2020 TB12: The Decision 2020

How Would You Feel if Brady Left?

  • Completely devastated

    Votes: 24 13.0%
  • Very disappointed but still got BB

    Votes: 84 45.4%
  • Hold my beer until we know our next QB

    Votes: 29 15.7%
  • Eh, this may turn out to be a plus

    Votes: 32 17.3%
  • Let the Stidham era begin!

    Votes: 16 8.6%

  • Total voters
    185
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heavyde050

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Taking all that Brady has meant to the Patriots out of it - the crazy thing to do here would be to throw 60 million over 2 years at a 43 year old QB. The simplest answer is it likely makes the most sense for each of them to part ways.
I guess the question is whether or not one believes the current team (minus a QB) is still a contender. If so, it wouldn’t be that crazy to pay Brady for another two year run.
If BB believes the team is no longer a contender, I could see a rebuild.
 

BigJimEd

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I think the lack of clarity regarding the new CBA is a huge factor.
With the new deal, the cap could also see a big jump after this season. So Patriots and other teams may be more willing to push cap money into the '21 and '22 seasons.
 

tims4wins

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If it was really so simple Brees would have a new contract in New Orleans by now. Last I checked he hasn’t. So either Saints fans should be panicking... or this is complicated. I know where I lean.
 

joe dokes

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Jul 18, 2005
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I’m taking these reports with a grain of salt. To me, it’s public negotiating to squeeze the Patriots for more years and dollars by leaking these reports. It presents him as serious about leaving so you better come with a competitive offer or I’m out.
The irony is that to a great extent, BB doesn't give a shit how serious you are. He'll make the offer he's gonna make and negotiate from there. (Conversely if a player indicates that he'll give up his first born to play in NE, BB will dispassionately take advantage of that).
 

BuellMiller

New Member
Mar 25, 2015
449
Sadly, I'm expecting Tom to leave, and Darlington's comments this morning are not why.

I can buy that he's in need of a change of scenery. Playing for Belichick has to be difficult, even with all the winning, and Tom's demeanor last season spoke volumes to me. He seemed to be really angry at the lack of skill around him.

I also think that if the Pats and Tom were going to get a deal done, it would have happened already or there would be a lot less noise. I know that Donta tested the market and gave the Pats the chance to match or better what he was offered. And other players have, too. But Tom will inevitably receive offers that will blow away what the Patriots are willing to do. And the wooing itself will be intoxicating.

This, for me, would be a horrible, painful result. But it's one that I'm expecting.
I'm sure Brady was frustrated with how the skill players were performing at the end...but he's been around football long enough to know things don't always work out. This wasn't 2006 with losing Branch and Givens, replaced with Reche Caldwell and Doug Gabriel and expecting big things out of their two 1st picks (Maroney and Chad Jackson), or 2013 with Dobson and Thompkins getting a good chunk of the WR snaps after losing Welker (and Hernandez and then Gronk to injury). Belichick brought in AB, brought back Josh Gordon and Ben Watson, traded for Sanu (who then promptly got hurt). But Develin and Andrews got hurt, Gronk retired relatively late in the offseason, which really forced the team to move away from their balanced run/pass approach. Wynn got hurt leading to Newhouse. Obviously, Belichick could have brought in some better TE options, but I don't think he can really hold the lack of weapons against the efforts of Belichick. And it's not like the Patriots were running out the 2011 era defense.
 

Oppo

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Pats haven’t reached out to any of their FAs; so they must not be interest in anyone :rolleyes:
 

lexrageorge

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There's not much incentive for the two sides to talk in earnest prior to the Ides of March. Too many uncertainties with the CBA and salary cap at this point, and both sides know they could easily end up negotiating against themselves by rushing matters.

Now, the smoke could be real. It's not inconceivable that Yee has secretly reached out and gauged Brady's market, and Brady is interested in shopping around before committing to NWE or anywhere else. Or it could be a leak by Brady's team as part of a negotiating strategy.
 

