Buccaneers and Tom Brady: ‘What more do you have to prove?’

This was the message Gisele Bündchen, Tom Brady’s Brazilian, supermodel wife, gave him as the confetti was falling and fireworks were clapping at Raymond James Stadium a little over a month ago.

It’s rare you can tell a player ten years ago that if you retire now, you’ll be a guaranteed first-ballot Hall of Famer in five years (the first year of eligibility)… it’s even more rare when ten years later, that athlete is still playing at the highest level, maybe even better. What else is there to achieve after you’ve become the undisputed G.O.A.T.?

Brady told this story on The Late Late Show with James Corden, to which he replied:

"“And what did you say in that moment?” –James Corden“I was trying to figure out a way to change the subject really quick– uhh I think I moved on to something else pretty quickly.” –Tom Brady"

This isn’t the first indication of Gisele’s ambivalence surrounding her husband’s profession. She is often the greatest cheerleader in Brady’s corner at games (especially in the postseason), but is also the reason a few years ago, Brady stopped attending O.T.A.’s and minicamps with the Patriots– a part of the postseason many veterans give up anyway, but Brady genuinely enjoyed them.

It was part of his edge that got him to 10 super bowls, and won him seven. Tom has discussed the rift between family and his passion, football, plenty of times, and it becomes immediately clear how difficult it is to be obsessed with success and also play an active role at home.

What more can Tom Brady prove?

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All this is definitely in the background as Josina Anderson of ESPN reports that conversations regarding a Tom Brady contract extension are moving along swimmingly. We could be looking at a Tom Brady-lead Tampa Bay offense until at least 2022 or 2023 based on preliminary rumors. Even with Brady on nearly everyone’s sports’ Mt. Rushmore, incredibly, there are still firsts to be had and records to be broken-as soon as next season-for the 43-year-old QB….

What about that elusive ‘perfect season?’ 

The closest Tom came to this incredible feat was 2007 when that Patriots team, which Tom has called the greatest in NFL history, went 18 and 1, barely losing to the New York Giants in a heart-pounding Super Bowl XLII. No team has ever gone 19-0. Even our brothers to the southeast, who had a team before we did, “only” mustered a 17-0 record in that legendary 1972 season back when there were only 14 regular season games per season.

Based on the tear we went on at the end of last season and the combination of moves like tagging pro-bowler Chris Godwin and settling on an extension with All-Pro linebacker Lavonte David, the idea that Brady could still pursue this is not out of the question.

The Three-peat

So far, this term has been reserved primarily for the world of basketball for teams like the Boston Celtics, the 90s Chicago Bulls, the early 2000s Lakers, and most recently, the Golden State Warriors.

Winning three Super Bowls in a row has never been done before in the National Football League, however, we currently find ourselves in the very advantageous position of being the only team out of 32 who can say they are currently eligible to tackle such a challenge.

Getting even one more year out of Tom Brady after the 2021 season would open the door– this could definitely be part of the thinking with Bruce Arians ‘no risk it, no biscuit’ philosophy.

Passing TDs 

In 2007, Brady broke the record for most passing touchdowns in a season with 50. In 2013 Peyton Manning took that awesome title away from Brady with 55 passing touchdowns (also on his second team: the Denver Broncos). Brady already broke the new Buccaneer record for passing TDs this year with a whopping 40, but the sky is the limit in this offense.

Keep in mind, 40 passing touchdowns was achieved during a first half of the season where Chris Godwin was constantly hurt, OJ Howard went down right after some great chemistry was seemingly starting to develop between him and Tom, and most importantly; Brady was still learning the verbiage and “hot reads” of the offense.

Those impediments are likely not going to be there again, and Tom Brady is surely motivated to take back that record as well as the career passing yards record being safeguarded by Drew Brees at the moment. Look for some blazing hot vertical passing attacks coming at you this Fall!

Stockpiling Championships

Tom may be the most accomplished in his sport & interestingly enough would be the Super Bowl championship leader if he himself was a franchise, but there are greater ambitions at mind. If you take the whole history of football into account, there are still three franchises ahead of him in championships: that’s the Chicago Bears, New York Giants, and Green Bay Packers with 8, 9, and 13 overall championships, respectively. Moreover, 11 is the number he’d have to reach (or pass) if he wants to catch up with the often forgotten, but basketball legend, Celtics center Bill Russell.

Brady would have to play another five seasons to get this unique, but not as coveted next record: oldest player to ever throw a pass in the NFL. This one currently belongs to George Blanda, who was a remarkable 48 when he stopped slinging it!

Now then, we don’t think Tom will be able to make it to 13 or even 11 before he rides off into the sunset, but after witnessing the last 20 years, it’d be tough to be shocked! Either way, the recommendation is simple… if you’re the humble/modest type, then Tampa may not be the spot to hang your hat for the next few years. Because Tom Brady is a gluttonous QB, and the Bucs are a gluttonous team under his shrewd leadership!

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