Momentum for Tom Brady going to the Buccaneers continues to build. The Chargers believe they are out of the running for the quarterback, according to Jim Trotter of NFL Network (Twitter link).
Everything we had heard indicated that the Chargers and Bucs were the two teams with strong offers on the table for Brady, and if the Chargers are out then there aren’t many other known suitors outside Tampa. In a different tweet, Trotter reports that Brady’s camp “led the Chargers to believe he is going to stay back East because of family considerations.” Obviously Brady’s family lives in the New England area, and Tampa would certainly be a lot closer than Los Angeles.
Many had speculated that Brady might choose the Chargers because Los Angeles would provide a better pivot for off-field ventures like the entertainment industry a la LeBron James and the Lakers, but that apparently wasn’t the case. The Raiders just agreed to terms with Marcus Mariota and they’re out West as well, which likely takes them off the table too.
At this point, it seems like it’ll either be the Buccaneers or a mystery team swooping in that we haven’t heard much reporting about. That’s not out of the question given how wild things have been this week, but as of right now Tampa seems to be considered the solid favorite. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network said when free agency opened that it was down to the Bucs, Chargers, and Patriots, and two of those teams have since been eliminated.
As for the Chargers, they’re in an interesting spot. They decided to let long-time quarterback Philip Rivers walk this offseason, and most of the top free agent passers are now off the board. They could turn their attention to the trade market and go after someone like Cam Newton, or they could focus on the draft where they could theoretically get Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert with the sixth overall pick.
welp…the Falcons window is abour officially shut. 2 more good years of Brady on that Bucs teams should put a fork in the Matt Ryan/ Julio Jones Superbowl Window smh
Shocking news!! He doesn’t want to work for the Spanos’s. Probably the best move in his entire career!
Either way Chargers have got themselves a great foundation to ring a QB to. Either Cam or Justin Herbert will be leading a solid team next year
Sorry, but no one looks good in those nasty Buc’s unis. Not even Tom.
Herbert would be the best bet to take moving forward for QB
Doesn’t his wife have more money than he does?
The Falcons window slammed shut the day they choked away a 25 point Super Bowl lead. They however will continue to lead the lead with players that whine. ALA Julio Jones “ he got 10 cents more a year I want a new deal”.