DJnVa

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Dec 16, 2010
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If it was really so simple Brees would have a new contract in New Orleans by now. Last I checked he hasn’t. So either Saints fans should be panicking... or this is complicated. I know where I lean.
The difference is Brees came out publicly and said he's coming back to NO.
 

DJnVa

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Dec 16, 2010
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Everyone should be.
One report this morning said the consensus at the combine was Brady wasn't going anywhere.
That's completely opposite of the tweet I saw this morning. I'll try to find it.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

Found no thrill on Blueberry Hill
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Sep 9, 2008
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Now, the smoke could be real.
It is real, I believe. But it is also smoke.

I've been spitting into the wind on this issue here so I'm reluctant to post this again, but he didn't demand no franchise for nothing. It wasn't some lark. Everything we are hearing right now is entirely consistent with a player that demanded no franchise. This is how you would play it.

That doesn't mean he is leaving. It doesn't mean that his primary motive isn't to stay with the Patriots but to try to have extra control over the terms. But the day that we heard Brady had pried no franchise for nothing from Kraft and Belichick we all had to know that a January "Brady restructures for 2/55" was not coming. What was coming? This. Tweets about how he's leaving. This was always where this was headed.

Again, that doesn't mean he's leaving. And to be very clear I do not think he is leaving. That has always been my vote. That when push comes to shove he will be back. My point right now is that nothing that we're going to hear over the next two or three weeks is going to be all that off the script -- unless it is "Brady signs with Bucs."
 

BigJimEd

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That's completely opposite of the tweet I saw this morning. I'll try to find it.
That was my point. Speculation is all over the place. Although most of it is pure speculation without even mentioning a source so a source close to Brady means a little more. But still that could mean anything.

Not sure who it was on the radio this morning but found this tweet from Giardi. Seems to play both sides of the fence. Everyone has an opinion, many have multiple opinions on it.

View: https://twitter.com/MikeGiardi/status/1232743351398621184?s=19
 

bsj

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Dec 6, 2003
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My biggest frustration l, and a lot is the result of timing and circumstance, is that we had so many years to prepare for his departure and if he leaves our options will be a so so veteran, a rookie, or Stidham. Now, and of these may work out fine, but man I wish our timing was different and JG was still here.
 

heavyde050

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My biggest frustration l, and a lot is the result of timing and circumstance, is that we had so many years to prepare for his departure and if he leaves our options will be a so so veteran, a rookie, or Stidham. Now, and of these may work out fine, but man I wish our timing was different and JG was still here.
The Pats tried to prepare. They drafted JG in 2014 and kept him as a backup as long as possible. The only way to change that calculus would be to go back in time and have JG beat out TB, and unfortunately JG was never good enough to do that.
It also doesn’t help that the NFL has stripped several draft picks from the Pats over the years, making it more difficult to draft.
Edit - they also drafted Jacoby Brissett in 2016.
 

RedOctober3829

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ESPN article with the Darlington report and some info from Mike Reiss.

Tom Brady is currently operating under the belief that he will enter free agency to play somewhere other than New England next season, a sentiment the quarterback has shared with others, sources told ESPN's Jeff Darlington.
While Brady has his eyes very clearly on free agency, there is still a belief in his circles that the Patriots will have their opportunity to convince Brady to stay. But at this point, Brady is evaluating the NFL landscape with the intention of departing, sources said.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28793123/sources-tom-brady-open-new-home-free-agency
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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Has there been any discussion about potentially changing the league year to give a bit of extra time for the CBA discussions?
 

tims4wins

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ESPN article with the Darlington report and some info from Mike Reiss.

