The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

He's a free agent.  Will he want to hang on with Belichick for another year, maybe two (because that's about all he's got left) or will he try to prove that he can win without him?

Can the mods add a poll?

I included four possibilities and an "other"

If he left, it would only be for a team that is already very good but needs a QB. Is there such a team in the NFL like that?

I see Dallas in his future.

In Tampa he'd have the best two WRs in the league to throw to.  They really turned it on at the end of the season.

He'll take a big hometown discount to stay with the Patsies.

A few maybes....

Brees is a free agent....so maybe Saints.
Denver is close and needs a QB.  
Colts aren't sold on their QB and are decent.
Steelers have a pretty decent team.  If Ben can't return, I could see that.  
Tannehill is a free agent.  If Tenn doesn't extend him, I can see BB swooping in and signing him.  (BB has a history of signing players that have given him trouble e.g. Welker) Then Tenn turning around and signing Brady.  
But if NE can add a couple of FA WR there is a very decent chance they will present him with the best opportunity for a 7th ring.  

I think Dallas is more than a QB away.  

I don't think dollars matter at all.  I think the beginning and ending of the analysis for him will be "what team gives me the best chance at a 7th and 8th ring?"  Patriots have a decent shot at winning that contest. 

Dallas IS more than a QB away....they already have a QB capable of winning a Superbowl. They need to put together a defense that can help him do that.

Until they pulled both hammies.   And if you think he'd last long behind that O-Line, I've got some mountainside property here in Florida to sell you.

someone added more options which erased all the prior votes.

TB is a bad run blocking team but has is okay pass blocking.

I would be shocked if either retired.   But Brady wearing different laundry wouldn’t surprise me.  Disappoint me, yes.  Surprise me, no.

Conspiracy Theory Alert: BB purposefully lost to the Dolphins and the Titans to try and get Brady to retire so that he could chase Shula's all-time wins record with a QB not named Brady.

You lost me at “purposefully lost.” But I don’t think it is too far fetched to think BB would have preferred to have Stidham play this year, but couldn’t bench Brady much like how he wanted to start Brady week 1 of 2001 but he couldn’t bench Bledsoe.  And BB is going to make minimal effort towards retaining Brady because he wants to move on and even if the Patriots had won the SB BB had no interest in having TB on the roster in 2020.

Agreed, which is I think where the talk that if Tom indeed does return to the Patriots that it might be BB's last year with New England I think originates. I'm not sure that BB would leave New England, but I sure don't think he'll be happy if Brady returns.

Your comment got me thinking and now I am 100% certain Brady will be playing next year the only question of is which of the 31 teams not located in Foxoboro will it be.

In order for Brady to return and BB leave you literally need a situation where both men go to Kraft and say it is either me or him, pick.  And Kraft decides to fire the greatest coach in history for an aging super star that his past his prime. It also leaves him without a coach and puts him in the Cowboys and Redskins league of meddling owners.  

I also believe that the decision for Brady to leave the team was made last year.  Brady was under contract for 2020, but a contract modification changed that he could leave and also made it so that he could not be tagged.  This contract change was done so he could leave as a FA in a dignified and least controversial manner possible.

Also Kraft not Belichick was the one that got rid of AB.  So if Brady's demands are get rid of BB and re-sign AB.  That is not going to go over well.

If franchise tag was available there would be daily articles about why Brady should be tagged and then second guessing when he wasn't.

Trading him would be hugely unpopular in NE, result in tons of second guessing and place huge pressure on the next QB.

Cutting him would be even more unpopular, have more second guessing and place even more pressure on the next QB.

The worse situation would be benching him and making him the back up QB.  Every time Stiham threw an incomplete pass, Gillette would chant Brady for 15 minutes non-stop.

Him leaving as a FA basically puts the next QB in the same situation Cassel or Jimmy G was when they started or Ghost when Adam V left in free agency.  Big shoes to fill but not the demand the new guy be better than who he replaced.  

And lets Brady remain on the same terms with NE fans as Wilfork or Welker (beloved) or Peyton in Indy.  I think Brady doesn't want to create the animosity Farve has in Greenbay.

