How the Tampa Bay Buccaneers transformed in one season
By Rob Leeds
Tom Brady and the Buccaneers
Free agency, the draft, and every other decision was based on the same needs that existed before Brady arrived.
The Bucs needed their defense to take the next steps, but that came with almost the same exact unit as last season other than rookie safety Antoine Winfield Jr. No other major changes occurred.
On the offensive side of the ball, Brady was the only unexpected addition. Tristan Wirfs would have joined the roster with Brady at quarterback or Jameis, and to pretend otherwise is an attempt to push a narrative that is provably false and actively rooting against the current success. To each their own.
The one major difference is Tom Brady. Analysts and fans can try to disprove it all they want, but Tom Brady is the reason why the Buccaneers are gearing up for the Super Bowl. Brady has, in his first season, changed the culture of one of the worst teams in NFL history, all while at 43 years old. Have we mentioned his age yet?
While people doubted the Brady signing at first, there is no way to deny his greatness. In year one with a brand new team for the first time in his career, Brady won three playoff games in a row, with the final two teams having first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterbacks under center.
Even with Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers playing opposition, Brady kept his composure when under pressure, and the rest of the team followed suit.
An NFL team can only be as good as its starting quarterback, and Tom Brady has continued to prove time and time again that he is still one of the best in the league right now.