New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who has won more Super Bowls than any other quarterback, is serious about leaving the Patriots and playing for another team, according to sources who spoke to ESPN.
ESPN reported that 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.”
Darlington reported that Brady, who has filed for free agency, and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick are supposed to meet, but a date has not been set; Brady is forbidden from negotiating with other teams until the NFL’s legal tampering period opens March 16.
Brady’s 20 seasons with Belichick are an NFL record for a coach and a quarterback. ESPN noted, “One reason why the Patriots and Brady haven’t had any contract discussions is the uncertainty surrounding the collective bargaining agreement, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Once that is known, Belichick and Brady can discuss everything, including how a contract could be structured.”
Teams with a reported interest in Brady include the New York Giants, the Tennessee Titans, the Los Angeles Chargers, the Indianapolis Colts and the Las Vegas Raiders. NFL Network’s Michael Girardi tweeted, “Spoke with a number of NFL people over the last 36 hours or so here in Indy, The initial reaction has been ‘there’s no way Tom Brady is leaving New England,’ but as you dig deeper, execs/coaches/scouts see the Titans, Raiders and Giants as possible suitors.”
NFL.com added, “NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday Brady’s representation is meeting with clubs this week during the NFL Scouting Combine, and the Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders and Indianapolis Colts are among those clubs … NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran, however, reported earlier this month that the Patriots are unlikely to file tampering charges against teams talking to Brady’s reps ahead of free agency, and actually are OK if clubs go that route so that Brady can have an accurate idea of his market before talking to the only team he has played for.”
Rapoport said on NFL Now, “It’s not surprising — there’s no CBA. The Patriots have no reason to negotiate now. It’s probably going to come closer to when the tampering window opens.”
Although the Giants already have quarterback Daniel Jones, who as a rookie in 2019 completed 61.9% of his passes for 3,027 yards and 24 touchdowns, The Daily Mail reported, “First-year head coach Joe Judge would not commit to Jones as his starter earlier this week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Judge also has a relationship with Brady, having spent the last eight seasons on Bill Belichick’s coaching staff in New England.”
The Titans may have an inside track, too, as Titans head coach Mike Vrabel played for the Patriots in New England, where he caught a touchdown pass from Brady in Super Bowl XXXVIII, even though he was normally a defensive lineman. Additionally, the Titans are already of playoff caliber, having defeated the Patriots in the 2019 playoffs.
Brady has won six Super Bowls; in 2019, still playing quarterback at the astonishing age of 42, he threw for 4,057 yards with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions.