When it looked like Leonard Fournette could sign with the Patriots, Tom Brady had the right question for his Buccaneers teammate.
This past offseason could’ve gone very different for the Buccaneers. Had Tom Brady not returned, the entire process could’ve killed all the momentum that the team has created over the past two years.
Without Brady, it could’ve been very difficult to keep all of the free agents in Tampa. Who would want to play with Blaine Gabbert as the starting quarterback?
Tom Brady works like a magnet, and that is part of what kept all of Brady’s weapons in pewter and red.
According to Leonard Fournette, his quarterback had one question for him when he was meeting with Brady’s former team.
Leonard Fournette was visiting the Patriots as a free agent this off-season when Tom Brady called him and said, “Man, what’s your ass doing up there?”
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) June 7, 2022
Unfortunately, the pairing between Fournette and the Patriots did make some sense on paper.
New England has been one of the run-heaviest offenses in the NFL since they lost their starting quarterback. Who would’ve thought? This offense has generally employed a committee approach to the share of the offense, but Fournette would’ve been the star that their room needed.
Between Fournette and the younger options in that group, the Patriots would have easily been able to run the ball 40 times per game if they wanted to. We would advise against an offense like that, but what else are you going to do when Mac Jones is your quarterback?
Regardless, once Tom Brady was back in Tampa, Leonard Fournette was another need for the offense.
Not that the Bucs need a run game when Brady is the quarterback like they would when he isn’t, but Brady and Fournette have created a great balance and chemistry that has made the offense better as they grow more comfortable by giving Brady a consistent target through the air.
The Buccaneers were able to get one of their main pass-catchers back, Brady gets a great target, and the Bucs didn’t have to rely on a new face in the running back room in the main role.
Tampa needed to make this deal based on what they had, and even Tom Brady recognized this by reaching out to his running back like he did.
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