ONLY way Brady returns is if BOTH Belichick and Brady are 100% convinced the other gives them the absolute best chance at a Lombardi in 2020.  I don't think either of them feel that way.  

I think this is all colored bubbles... Brady will re-sign with New England on a one-year contract to try going out with a championship, and then both Brady and Bellichick retire after next season, win or lose

Does Brady really care about going out with another SB?  I think Brady just wants to keep competing as long as he feels he's got a chance to win.  Plus there would have to be a really good opening on another SB contending team for Brady to leave the comfort of NE.  So BB is stuck with him until HE decides to retire or move on, just like Jimmy Johnson was stuck with Marino when he arrived in Miami.

It would be more likely for BB to leave, but he also has a whole cheating system setup in NE that would be difficult to replicate in a new location.

In the words of Herm Edward's "This is the greatest thing about sports - you play to win the game. Hello? You don't play to just play it."  Brady wants to win another superbowl.  No question there.


I agree.  Tom Brady isn't going to which ever team offers him the most money.  He is going where he thinks he has his best shot at winning a SB.  Don't be shocked if he signs with team the day after they sign a WR he really likes.  He might even tell a team.  "I appreciate your offer of 2 year $45 million dollar deal.  My counter offer is 2 year $35 million dollars which I will sign once you come to terms with the following free agents - Amari Cooper, Danny Amendola and Jason Witten." 

Absolutely false.  Brady is a UFA that can't be tagged.  Patriots don't need to cut him, trade him or bench him, they just don't have to come to terms. 

I know I like to do my Patriot fan bashing stuff but we are talking about the greatest QB ever.  And we have had the pleasure of watching this man play, in our generation.  

I understand this doesn't happen often (MJ, Bobby Orr, Favre, Manning, the list goes on); I want to see Brady end his career in New England; the team he spent his entire career with.  He means a lot to this region and, I would hope, the region means a lot to him.

Now, if the guy stays I also hope they give him some tools for success.  I think this past year there was something happening with his elbow.  That's based on observation and talking to a few pals in the dressing room, but nothing official; the Patriots would never admit that either.  If I'm right, and the man was hurt all year (I think he dinged it in week two and it got worse over the season) Tom Brady STILL put up a pretty okay year, hurt, with NO WEAPONS.

I think, at his age, he is a top five QB in this league.

Are there teams where he could step in and elevate them immediately?  Yes.  Under the right circumstances could NE be right back in the SB hunt next year?  Yep.

Tom Brady is going to Tampa and will dominate the NFC. You heard it here first. hahaha

Tampa Tom?

So all the talk around this region is a well planted source saying the Hoodie wants to replace Tom with...ready?

Andy Dalton. 

Excuse me?

I heard that yesterday too. Wasn't it Peter King who said that?

LOL ... that was a throw back line to the old poster jtex.

lol.  Still might happen, who knows?

Until March 16 the only team Brady can legally talk to is NE.  This was just speculation by a Tampa Bay sports talk radio host.  Doesn’t mean much other than this host figured it would be an effective way to get page hits—- and it was.  Chargers actually makes more sense he has a house out there.

LOL ... as if he couldn't afford one in another city too.

Yeah he could afford it.  But I think he wants to live in California.  If he enjoyed spending time in Florida he would already own a house in Florida and spend much of the off season there. 

Was listening to Scott Pioli this morning discussing Brady and Belichick. He was part of the group that selected Brady and is tight with both guys. He said its been a fantastic run with the both of them but he sees both of them doing whatever they think is best for their own selves at this point in their career. He also said they both have earned that ... so who knows? Brady and Belichick may surprise us with their next move.

Yeah, of course if he comes back he's going to want to win the Super Bowl.  My point was winning a Super Bowl in Feb 2022 isn't as important to him as say a situation like Dan Marino who never won a SB.  Any player on a decent team enters the season wanting to go to the SB.

I think he's from California. 

Report:JoeBrady to Carolina

This should help with their passing game.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/01/14/report-panthers-to-hire-joe-brady-away-from-lsu/
(couldn't resist.)