Tom Brady is currently operating under the belief that he will enter free agency to play somewhere other than New England next season, a sentiment the quarterback has shared with others, sources told ESPN's Jeff Darlington.
While Brady has his eyes very clearly on free agency, there is still a belief in his circles that the Patriots will have their opportunity to convince Brady to stay. But at this point, Brady is evaluating the NFL landscape with the intention of departing, sources said.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28793123/sources-tom-brady-open-new-home-free-agency
This isn't news IMO. He has to enter free agency prepared for the situation that the Pats don't really want him back at a huge number. To just assume the Pats want him back at any number would be foolish.

This is also, of course, public negotiation.
 

splendid splinter

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ESPN article with the Darlington report and some info from Mike Reiss.

Tom Brady is currently operating under the belief that he will enter free agency to play somewhere other than New England next season, a sentiment the quarterback has shared with others, sources told ESPN's Jeff Darlington.
While Brady has his eyes very clearly on free agency, there is still a belief in his circles that the Patriots will have their opportunity to convince Brady to stay. But at this point, Brady is evaluating the NFL landscape with the intention of departing, sources said.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28793123/sources-tom-brady-open-new-home-free-agency
Those statements are a bit at odds there. There’s quite a bit of difference between a “belief” that you’ll play elsewhere and an “intention” to do so. Which is it?
 

BaseballJones

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Oct 1, 2015
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The only way Brady isn't back, IMO, is if BB is truly wanting to move on. I think that when Brady returns and tells people that of course he was staying, that this is always where he wanted to be, then a lot of people will feel kind of foolish ascribing to him all sorts of motives that simply were never there.
 

OurF'ingCity

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That article even more than the tweet makes it clear this is a negotiating ploy (which doesn’t mean Brady won’t ultimately leave of course). “I’m definitely going to leave...unless you ‘convince me’ to stay.”
 

bsj

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The Pats tried to prepare. They drafted JG in 2014 and kept him as a backup as long as possible. The only way to change that calculus would be to go back in time and have JG beat out TB, and unfortunately JG was never good enough to do that.
It also doesn’t help that the NFL has stripped several draft picks from the Pats over the years, making it more difficult to draft.
Edit - they also drafted Jacoby Brissett in 2016.
Yeah I dont blame them....not about blame...just timing really sucks.
 

Van Everyman

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On the flip side, while I would be as sad as anyone if Brady left, who on this board wouldn't like to see Brady vs. Belichick in SBLV? I mean, seriously!
 
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moondog80

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Sep 20, 2005
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On the flip side, while I would be as sad as anyone if Brady left, on this board wouldn't like to see Brady vs. Belichick in SBLV? I mean, seriously!
Other than some crazy off-the-field scenario like Drew Brees getting investigated for a series of serial murders, is that just about the biggest plausible story line there is?
 

Bongorific

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Jul 16, 2005
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That was my point. Speculation is all over the place. Although most of it is pure speculation without even mentioning a source so a source close to Brady means a little more. But still that could mean anything.

Not sure who it was on the radio this morning but found this tweet from Giardi. Seems to play both sides of the fence. Everyone has an opinion, many have multiple opinions on it.

View: https://twitter.com/MikeGiardi/status/1232743351398621184?s=19
I just don’t see him going to a TN or TB unless the Patriots don’t want him back or he doesn’t have offers from bigger market teams. Brady seems very focused on the TB12 brand. If hypothetical deals from the Patriots, Bucs, Titans are all in the same ballpark, I don’t think Brady takes a potential hit to the brand for an extra 5 million per year to play in a smaller market, even if the “weapons” are better. Brady could go to the Jets and I would still love him forever. But I don’t think the entire fan base, and TB12 consumers, will think that way.

The Giants don’t make sense. Daniel Jones might be better than Brady over the next 2 years. Not sure why you waste having a QB on a rookie deal, or trade him away, when it’s not clear how much of an upgrade you’re getting.

I agree that this is ultimately up to BB. Even Brady isn’t back, it’s mostly likely because Bill didn’t want him back at anywhere near what the other team pays him.
 

