Legacy over age: Tom Brady isn't retiring, not until he and the Buccaneers are Super Bowl Champions yet again
Tom Brady. What can be said about a man whose life has been dissected and analyzed with no details being left out? Six-time Super Bowl Champion, four-time Super Bowl MVP, three-time NFL MVP, two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, 9,988 passing attempts, 6,377 passing completions, 74,571 passing yards, and 2 rushing touchdowns later, writing anything new about the GOAT is difficult. Almost every game during his two-decade time with the New England Patriots has been spoken about, so what else is left to talk about?
Brady's workout? Good idea, but that's done too. The Quarterback's workout leans to the more functional, high-intensity side. The focus isn't on bulging biceps or armor plate pecs, it's about keeping that throwing arm in shape. Deep-force treatment, a bunch of resistance bands, compound movements, and some clean eating that we already know about. Relationship with Gisele Bundchen and his kids? Yeah, that's done too. So what's really left about Brady to write?
Previewing a new season is quite the task. Profiling a player is another. Brady's legacy can be richly attributed to his on-field exploits during his time with the Patriots. When he shocked the world by making a move to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, most thought it was one of the most unbelievable things to happen in the world of football. But that Brady was Buc and he was here to stay came as confirmation in the form of a building-sized poster that went up on the Raymond James Stadium next to Mike Evans.
At 43, Brady's done everything a human body could do, especially that of an athlete. In a contact-heavy sport, keeping your system injury-free is a story in itself, but considering the zen mode Brady is in, he's already calling the shots at the Bucs camp. The team and Brady have a shared vision — to win another Super Bowl. For a good 10 years, they were consistent playoff contenders and went on to win the Super Bowl in 2002. They haven't won it since. Will they win it this time? Will they make it to the playoffs this time? Will the Bucs under Brady set to make history? These are questions that are too early to answer. But if there's one debatable topic that could finally be written about is if this season will be Brady's last hurrah? For argument's sake, let's just say Brady isn't ready to hang 'em up cleats just yet. He's 43 but doesn't look a day over 30. But this isn't about Brady's fitness, this is about how he intends to continue his legacy.
News of the Bucs signing Leonard Fournette earlier is a classic example of the Bucs going all in to make sure Brady has enough at his disposal. They have Evans, Chris Godwin and OJ Howard on offense, they went on beef it up by getting Rob Gronkowski to come out of retirement. Next up, they needed tackle, and so that was fixed by the addition of Tristan Wirfs, their top pick in 2020. Quite simply, Brady needed a team that had all parts in place, the Patriots didn't really have them.
So quite simply, it's the Super Bowl or bust for Brady & Co. Right now, the talk is all about the new Bucs 2.0 Brady's transforming them into. And while it's still a work in progress, there's still a sense of optimism around how the Bucs will play the new season. Expectations are astronomical and that shows in the body language. Last month, Brady uploaded a video on Instagram. It was of him in a Bucs tee throwing the ball and footage of the Bucs sweating it out with Chris Valentine's 'SINY' playing.
Cornerbacks coach, Kevin Ross had something interesting to say to the Tampa Bay Times, "You’re practicing against Pro Bowl receivers, you’re practicing against a Hall of Fame quarterback, you can’t help but feel good about yourself. If you do well against those guys, you can’t help but feel good about yourself going into game situations." "I had a very similar situation like this happen to me when I was playing in Kansas City when Joe Montana came there. He gave us the boost that we needed to get over the top and end up getting to the championship game. It’s a very similar situation," he added. Brady himself said there was a lot to prove with the new team and his new mates.
To rest our case, no, we don't think Brady's going nowhere. Even he knows the odds of winning a Super Bowl despite the intense preparation, crackling chemistry and immense skills are still tough. So if they fail to latch on to the coveted title, they're going to give it one more shot. And until then, neither of them will rest. We don't know if any of this will be covered in his upcoming nine-part ESPN documentary, 'Man in the Arena', but what we do know and can write about here on is Brady and his band of brothers.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will square-off against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, September 13, 2020.