Poll: The Sting 2020- Brady and Gronk

Can you root for the Bucs in 2020?


  • Total voters
    224

bankshot1

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Feb 12, 2003
24,651
where I was last at
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKJiXOW5fOc


Was it a long con?

Did Gondorff and Hooker play Belichick for their freedom, another ride on the merry-go-round, and a shot at a championship with a stacked offense in Tampa, and have a few laughs along the way?

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmDQiL3UNj4


And if it was or wasn't, (this is mostly TIC) do you care?

Assuming we get a 2020 schedule, can you root for those lovable ex-pat Buccaneers and hope they win a title?

I'm assuming the Pats are in rebuild mode so a heart wrenching conflict of interest is not likely, so I'm all in

GO EX-PATS
 

Bergs

funky and cold
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Jul 22, 2005
21,612
I'm an other. It was already gonna be a weird season with no Brady, and rooting hard for Joe Burrow* to be a success in Cincy (who I historically have never given a single shit about). I think I'll be pulling for TB12 and Gronk, but not with any feverish abandon.

In fact, I would probably be making good on my threat to quit the league altogether were it not for Joe. It's definately a weird feeling.
 

jsinger121

@jsinger121
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Jul 25, 2005
17,676
I’m a pats fan only. Not pulling for the Bucs or Brady/Gronk. They don’t wear patriot colors anymore so I won’t root for them anymore.
 

djbayko

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Jul 18, 2005
25,894
Los Angeles, CA
They left us. They have every right to leave, and I have every right to feel the way I do. Fuck em.

Maybe my feelings will change over time. Who knows
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Aug 23, 2008
51,289
I voted for 2 but only in the same sense that I generally will "root" for Drew Brees or Larry Fitzgerald and the like. I am totally ambivalent about whatever their level of success may be, and would love nothing more than to see the Pats have another winning season, exasperating everyone who has been waiting more than a decade for things to turn.
 

EL Jeffe

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Aug 30, 2006
1,314
I voted other because I have no idea how I'm going to feel until I watch them in a game. I may end up being petty, I may end up cheering for them. It may depend on who they're playing. I may end up feeling absolutely nothing (like watching Pierce and KG play for the Nets). I have no clue.

As a 46 year old former season ticket holder in the lean years who went to Bryant College every summer to watch camp, I'm just kind of looking forward to seeing the next team iteration.
 

tims4wins

PN23's replacement
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Jul 15, 2005
37,054
Hingham, MA
What's everyone else doing with their Brady (or Gronk) gear? I have a jersey and a t shirt. Thinking about just chucking the t shirt and donating the jersey to goodwill or something since it's fairly new (color rush bought in 2017).
 

jsinger121

@jsinger121
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Jul 25, 2005
17,676
What's everyone else doing with their Brady (or Gronk) gear? I have a jersey and a t shirt. Thinking about just chucking the t shirt and donating the jersey to goodwill or something since it's fairly new (color rush bought in 2017).
Sell it on eBay and make some money back off it.
 

j44thor

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Aug 1, 2006
10,961
Would probably be different if TB-Gronk went to an AFC team or an NFC team like DAL/PHI/SEA/NYG/GB but the football mecca that is TB? Who cares.
I hope Brady throws for 60TDs and 6K yards and shatters any records Brees/Peyton hold. Brady was a team first guy for 20yrs, that buys a lot of rope with me. I'd love to see TB go 13-3 and make the SB and I'd root for them against 30 other teams.
 

Kliq

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Mar 31, 2013
22,667
Still rooting for the Pats first, but pulling hard for Brady and Gronk. 20 years of pure excellence for Brady, and Gronk really did give absolutely everything he had to the Pats while he was here. If Brady wins #7 that just pushes him further away from any other player in the GOAT conversation.

The "I root for teams, not players" is a really simplistic view of sports fandom. As a general rule, I root for the team but that doesn't mean I don't also root for certain players, especially if they contributed a lot to my teams success in the past. I was always rooting for Pierce once he left Boston, and I'll be rooting for Mookie to do well in LA. Hell, I still ride pretty hard for Jimmy.
 

BigSoxFan

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May 31, 2007
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Not mad at either player but still a little disappointed that it didn’t work out in NE. I’ll casually root for them in TB but won’t be emotionally invested either way. It certainly will spice things up. I’m pretty scared for Gronk given his health history.

One benefit of this move is that it has returned the Pats to underdog status, which I am perfectly ok with after 2 decades of front runner status. That 2001 team was so fun to root for and I’ll be hoping the new guys can find their own magic.

Last year‘s team wasn’t really fun to root for at all between the AB stuff and Brady’s general sourpuss attitude. This clean start can hopefully return some of the fun.

