TB(D)12
Tom Brady gave an extremely cryptic quote about his future at the Seminole Pro-Member
Ever since Tom Brady announced his "retirement," there has been rampant speculation that the move was just a ploy to get out of Tampa Bay, where there was rumored friction toward the end of the season with head coach Bruce Arians. The "Brady will be back" hype has only been heightened by Brady himself, who has said things like "never say never" and "I'm going to take things as they come" since the announcement.
On Monday, with the speculation meter already dialed up to 11, Brady put it into hyperdrive with an extremely cryptic quote on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio. Brady, who was playing in the exclusive Seminole Pro-Member as the member, was asked by SiriusXM's Taylor Zarzour if radio was "his only job" at the moment (Brady has been appearing on Sirius with Jim Gray and Larry Fitzgerald on Monday evenings since retiring). Here's how Brady responded:
Well, well, well. Up until this, the theory was that Brady would definitely be back, but maybe after taking a year or two off. This "to be determined" line sure makes it sound like the 2022-'23 NFL season is very much in play, though getting his wish to play for a different team is a very complicated matter. He'd have to unretire, then be traded by the Buccaneers, which Arians and co. do not sound prepared to do.
"Nope, bad business," the Super Bowl-winning head coach said at the NFL combine on Monday. When asked again what the price would be to accodomate such a move for Brady, Arians said "five No. 1's [draft picks]."
Considering no team is going to trade five first-round draft picks for a 44-year-old quarterback, a trade doesn't sound promising. If by some miracle Brady gets his wish, his hometown San Francisco 49ers appear to be a logical landing spot. We'll see. Never say never.