like – Godwin & Jensen & Gronk need to be back.
January 28th, 2022 at 8:42 am
Also some input on what receivers are out there to go after
January 28th, 2022 at 8:51 am
He’ll get a few days of Horsey ordering him around and he’ll be back bigger than ever.
January 28th, 2022 at 8:59 am
If there is a chance he’ll play, I expect Brady to play de facto GM. He has a very extensive network of older vets in the NFL who might consider a cheap, one-year deal to chase a ring. Part of that hinges on Licht as well, as he has to find a way to keep some of key Buc free agents on payroll while creating enough cap space via creative NFL accounting.
I still think Brady retires, but this possibility might be one of the reasons why he’s mulling a return to action. He may need to get some feedback from his extensive player network.
January 28th, 2022 at 9:00 am
I think he does another year. Look he goes to family and says this is last and giselle is stoked
And he says he doesnt want farewell tour
But all the greats deserve that recognition whether they say so or not
One more year.
Get trask as number 2 …more reps…
And then you see if he pans out or we need a different guy
Cause gabbert is clearly not the guy
January 28th, 2022 at 9:02 am
How about I got kicked in the cajones by stafford and got penalized for it suh?
He needs to be signed too you know.
January 28th, 2022 at 9:02 am
On that note, I wonder how Malcolm Butler feels about a return to action. I’m pretty sure AZ would release his rights.
January 28th, 2022 at 9:03 am
I think we have to reload the offense….if we have that, then if Brady does retire we will still be attractive for another vet looking to move OR at least give Trask a fighting chance. I think guys like Wilson, Rodgers see how much influence Brady was able to have as well as freedom and that has appeal to them. Not too mention our division is weak, weather is nice and state has no income taxes….there’s a lot to like.
January 28th, 2022 at 9:18 am
He makes an interesting point.
From the Glazer perspective, Brady is a huge pile of gold, winning aside.
IF Leftwich leaves, maybe Brady lobbies to fill part of that void since he most likely was doing it anyway.
“I will stay IF I have some control over player personnel” would be an easy decision for the Glazer’s to make.
Yes, I said Glazers. This decision transcends the GM/HC because Brady is that special.
The band as-is may not stay together, but many think AC/DC was better with Brian Johnson in front.
January 28th, 2022 at 9:22 am
Well the GM and his staff have a lot of numbers crunching to do this offseason to basically resign all our guys. So it’s not like Brady is going on some shopping spree.
If he really wants to be the GM (and I’m selling this ridiculous notion, he just wants a few of “his guys”) then he better dust off that Bachelor of Arts in General Studies degree from Michigan and get to number crunching!
January 28th, 2022 at 9:47 am
Have to keep Chris Godwin then
Drafting a wide receiver or tight end early on top of that would be ideal to replace ABs production. OJ and Cameron Brate weren’t keeping any D coordinators awake at night, and Brate is overpaid and his contract can easily be rid of.
Hainsey might be better than we think, not sure. Only the coaches would know. Surely this is partially why he was drafted relatively early.
I’d let Jensen walk before I would let Carlton Davis walk. We need to get a little younger on the roster, not to mention a CB like Davis is extremely hard to find. I’m not sure Davis is a top 5 CB like Arians says, but he’s close and could very well get there in the next year or two, that’s not something you want to let walk in a passing league.
Having Donovan Smith, Marpet, and Wirfs already gives us an incredible offensive line.
January 28th, 2022 at 9:48 am
I hate this narrative. This isn’t basketball, where LeBron can bring all of his friends to build a roster. There’s 53 guys on a roster in the NFL, half of which play defense and special teams. Irvin is basically Skip Bayless
January 28th, 2022 at 9:52 am
I just wish he would get the decision over with, but he wont.
The longer this drama drags out, the better for him and his empire.
As the saying goes, there is no such thing as bad publicity.
January 28th, 2022 at 9:56 am
Ugh–so, first Tom was the OC and now he’s the GM? Tom Brady is the GOAT, and he does WAY MORE than the average QB (see the number of meetings he has), but we have a GM that built a really solid team (that’s why Brady came here), and we have an OC who’s one of the best in the league (that’s why teams are trying to hire him as HC).
Yes, Tom does a lot, and he is a master recruiter, but can the media stop underselling the great job others are doing in the building?
January 28th, 2022 at 10:02 am
There will be no TB12 return, without DEFEFCE being fixed. If Tom believes there is chance we can have a D that can allow 17-20 points per game, he may return.
That will required changing DC and adding 3-4 better players. That is unlikely to happen. Offence was great, and still will be; but that is NOT sufficient to win SB.
January 28th, 2022 at 10:20 am
What’s the possibility that, if Leftwich leaves, Brady takes the OC job?
January 28th, 2022 at 10:33 am
Brady has made it clear he doesn’t want to coach. But it is also 90% BS all the time so bring him in as head coach.
January 28th, 2022 at 10:41 am
Yes, as some folks share the same option with me. Tom possibly call to the Dolphins if he can be the GM, head coach, OC and QB too. He does not need to know everything, he just has the power to hire and make the final decision. Then, he will be able avoid some stupid decisions like Todd did in the loss last week.
