Theories abound when it comes to what led Tom Brady to part ways with Bill Belichick and the Patriots. However, if you ask Terry Bradshaw, it comes down to one thing: Ego.
In an interview with the Athletic, the former Steeler and four-time Super Bowl champ expressed surprise that Brady would choose to leave an organization where he’s so highly valued.
“Why in the world does he want to keep on playing at 43 other than to prove to New England he’s more important than Bill Belichick?” Bradshaw told the Athletic. “That’s the way I would look at it. Why the hell do you want to go to Tampa? The only thing I can think of is ego gets involved and you decide, ‘I’ll show ’em who’s more important.’
“I would never have done that, and I was shocked he was leaving. Shocked. I’ve never known a great quarterback — a great quarterback — at the end of his career, go to another team and do anything. Now, Brady’s different — nine Super Bowls, six victories. He’s a different cat. But the offense they ran in New England was perfect for him.”
Of course, Brady has more options as a player in 2020 than Bradshaw had as a player in the 70’s. Free agency didn’t come into existence until 1993. The Fox NFL Sunday co-host said later in the interview that if he had been traded, he would have simply retired.
Bradshaw’s statement that no “great” NFL quarterback went to a team late in his career and did anything, is debatable. Kurt Warner took the Cardinals to within minutes of a Super Bowl championship nearly ten years after taking the Rams to the Super Bowl. Joe Montana took the Chiefs to the playoffs.
Regardless, Bradshaw doesn’t believe Brady felt “wanted” in New England.
“I don’t know what the hell Tom’s doing. I think Tom, at 43, there has to be something going on for him to want to leave there, right? Gotta be,” Bradshaw said. “He’s got to feel they don’t want him, he’s got to feel unappreciated, got to feel, ‘I got to get out from underneath Belichick.’ He knows they’re saying, ‘Who was more important, the coach or the quarterback?’ Has Robert Kraft come out and said, ‘We want him back, we need him back, he’s our guy’? Is anyone fighting for him? I haven’t noticed any of that.”
Bradshaw also believes Brady’s age will be a factor.
“He’s going to bring a lot to Tampa, and I can’t say; I don’t have a feel right now if it’s going to be good,” Bradshaw said. “Is it going to be great? I don’t know. Part of me says it ain’t going to work. When you’re 43 years old, I don’t care if you eat grass and sand and whatever it is he does, that’s a tough call, man. He’s no Ben Roethlisberger; he can’t stay in and take the hit. He’s a tall guy, but he’s not a strong guy. I don’t know. Do I want him to succeed? Absolutely. He’s 43. I mean, 43? Forty-three? I can’t imagine that — can you?”
Whether Brady is a success in Tampa remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, however, he will have much better offensive weapons in Tampa than he had in New England. He will also have one of the best offensive minds in football, in Bruce Arians. If “Father Time” can leave Brady alone for another year, or two, he will have an opportunity to add to an already incredible career.
Follow Dylan Gwinn on Twitter @themightygwinn
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