It finally happened.
Sure, Patriots fans have had an uneasy feeling about Tom Brady’s status in New England since the unceremonious end of the season against the Tennessee Titans back in January. But to actually see and read Tom Brady’s words, “my football journey will take place elsewhere,” is something I honestly never thought I’d see.
For those who have been taking social distancing extra seriously and don’t know what I’m referring to, on Tuesday Brady announced via social media that he will not be returning to the Patriots and he will become an unrestricted free agent. He will go the route of his childhood idol Joe Montana and finish his career with a different team.
I was eight years old when Brady was drafted by the Patriots with the 199th pick in the 2000 NFL Draft, and I was 10 years old when he took over for Drew Bledsoe early in the 2001 season. I still vividly remember so many instances from that first season. Mo Lewis destroying Bledsoe on the sidelines in Week 2. Brady knocking off Peyton Manning in Brady’s first-ever NFL start the following week. Leading New England through The Snow Bowl (yes, including the now-infamous Tuck Rule play). I even remember Brady getting hurt in the AFC Championship against Pittsburgh and Bledsoe heroically coming back to send New England to the Super Bowl. And yes, I remember Brady leading the Patriots down the field to set up Adam Vinatieri’s game-winner.
Over the ensuing 20 years, I grew up with Brady. As a Patriots fan I enjoyed the massive amounts of winning, the record-setting performances and even the hate all of that winning inspired among opposing fanbases. I will forever cherish all of the memories he gave to my friends and I, from the (nearly) undefeated season to the incredible 28-3 comeback in Super Bowl LI and everything in between.
Having said all of that, I understand why Brady left.
It might be hard to admit as Patriots fans who haven’t really known anything except winning for the past 20 years, but we are at the end of the road for this dynasty and we were there before Brady decided to leave. This past season illustrated things perfectly. In the past, if Brady had an excellent defense behind him and some so-so offensive weapons (see 2001, 2003, 2004, etc.), you could almost guarantee that the Patriots were going to be a Super Bowl contender because Brady was just so good. But what the 2019 season showed us is that once Brady’s skills start to diminish, no matter how slightly, he’ll need more help on the offensive side.
The Patriots simply couldn’t provide that for him anymore. Sure, things could have been radically moved around and resources could have been allocated to maybe get a deal done, but it would have required some heavy lifting. And with the salary cap implications (a $13.5 million cap hit from Brady on top of whatever salary he’d get), it would be fiscally irresponsible for Bill Belichick to pull that trigger.
So what that means is we’ll be seeing Brady throw passes to different receivers in a different uniform next season. It’s going to hurt, but we’ll always have the memories from the past 20 years.
Thank you, Tom.