Many people have speculated, but the surprising reports that Tom Brady is open to hitting free agency at the end of this season clearly impacts the Buccaneers.
While it is absolutely right to just focus on this season for Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, it is also fair to say that a lot of people in the building are impacted by Brady’s actions of the future as much as they are impacted by his decisions right now.
There is a lot of uncertainty coming towards the Bucs once the curtains finally close at the end of this season, and the first domino the keep an eye on will always be Brady.
That is why the reports that Brady is opening to hitting free agency matter so much for Tampa.
First things first, this is basic player talk. No one is every going to act like they are looking ahead, but no one on the planet is actually able to do that without having those thoughts creep into their heads about the future, and Brady is showing this.
Based on what we have seen from this season and the major similarities with what Brady has said relative to play (and how the same things went down during his final season in New England) it would be fair to say that the odds of the GOAT playing another season in Tampa are close to zero.
Why come back and play for Todd Bowles or Byron Leftwich if the offense is dying, the team isn’t winning, and the Bucs are tight on cash?
It just doesn’t seem like a smart move for Brady, and it certainly isn’t a smart move for the Bucs to bank on a miracle happening again.
With Todd Bowles almost assuredly on the hot seat and Byron Leftwich in an even worse position, this staff has to start posturing for the future in a desperate gamble to save their jobs.
Blaine Gabbert and Kyle Trask aren’t job-savers. Heck, there may not be a free agent or a trade option that is a sure-fire thing, and that is why this staff is going to have to hit the draft and free agent tape hard if they want to find a couple of guys to save the team in the short term while also finding an option for the future.
The money will be tight. The Bucs are also coming off an early-round quarterback just a few years ago. The job will be tough, but finding a decent quarterback to plug some holes in the ship for a little while is the only way this staff will be able to serving the next year.
Brady hinting that he could be gone is as good a sign as any that this staff needs to start retaining players now. Otherwise, they could wait for the offseason, lose one of their best selling points, and then lose out on Tampa being a free agent destination.
The Bucs need to act carefully with this information. Who knows how long Tom Brady could play for?
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