Talk radio this morning had it to the three most likely being.....stay in NE, Titans and.............Dolphins. 

I honestly don't see how anyone is linking him to Miami. It isn't like Brady can wait for the rest of the team to catch up.

Basically....Flores, nice place to live, oodles of cap space, plays NE twice a year, great market for TB12, owner is Mich alum.

Not saying that I would agree with such a move. But the more I think about it. It does kind of make sense. You have the above reasons that Hoodie mentioned. Also, you have lots of draft capital and cap space. Brady said that he wanted to play a few more years. So, assuming they let him have some input on new players, he wouldn't have to wait too long for the rest of the team to catch up. Also, you would arguably have one of the best backups in the league with Fitz. And then you could pawn Rosen off to some other desperate team for another draft pick or two.

The only only thing that would throw a wrench into it would be the OC situation. Not sure how Chan Gailey would work out with Brady. Probably work out fine, but it could also be a train wreck. Anyhow, I don't see it happening. But then again, Flores might go apeshit if you dangle Brady meat in his face, haha.

Ew, I'd rather root for the Jets than have Tom Brady in Miami.  Point being, neither is happening.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/01/23/speaking-from-experience-joe-namath-thinks-tom-brady-should-stay-in-new-england/

It is a rare day when Patriots fans agree with the face of the Jets franchise.....today many in NE are praising the wisdom of Broadway Joe. 

Sounds like Tom is feeling slighted by never being paid. He was the 18th highest paid QB last year and they are saying he feels he deserves to be paid as well.

Not sure if that is coming directly from him or is speculation.  However, I am not sure if he going to get a huge payday from anyone.  This year he had the 18th best passer rating.  So his for 2019 his pay was in line with his production.  Did he deserve more than he got in 2007? - sure.  Paying him in 2020 a huge salary is buying a name not likely production.  It will sell tickets but a great plan to build a team.     

so he's going to the jags !

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/01/31/tom-brady-to-miami-rumors-keep-gaining-steam/

Just going to leave this here.

^not going to happen

he'll be in LA with the chargers

The non-troll part of that article has some interesting information about Ross.  There may be a possibility Ross is planning to sell sooner rather than later, and if he does, his successor is already lined up (https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-approves-succession-plan-for-dolphins-owner-stephen-ross/).

Maybe Tom might end up in Las Vegas with the raiders, according to an article on espn. would be interesting to see him on the raiders.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28618368/sources-raiders-pursue-tom-brady-qb-becomes-free-agent (https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28618368/sources-raiders-pursue-tom-brady-qb-becomes-free-agent)

Hulu. 

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/02/15/report-raiders-ready-to-offer-tom-brady-two-year-60-million-deal/

As much as I dislike the Patriots and Brady, I have always acknowledged him as quite likely the best to ever play the QB position.  I think his age has finally caught up to him and I would rank him in the bottom 1/2 of starting QBs in the NFL going into 2020.  But just because he is so legendary, I am very interested in seeing where he ends up. 

He's not even in my top 5...

1) MARINO (homer bias activate)
2) Brees
3) Manning
4) Montana
5) Favre

Sorry, cheaters don't get ranked

And that's exactly why I hope he goes to a different team. He's very good but it's always been a question of it was him or the system he was in. He could cement his legacy outside of New England by going elsewhere and winning.

His legacy is solid.  He could go 0-16 and his legacy won’t be diminished.  And him winning two more super bowls won’t change Tenshot’s homerism.

Nope...

...Yup.

I disagree. While you and I may feel that way it is a common argument that any decent QB could win with BB. Well that and cheating. Either way many people outside of NE have arguments for why he isn't as good as players like Joe Montana or Payton Manning.

