Tom Brady wants to prove to himself he can win in a different environment. Now he has to instill that mindset with a young Buccaneers team.
Players for the Buccaneers are hungry for a Super Bowl chase this year, but only Tom Brady has been there. He has been there before nine times, winning six.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven’t reached the Super Bowl in nearly 20 years. Up until last season, the universal (and realistic) hope was, at best, a surprise playoff appearance with a high caliber coaching hire in Bruce Arians.
No one at this point last year in their wildest dreams could have foreseen the addition of a six-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback, let alone a better chance of a Super Bowl appearance. With the rising Tampa Bay defense back together via free agency, it looks like the tides have turned.
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However, now you need to turn the “hype” into “belief” and belief into “action”. This is where the addition of Brady goes far beyond his football pedigree. This gist here is that I’m sure Tom Brady knows the history behind the Buccaneers as a franchise.
Revolving door coaching staffs, not taking advantage of drafting Bo Jackson or Steve Young, oh, and that 0-26 franchise start are just a few of the biggest stains on the history of the franchise for the Buccaneers.
So why Tampa Bay?
The Buccaneers players are assumingly aware of the real potential for a deep playoff run in 2020, but very few on the roster have been there. Brady has been to nine.
Why does this matter? Well, one can only assume the tricks Brady has up his sleeves. Maybe he shows up to a fringe playoff game late in the season and enters the locker room wearing all six of his Super Bowl rings to set the mindset.
Or what about one of his (I’m sure) endless Super Bowl stories he can share with the rookies in the group to keep them playing inspired? Perhaps, this is the true “Brady Effect” on a locker room.
He’s a man on a mission
Brady knows what it takes to get there. He’s seen the teams, mentalities, and unison of multiple Super Bowl-winning Patriots squads. This year he’ll be chasing another ring. As muttered earlier this week by Brady while on the Howard Stern Show;
"“It’s not about legacy. I could give a s***”."
Well, then.
Tom purely has only himself to prove in this inaugural season with the second team he’s played for in 20 years, and that’s a scary thought for opposing teams.