Marciano490

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Nov 4, 2007
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Tom Brady is not going to TB or Nashville. He and Gisele have young kids in school. They’re not uprooting them to live in a random city for a couple years only to have to move again. If he leaves, it’ll be for somewhere they’d settle down after - which is LA, NYC and maybe Vegas insofar as he could probably commute to LA from there.
 

tims4wins

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Tom Brady is not going to TB or Nashville. He and Gisele have young kids in school. They’re not uprooting them to live in a random city for a couple years only to have to move again. If he leaves, it’ll be for somewhere they’d settle down after - which is LA, NYC and maybe Vegas insofar as he could probably commute to LA from there.
It's been rumored that Gisele hates LA, FWIW
 

Van Everyman

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Anyone who thinks that the Wickersham story from 2017 was totally false is deluded. Yes, there were some things stated as fact that were conjecture at best. But Brady wasn’t happy that year and it took Kraft making Josh a godfather offer to smooth things over.

Looking back a bit: was the negotiation to remove the team’s ability to franchise Brady last off-season effectively a gesture of goodwill by Kraft (or Belichick even) that he had earned the right to test free agency? If so, do we think that will play any factor here?

Not abusing the franchise tag and letting guys explore their market is something we’ve seen them do as recently as a few years ago with DMac. And it belies all the “Belichick is a bloodless ghoul” narratives that tend to inform most of these articles.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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When Reiss says something you can't dismiss it as mere noise. Fortunately, Mookie prepared us for some of this kind of drama.

I want Brady to be here until he doesn't want to play any more, even if it means the team has to watch others hoist the trophy for a couple of years. But if he leaves I'm starting to feel like maybe I'll be ok with it quicker than I would have thought. In fact, ruminating about him going to a team that will play the Patriots this year or next, while not exactly fun, is interesting. I hope we kick the shit out of him, and I kind of look forward to yelling at the screen, "for fuck's sake that's all of the sudden not intentional grounding"?
 

tims4wins

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When Reiss says something you can't dismiss it as mere noise. Fortunately, Mookie prepared us for some of this kind of drama.

I want Brady to be here until he doesn't want to play any more, even if it means the team has to watch others hoist the trophy for a couple of years. But if he leaves I'm starting to feel like maybe I'll be ok with it quicker than I would have thought. In fact, ruminating about him going to a team that will play the Patriots this year or next, while not exactly fun, is interesting. I hope we kick the shit out of him, and I kind of look forward to yelling at the screen, "for fuck's sake that's all of the sudden not intentional grounding"?
It's unclear what Reiss contributed to the report. If Reiss says he thinks Brady is leaving, then I will listen. I haven't really seen anything like that.
 

nattysez

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I don't remember his exact wording, but Tom Curran said on his last podcast that he was warned not to believe anything you hear this week on the Brady front. This all feels like posturing. But I agree that Reiss buying in on some of this would be worrisome.
 

tims4wins

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Yeah except the article says “Information from ESPN's Mike Reiss was used in this report.”
I don't really know why I am going down this path - it is silly season after all - but I bet this is the part Reiss contributed

If Brady joins another team, it would end a historic run in New England that included six Super Bowl championships, more than any player in NFL history. Brady's 20 seasons with the Patriots -- in which he combined with Belichick to form one of the all-time great quarterback/coach combinations -- are the most ever with one team by a quarterback.

Brady, who turns 43 in August, is a three-time NFL MVP and four-time Super Bowl MVP. He has led the league in touchdown passes four times and is one of only four quarterbacks to throw for more than 70,000 yards.

He threw for 4,057 yards with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2019, leading the Patriots to the playoffs, where they were upset in the wild-card round by the Tennessee Titans.
 

Van Everyman

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Exactly. Like, Darlington almost certainly just read a piece about Brady’s contract status, cap stuff and so forth and dropped it in.

That’s literally the extent of Reiss’s involvement here. There is no “buying in.”
 
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