Ryan might not get his franchise wish

https://boston.cbslocal.com/2020/02/20/tom-brady-update-tennessee-titans-favorite-right-now-patriots-ranked-third/ (https://boston.cbslocal.com/2020/02/20/tom-brady-update-tennessee-titans-favorite-right-now-patriots-ranked-third/)

I give huge props to Brady for the QB he has been.  But last year there was a very noticeable drop off in his ability to throw the deep ball and he has clearly lost some velocity as well.  I've seen a lot of really good QBs who when that slide starts, it is a very fast and sad decline.  At this stage of Brady's career, I think the Titans are better off with Tanny at QB than Brady.  My gut instinct is that Brady will stay with the Patriots (but who knows).  But I think the only reason that any team should want him (and the huge contract he will be seeking) would be if a team has one of the young (we think this guy is going to be a star) QBs who was a rookie last year or will be this year and they want to bring Brady in for a year to serve as the starter who mentors/teaches/develops the young QB with big potential.  Hell, as much as I dislike the Patriots and Brady, if the Fins draft Tua or Herbert (no way they are getting Burrow), I would be just fine with the Dolphins bringing in Brady for a year to start and tutor either Tua or Herbert or even share some playing time if the rookies are coming along nicely. 

Not me. Brady would be too much of a distraction. Fitzmagic is better for the job and a helluva lot cheaper. Signing Brady would be a VERY bad move for Miami and honestly...for Brady as well.

100% agreed .. put marino on a team with the running game and defense the patriots have had with the rules restricting DBs and he woulda won 20 rings

You’re Undercutting the claim Shula was the greatest coach of all time.  😀

I agree.  I like Fitz and think he would be a good role model for a young QB too.  That's why I said that I would be okay with the Fins signing Brady but i didn't say I'd be all kinds of excited about it.  LOL    And I didn't think about the distraction part of it, but you made a good point with that. 

One Brady thread is enough.

Long term Tenn is better off with Tanny.  Brady will sell more tickets than Tanny. 

However, if Tenn doesn’t see Tanny has a long term franchise QB, Brady could be a better shopgap.  If Tenn is eyeing a 4th round QB that will need 2 years to develop.  Best thing would be to sign Brady, Brees or Rivers (in that order)

I think it's more Shula the GM that was the issue.

That and the fact that Shula the coach routinely won 8-10 games and was a playoff contender every year and as a result, the Dolphins did not get the high draft choices.

Haven't ran the numbers but I bet BB has had similar or worse average draft position.  Any coach in the discussion for top 10 coaches of all time likewise would routinely have late draft picks.  Not a valid excuse.

You're just salty because BB isn't as prestigious as Shula.

Probably not Miami,,,,,,


https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/02/25/brian-flores-agrees-with-owner-why-would-tom-brady-want-to-come-to-miami/

Some reporters from ESPN are now saying they would be shocked if he returned to New England. Didn't know these guys had so much bad blood. The Era of Jarret Stidham will commence!

But seriously, if the team doesn't rebuild that offense and get a real QB, this might be the end of the road for them. I don't know why they would let Brady go with no replacement but it's looking that way.

Sports Illustrated article saying the same thing. Hard to tell what's click bait and what's real this time of year.  

If he hasn't resigned yet then it's real. It's a very simple situation with Brady and the Patriots, he will come back if they actually pay attention to the offense this year. With actual players on offense matched with their defense, they are once again a legit contender. Yet, it hasn't happened yet and the Patriots will win 6 games with no real QB this season. This sounds personal, not business.

PFT is saying Giants are in the mix. There certainly would be some irony if he went to the SB with them.

No chance of that, they just drafted Jones and he showed a few flashes where they would never give up on him so quickly. Plus, the Giants are garbage. Why end your career winning 5 games?

With the new CBA in talks, I think Brady will end up a Pat again, I dont buy that the Franchise would just let him go into FA . Well hmm i said that about Montana yrs back . Shit happens.  Would like to see him on another team. maybe we will see if he is a system QB or was it BB

It's not like New England can tag him, so if he wants out, he's out.

Brady is 43; if he does poorly elsewhere, it may simply be because he's old.  We all saw the cliff Peyton Manning fell off of, going from the best season in league history to a shriveled husk of himself in just 2 years' time.

Manning got to retire a champion at least.   I don't see the same thing happening for Brady.

He doesn't need to, he already has more rings than anyone else. He can throw 48 INT this season and it wouldn't hurt his legacy, it's just a shitty way to go out.