In the end, what’s done is done and everyone will move on. I’ll always remember the 2018 playoffs as my lasting image of Brady/Gronk so this doesn’t really change that. More than likely, they’ll probably have moderate success for 1-2 years before calling it quits for good and none of us will remember this little stretch in a few years, kind of like Pierce’s Nets/Wiz run.
 

bsj

Renegade Crazed Genius
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Dec 6, 2003
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Still rooting for the Pats first, but pulling hard for Brady and Gronk. 20 years of pure excellence for Brady, and Gronk really did give absolutely everything he had to the Pats while he was here. If Brady wins #7 that just pushes him further away from any other player in the GOAT conversation.

The "I root for teams, not players" is a really simplistic view of sports fandom. As a general rule, I root for the team but that doesn't mean I don't also root for certain players, especially if they contributed a lot to my teams success in the past. I was always rooting for Pierce once he left Boston, and I'll be rooting for Mookie to do well in LA. Hell, I still ride pretty hard for Jimmy.
Brady/Pierce/Mookie/Jimmy

Not saying I have any real animosity for Brady, but i could see some fans finding the Brady situation different than the other 3 insofar as lingering feelings
 

Kliq

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Mar 31, 2013
22,667
Brady/Pierce/Mookie/Jimmy

Not saying I have any real animosity for Brady, but i could see some fans finding the Brady situation different than the other 3 insofar as lingering feelings
Those people, imo, need to get the fuck over themselves.
 

bsj

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Dec 6, 2003
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Central NJ SoSH Chapter
Those people, imo, need to get the fuck over themselves.
I mean, people can be whatever kind of fan they want. I dont really care as long as they aren't assholes.

I personally don't care one way or another about players when they leave. I'll always appreciate the hell out of what he did when he was here though. It was a great ride.
 

8slim

has trust issues
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Nov 6, 2001
24,829
Unreal America
I'll always adore Brady and Gronk for all of the immense joy they brought me. I certainly won't be rooting against them in Tampa, but I won't have any emotional attachment to how they do, either. If they do well, great for them. If not, whatever.
 

BigSoxFan

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May 31, 2007
47,083
I mean, people can be whatever kind of fan they want. I dont really care as long as they aren't assholes.

I personally don't care one way or another about players when they leave. I'll always appreciate the hell out of what he did when he was here though. It was a great ride.
Yup. Only thing that could impact this for me is if Brady/Gronk make some direct or thinly-veiled anti-Patriots or anti-BB statements. I don’t think either will but I also expect the same level of professionalism that they showed while with the Pats to extend in TB. We know Belichick won’t be saying anything no matter what his feelings are.

If they want to be a couple of goofballs in TB, no problem with me. Would actually be kind of fun to see Brady let his hair down a bit.
 

BlackJack

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Oct 11, 2007
3,456
I voted other because I have no idea how I'm going to feel until I watch them in a game. I may end up being petty, I may end up cheering for them. It may depend on who they're playing. I may end up feeling absolutely nothing (like watching Pierce and KG play for the Nets). I have no clue.
This is where I'm at. I might enjoy watching them, it might turn my stomach. Won't know until I see it happening.
 

heavyde050

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Nov 17, 2006
11,257
San Francisco
I voted Other. I will always be a Pats fan first, but as I see don't see the Pats competing for a title this upcoming season (would love to be wrong), I hope Brady gets another ring.

I will always root for Brady unless he is actually playing the Pats (being the driving force for 6 titles will generate that loyalty in me). Also, I have no beef with the Bucs. If he left and went to the Jets or Ravens or something, I would probably feel differently.
 

Archer1979

shazowies
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Jul 18, 2005
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Pats fan first.

This is going to be sad. Like watching Willie Mays play for the Mets sad.

Congrats to the Bucs though. They now have a legit shot at Super Bowl 49.
 

Captaincoop

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Jul 16, 2005
13,487
Santa Monica, CA
Still rooting for the Pats first, but pulling hard for Brady and Gronk. 20 years of pure excellence for Brady, and Gronk really did give absolutely everything he had to the Pats while he was here. If Brady wins #7 that just pushes him further away from any other player in the GOAT conversation.

The "I root for teams, not players" is a really simplistic view of sports fandom. As a general rule, I root for the team but that doesn't mean I don't also root for certain players, especially if they contributed a lot to my teams success in the past. I was always rooting for Pierce once he left Boston, and I'll be rooting for Mookie to do well in LA. Hell, I still ride pretty hard for Jimmy.
Simplistic. Ok. Because being a fan of a sports team is supposed to be really complex and nuanced.
 

