After 20 seasons and six Super Bowl championships, Tom Brady is no longer a member of the New England Patriots. That is a sentence that no one ever thought they would read. Brady became a free agent this offseason for the first time in his career after he and the Patriots could not agree on a contract extension last season. He made the shocking announcement on the morning of Tuesday, March 17, that he would not return to the Patriots. Later that day, Brady agreed to a contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a two-year, $50 million deal that is fully guaranteed.
Brady is coming to a Buccaneers offense that ranked first in passing yards per game last season, at 302.8. They had two wide receivers who ranked in the top five in the league in receiving yards, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. The team also ranked third in both total yards per game and points per game.
While it seems like Brady makes the Buccaneers instant championship contenders, it is expected that they will have some heavy competition in the NFC South, as the other three teams within the division have also made some significant free agent signings this offseason. The New Orleans Saints brought back their future Hall of Fame Quarterback Drew Brees, also signing top free agent wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders to pair with star wideout Michael Thomas, last season’s Offensive Player of the Year. The Carolina Panthers moved on from their franchise quarterback Cam Newton and signed Teddy Bridgewater as his replacement. Finally, the Atlanta Falcons signed star running back Todd Gurley after he was released by the Los Angeles Rams. The Saints have won the NFC South for the last three seasons, while the Buccaneers have not been to the playoffs since 2005.
As for the rest of the NFC, some of the conference’s top teams, such as the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles will have a tougher time now that there is another team that is expected to compete. However, with the NFL announcing a new playoff format, an extra wild card team will be added to the playoff race.
Brady’s decision to leave New England has a huge impact on the Patriots as well, as they will be looking for a new quarterback for the first time this century. While there is uncertainty as of right now, the Patriots can go in a few different directions to find a replacement. For example, they can sign a quarterback on the free agent market, such as Cam Newton or Jameis Winston, trade for one like Andy Dalton or draft one in a class that is expected to be loaded. Head coach Bill Belichick has the football world waiting to see what he does to replace his longtime quarterback.
Brady’s departure also has an impact on the rest of the AFC East. The Patriots have won 11 straight division titles since 2009, and now Brady’s absence will open up more competition within the division. In terms of the entire AFC, there will also be more of a competition for some of the top teams. The Patriots were Super Bowl favorites for most of the last two decades, and now there will be no clear favorite to come out of the AFC as there are several teams in the mix, such as the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans.
Tom Brady will most likely finish his career with the Buccaneers, and fans are excited to see if he can get one more Super Bowl before he retires.
Photo Courtesy of Moddie Meyer