I'm completely fine with athletes choosing to keep playing for as long as they can, even well past their prime. Why shouldn't they? As long as they can still get playing time, why not?

For me personally, it doesn't tarnish their legacy in any way. It's not like I don't know that ALL athletes will eventually succumb to age, so the unknown of someone who decides to call it quits while at the height of his career isn't really unknown.

On the other hand, I can completely understand if an NFL players decides to stop in his prime for health reasons.

Me thinks Brady’s final year will either be really crappy or IR.  He isn’t walking off while he still feels he can play.

You're probably right. I mean, if he can throw for 4,000 yards in 2020 and make a deep playoff run if not win the Superbowl, why retire? Problem with NFL players is that they age 30 years overnight, you just don't know when the wheels will come off.

If he throws for 3000 yards and goes 8-8 in 2020 he will be back in 2021.  Only way he doesn’t play in 2021, is if ALL 32 GMs considers him done. 

I was one of the few that voted for retirement. If no one is willing to give him a decent sized contract, I think it's still very possible he just retires. I know he doesn't want to, but no one ever does. If he finds himself without a team or with the prospect of going to a team that's no where close to playoff ready, what do you do? You play another year or 2 just to keep playing? Think his pride comes into play there and he decides to hang em up. Honestly if he doesn't resign with New England, I think the next most likely possibility is retirement.

NBC Sports is saying that Brady to the 49ers is a real thing being discussed. The key is that Jimmy G can come off the books right now and the Niners would have virtually no cost paid for it and would clear over $22 Million in cap space. Brady would never sign with a garbage team and the Niners just went to the Superbowl.

This could be very interesting.

That would make Jimmy G the top sought after tradeable QB.  Be great if he got traded back to NE.

That......is not unrealistic. Pats have no QB and if they draft and start a QB this year the team would very likely only win 7-8 games. Niners have leverage and they don't because benching Jimmy for a year for Brady would ruin their relationship, plus who wants a $30 Million backup? But, he would be coveted on the trade market.

OK, folks...let's take a step back from the ledge here. Jimmy-G isn't going anywhere, except back to the Super Bowl with the 49ers next season.

Ian Rappoport says he hasn't heard anything about this and Brady's most likely destinations are still the Patriots or Titans.

What happens to Tanny if the Titans move on from him?

What happens is a frenzy of teams that want a young QB that has proven his ability to take a team to the playoffs.

That's my guess, anyway...

Long term both Tenn and 49rs would be better off keeping who they got then signing Brady.  I wouldn't mind either Tanny or Jimmy G getting traded to NE.

I'm... not sure how I feel about Tanny playing for NE.  I want to see him do well, but obviously not against the Dolphins. 

Bucs willing to pay 40 million per year for Brady

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/bruce-arians-buccaneers-desperate-to-land-tom-brady-in-free-agency-2020-per-report/ (https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/bruce-arians-buccaneers-desperate-to-land-tom-brady-in-free-agency-2020-per-report/)

Said it back in January:

It would be a decent landing spot for him if he leaves New England. However, he got some real competition with the Saints. Definitely not used to that in the AFC East.

Whose fault is that?

Every other team.

Cross Tenn off the list.

OK...maybe a two-year deal instead of one. ;)

NOT New England. He just announced on social media that he is not returning to New England.

He should retire. I don't believe that anything good will come of him playing for another team and it most likely will not end well. He's had an extremely good run, the best anyone has ever had, it's time to move on from football.

Maybe, maybe not.  The last two QB who kept playing after they should have retired lost in the NFCCG and won a SB.

Depends on his landing spot. Don't go to a garbage team just to keep playing, go to a decent team in need of a QB who has the cap and picks to build a contender this season.

I'm curious, who are you talking about? I'm assuming that one is Favre and maybe he should have retired earlier, but not sure he should have retired as a Packer. He still had a couple good years left in him, I think he was only 37 at the time. Not the same as Brady.

Peyton is the Superbowl winner.