January 28th, 2022 at 10:44 am
I doubt he wants to coach, but have no doubt he’d like to pick his weapons and strongly influence play-calling and game planning.
Big difference. And a position he has earned.
January 28th, 2022 at 10:59 am
We need to be thinking about the future. Bucs fans finally found out how important a good oline is and it’s very hard to put one together like the 2020-2021 Bucs. Resign Jensen to a one year deal but Cappa is fresh young talent next to Wirfs. Donovan Smith has had a hell of a year, but he’s prime to trade his fat contract if Brady doesn’t return, especially if we can get extra picks in the draft. And if Brady is the GM, we’ll see if we can work out a deal under $10 million for Gronkowski.
January 28th, 2022 at 11:13 am
Does anybody really listen to the coke monster Irvin? Oh wait…
January 28th, 2022 at 12:15 pm
Why he stays …
1. Have a proper GOAT farewell tour.
2. Great core. Can make another run.
Why he retires …
1. Led all QB categories. Perfect way to GOAT out.
2. Fatigue. Family pressure.
(I think TB12 should have a proper farewell tour.)
January 28th, 2022 at 1:17 pm
Brady isn’t a sentimental dude. He would hate the idea of a farewell tour. Y’all are missing the point. Brady has no respect for Bruce arians and the way he operates. The Brady camp has been dropping subtle hints for anyone willing to listen. He was not happy with a variety of different coaches. These are Arians guys, so unless you dump arians, little will change. As for Todd bowles, why are you blitzing almost 45% of the time? The offense will get thirty almost every game. Make other teams march down the field and get the f#$+ back!!! It ain’t that hard. Without these changes, Brady will play, it just won’t be in Tampa
January 28th, 2022 at 1:37 pm
Silver lining ( and the only one I can think of ) of Brady calling it a career….Bqweef Green can go back to Patriot Nation and add his “expertise” to Mac Jones & Co.
January 28th, 2022 at 1:39 pm
@”…Brady has no respect for Bruce arians and the way he operates. ..”
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I so much agree with this statement.
he is not coming back with BA staff
January 28th, 2022 at 1:42 pm
When the dust settles, Brady plays for three more years.
January 28th, 2022 at 2:02 pm
What does Vegas say?
Will Tom Brady Retire?
Yes +175
No -220
So about 35% chance he retires; 65% he does not.
January 28th, 2022 at 2:26 pm
If the BA’s ego just let Brady craft the plays and let him just audible at the LOS freely and frequently, we’d run lot more hurry up. He’s awful difficult to defend when he’s pressing a defense. Tommy’s a killer when any defense is on it’s heels.
January 28th, 2022 at 2:33 pm
Brady said in 2014, “When I suck, I’ll retire.” So I’ll guess he’ll be playing next season.
January 28th, 2022 at 2:37 pm
Is Erv hitting the nose candy again?
January 28th, 2022 at 2:50 pm
I don’t blame any QB in the pros for wanting a say so in who comes
to play receiver. Good blocker a plus. Athletic, fast/quick, smart, big
hands and good route runner. Seems common sense IMO.
January 28th, 2022 at 2:51 pm
Go Bucs, give the GOAT the damn keys
January 28th, 2022 at 3:08 pm
with matt stafford talking all kinds of sh!t about brady and the bucs, he should come back and whoop some azz…
the rams come back to ray jay next season – and the tide must turn with tommy steering the ship
January 28th, 2022 at 5:47 pm
He’s playing goku after the hyperbolic time chamber and cell is his wife and the minions is his kids Gohan assuming being his oldest… let’s just live life no need for more training we need to see the power of the free side and we’ll be even stronger to take down cell. You know dad you’re right well achieve victory and another superbowl
January 28th, 2022 at 9:19 pm
When Licht gets away from my pick recommendations, we suffer….eh, is what it is.
January 28th, 2022 at 11:32 pm
Irvin said as he paused to snork coke off this desk.
January 29th, 2022 at 12:44 am
Godwin to me was key. But even without him an up tempo would have been better then the yawn and stretch. Just change it up. And the Bucs are superb owl bound.
January 29th, 2022 at 5:15 am
I just hope TB12 doesn’t look at next year’s schedule. We’re going from one of the easiest to one of the most difficult.
Difficult – Chiefs, Bengals, Ravens, Cowboys, Packers, Rams, 49ers (3-4)
Winnable – Steelers, Browns, Cardinals, Seahawks (3-1)
Easier – Saints, Atlanta, Panthers x 2 for each (5-1)
That gets you in the playoffs as the #4 seed at 11-6.
January 29th, 2022 at 12:53 pm
His first order of business as GM should be to fire Todd Bowles.
January 29th, 2022 at 2:00 pm
Ex-Pats-Fan Says:
January 29th, 2022 at 12:53 pm
His first order of business as GM should be to fire Todd Bowles.
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Why? Explain your ‘logic.’
January 29th, 2022 at 4:03 pm
You can take this article down now. The greatest has left the building