NFL front offices aren’t convinced Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady is completely washed just yet.
“…when Brady had a chance to take control of the game on his own, he showed he is still capable of looking like his old self,” The Athletic’s Jeff Howe reported on Friday. “If he wants to continue playing beyond this season, his market should be ripe.”
Brady temporarily retired this past winter and has a 10-year deal reportedly worth $375 million in hand to become lead NFL analyst for Fox Sports whenever he calls time on his playing career — for good, that is. It has, however, been suggested he could spend another season with the Buccaneers, return to the New England Patriots for a final run with coach Bill Belichick or pursue a Super Bowl ring with the San Francisco 49ers.
NFL insider Jason Cole recently explained a friend of Brady’s believes the seven-time Super Bowl champion is using playing this fall as “a great distraction” following his divorce from Gisele Bündchen. There’s no guarantee Brady will need such a “distraction” next year.
Brady and the Buccaneers have won three of four to improve to 6-6 and claim possession of first place in the NFC South standings. Per ESPN stats, the future Hall of Famer is fifth in the NFL with 3,332 passing yards, tied for 14th with 16 touchdowns through the air and 20th among qualified players with a 52.2 total QBR across 12 games.
The Joe Bucs Fan website pointed out executives also blamed “conservative coaching” for Tampa Bay’s offensive woes. Such a problem could potentially be fixed by the organization hiring former New Orleans Saints coach and current Fox Sports NFL analyst Sean Payton this winter.
Tampa Bay plays at the 8-4 San Francisco 49ers this Sunday.