Yeah, I figured it out. Yeah he probably should have retired sooner too, but again not as a Colt. He had several good years after his time with them was up and he was only like 35 or 36. Certainly nothing like Brady. I'm saying that Brady should retire because his whole career has been with the Patriots and unlike the others, he doesn't have a couple good years left in him.

That is the open question.  And plenty of people thought Peyton was done after his injury.  Plenty of people thought Farve was done after GB.  Brady looked a hell of a lot better in his last regular season game against the Dolphins as a Patriot than Farve did in his last regular season game as a Jet against the Dolphins.

The others were forced out. One because of injury and the other because of Aaron Rodgers. Brady is being allowed to walk away. He should take the hint.

My prediction is that if Brady goes to play for another team it will be his worst stastical year of his career and the team will either miss the playoffs or make the playoffs with a different QB.

So Brady's last pass as a Patriot was a TD to the......Dolphins. LO Freakin' L ;D

it's looking good for me !!

(https://i.ibb.co/fHdCDSN/Screenshot-from-2020-03-17-12-36-45.png) (https://ibb.co/gJZD47W)

No. It was to a Titan.

All but confirmed Brady to Tampa.  What do I win?

So does Chris Godwin give up his number or does Brady pick a new number?

Looks like Tom Brady wants to make one more piece of history..... lead the team whose stadium is hosting the Super Bowl to a Super Bowl appearance.

I was right there with you ... lol. This is a win-win for me. It gets Tom out of our division and then puts him on my second favorite team.

I sure didn't expect that one!  I thought there was a good chance he would go back to New England but I really didn't think he would go to Tampa Bay. 

I have to imagine he would've preferred the Chargers in terms of location and new stadium and all that but the Bucs are just farther along as a contender. They do need more talent though as the Saints are the clear class of that division.

Ben Volin said Brady wanted to stay on the East Coast as he and his wife are making their home and next life in New York. Only a 2 hour flight from Tampa.

30 million reasons a year

Ultimately, I think it comes down to Brady wanting to prove he can win without the Patriots. 

I think it was more they treated him like any other free agent and he got tired of it. He constantly took pay cuts and won them 6 Superbowls, treat him like the legend he is and sign him back immediately. Especially since they have ZERO options right now and are heading for a 7 win season. Team handled it poorly, I would bounce too if I were Brady.

Close.  I think he wants to prove he can win without Belichick. 

I think the feeling is mutual.

Agree.  Be interesting to see which team - Tampa or NE fairs better this season.  (Assuming there is a football season)

If I remember correctly they denied this story at the time but I could be wrong.


Tom Brady decided on Patriots departure after Bill Belichick offered him in 49ers trade: report
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/tom-brady-patriots-bill-belichick-49ers-trade-report

A source close to 49ers general manager John Lynch told Bleacher Report that the organization had been eyeing Garoppolo in 2017 but that Belichick offered Brady instead. Lynch reportedly didn’t have the chance to take him up on that offer because owner Robert Kraft wouldn’t hear it.

"Kraft shut that s--t down fast," a source close to Belichick told Bleacher Report. "So, instead, Lynch gets Garoppolo, but Brady, Belichick and Kraft haven't been the same since Tom learned that Bill was ready to get rid of him. And that lit a fire under his a-s."

Brady went on to win one more Super Bowl and restructure his contract to pave the way for his departure.

Slightly off topic, but this creates the very interesting scenario of which NFL coach thinks he can take a physically gifted QB (Winston) who makes the worst decisions of any QB I've seen in a long time and coach him up to his potential.  Winston has a whole lot of dumb and immaturity both on and off the field to overcome.  So it will be very interesting to see who picks him up. 

Winston is different than most QBs who are released. He actually has a pretty good upside so you're really only having to work on his downside. I think he will find a back-up job behind someone who isn't very secure in their job. 

Winston playing for Belichick would make for a great reality show but a terrible pairing. Bill will have zero tolerance for his stupid INTs. Still, Winston does have talent but how much of his yardage can be attributed to him just playing recklessly?

Winston was the beneficiary of Mike Evans, he can out jump anyone.  Winston would just throw up jump balls to him, mostly in double coverage, and he'd still get the catch.