Kliq

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Mar 31, 2013
22,667
Simplistic. Ok. Because being a fan of a sports team is supposed to be really complex and nuanced.
Well if you spend countless hours watching the games, reading/listening to news and talking about them over the span of a 20 year career, it actually does get fairly complex. I don't see it as a black and white issue where if someone doesn't play for my team anymore, I have no further attachment to them for the remainder of their career.
 

Oppo

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Apr 5, 2009
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I will be rooting for the Bucs to go 0-16 and the Pats to go 16-0
 

djbayko

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Jul 18, 2005
25,894
Los Angeles, CA
Those people, imo, need to get the fuck over themselves.
The same could be said for this post. Why is your outlook more righteous than anyone else’s? We’re talking about fandom here. It’s personal.

I’m giving you the space to feel however you want - without insults - and would appreciate the same.
 
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YTF

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I harbor no ill will. If Brady/Gronk were to stand in the path of the Pats winning a Super Bowl I'm rooting for the Pats. Otherwise after all of the joy that they've brought me as a Patroits fan I wish them well. Brady left and Gronk was never coming back to a Bradyless Foxborough. Essentially the Patriots traded their #7 pick for Tampa's #4 and that math works for me. We also need to consider Gronk's health the past few seasons as well as his reduced role due to those issues. If those guys have success in Tampa, good for them as it was never going to happen here.
 
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HurstSoGood

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Dec 14, 2006
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Go Pats.
"Go TB" against anyone but NE. I'll be looking for TB @ Carolina tickets shortly.

Aside from the dangers/risks of playing more football, Gronk will be in a great win-win situation for him. Football with TB in Tampa and Pro Wrestling developmental resources over in Orlando. If anyone wants to give away their 87, I'm happy to give it a good home. I gave away my Red Sox 38 for...reasons. So I understand the need to unburden oneself of fan gear.
 

Captaincoop

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Jul 16, 2005
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Santa Monica, CA
Well if you spend countless hours watching the games, reading/listening to news and talking about them over the span of a 20 year career, it actually does get fairly complex. I don't see it as a black and white issue where if someone doesn't play for my team anymore, I have no further attachment to them for the remainder of their career.
That's fine, you can see it however you want to see it. And other people see it differently. Also fine.
 

streeter88

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Apr 2, 2006
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Melbourne, Australia
With thousands of people sick / dying and the world economy in tatters, just need to find joy where we can. Brady and Gronk hooking up down the seam against the Falcons, Rams, Saints, Seahawks etc. absolutely qualifies. Go EXPATS!

Edit: dream scenario would be the Bucs knocking the Chiefs out of contention for HFA, enabling the upstart Pats to claim it, and setting up a SB date between the two teams.

(Hope we have a season in 2020 somehow)
 
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Section30

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Aug 2, 2010
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I would be happy watching the old man and the broken down skinny retread have one more great run. Tom winning another ring would be delicious when I think of the Peyton, Montana, Rogers, etc... fans.
 

Captaincoop

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Jul 16, 2005
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Santa Monica, CA
I would be happy watching the old man and the broken down skinny retread have one more great run. Tom winning another ring would be delicious when I think of the Peyton, Montana, Rogers, etc... fans.
That has zero appeal to me. Are we worried that Joe Montana is coming out of retirement and reclaiming his long lost GOAT status? Those arguments are over.
 

Boston Brawler

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Jan 17, 2011
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They gave us a lot. They don’t owe us anything, nor does anyone here owe them loyalty or good will.

Personally, I will root for them to succeed unless it’s not in the Patriots best interest. If the Pats don’t make the playoffs and the Bucs do, I’m all in on them. It’s not like they went to a rival team or a NY team.
 

djbayko

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Jul 18, 2005
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Los Angeles, CA
Except that Brady was still on the Pats last year. If he wanted to play with Brady so bad he wouldn’t have “retired”.
A whole year off from the bumps and bruises is probably a big deal, along with 18 months of CBD treatment and/or placebo. Most here suspected he might eventually come out of early retirement for one more go. I don't see any reason not to believe him here.
 

snowmanny

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Dec 8, 2005
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I can enjoy Gronk without having a panic attack that the season is lost every time he's hit.
 

drbretto

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Apr 10, 2009
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Wasn't happy with the departure, but it's a pretty awesome story if Brady and Gronk put one more together. As a human who enjoys sports, I kinda wanna see it.
 

BigSoxFan

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May 31, 2007
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I wonder if we get more Buccaneers games in the Boston market. The networks have to know the ratings will be through the roof.
Has to be. Also should have a decent amount of National TV games:

Saints x 2
Falcons x 2
Panthers x 2
Giants
Packers
Chiefs
Bears
Rams
Chargers
Vikings
Lions
Broncos
Raiders

Lots of interesting matchups there.