New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady announced that his football journey would take him elsewhere in 2020, leaving the door open for a possible move to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Thanks to COVID-19 the sports world was quiet for several days but with the NFL kicking off free agency the sports news cycle has been abuzz with signing announcements and trades. Several high profile players have found new homes in free agency or have been shipped off in questionable trade deals, but the biggest story so far has been about where Tom Brady is not going to be rather than where he’s going.
In a lengthy and heartfelt post, Tom Brady announced on his personal Instagram page this morning that his “football journey will take place elsewhere” and that he will never forget his time in New England. Brady specifically thanked Coach Bill Belichick who he is rumored to have clashed with in recent years and the Kraft family who are likely devastated by the news.
Leading up to the NFL Combine and free agency all of the talk was that Brady would be the first domino to fall in an offseason with so many high profile quarterbacks seemingly available on the market. The talk was that as soon as Brady decided if he was returning to New England or signing elsewhere the other QBs like Philip Rivers and Jameis Winston could begin to find new homes. In the case of the Raiders who were heavily linked with Brady, they may have known yesterday that he was not coming to Las Vegas as they signed former Tennessee Titan Marcus Mariota.
However this still leaves room for Brady in Las Vegas if the Raiders are working on a trade that involves incumbent starter Derek Carr.Trading away Carr and signing Raiders nemesis Tom Brady would be the latest in a series of gambles by Jon Gruden but crazier things have happened in the NFL.
The Mariota signing does not prevent the Raiders from pursuing Brady though the terms of the Mariota deal could give us a further hint but they have not yet been released. Mariota could back up Brady and try to build up his value over time the way Teddy Bridgewater did in New Orleans as Drew Brees's backup.
It will be strange seeing Brady in anything other than a Patriots uniform but time will soon tell if we will see him in Silver and Black in 2020.