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Zolak & Bertrand

Zolak & Bertrand

Zolak & Bertrand

Breer Q&A: Whether you like it or not, Buccaneers big part of Brady’s career

By Zolak & Bertrand

Tom Brady’s retirement from professional football Wednesday sparked a wave of reaction around the National Football League. Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who spent 20 seasons together with Brady in New England, subsequently pleaded for the quarterback to retire with the Patriots on a one-day contract.  

On Friday’s Zolak & Bertrand radio program—Bert Breer, lead content strategist and writer for the MMQB.com, answered questions and provided insight on Brady’s current relationship with the Patriots. 

  • Kraft’s Statement

  • What are your thoughts on Brady returning to New England?

    Breer: I really wish Robert Kraft had done [this message] behind closed doors. What kind of position you think that puts him in? That puts Tom in a tough position.

    If you are Tom looking at this, you’re asking, ‘Now you want me to make good for you on this? I would have been willing to stay here if you had just given me guarantees in my contract. You weren’t willing to do that. Why? Because you thought that it wasn’t a good decision for you. Now you want me to give you closure?’

    What’s the benefit for Tom in doing that? People here won’t love him less if he doesn’t sign a one-day contract.

  • FOXBOROUGH, MA - JANUARY 13: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots runs through the tunnel before the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

    FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 13: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots runs through the tunnel before the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

  • Why would Brady NOT sign a one-day contract with Patriots?

    Breer: Don’t the guys who come back and sign one-day contracts usually do that because they were a failure somewhere else? Like, guys trying to erase the end of their career. This situation isn’t like Michael Jordan with the Wizards. Brady won a freaking championship with a team other than the Patriots. 

    [LeSean] ‘Shady’ McCoy did a one year deal with the Eagles. No one remembers McCoy. He played in Buffalo for a couple of years, had a couple of big seasons. There’s no question that he was a Philadelphia Eagle, right?

    I think the best comparison for Brady’s retirement situation is Peyton Manning. Payton never went back to Indianapolis.

  • DENVER, CO - JANUARY 19: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots congratulates Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos after the Broncos defeated the Patriots 26 to 16 during the AFC Championship game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

    DENVER, CO – JANUARY 19: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots congratulates Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos after the Broncos defeated the Patriots 26 to 16 during the AFC Championship game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

  • Is Tampa Bay attached to Brady’s career forever?

    Breer: Tampa Bay is now a part of Brady’s legacy. The Patriots have to reckon with that. Whether you like it or not, it’s a big part of his story. Not the biggest part of the story, but a part nonetheless.

    Brady’s success with the Buccaneers gives him something that separates him from the rest of the success that happened with the Patriots. It’s a way of separating his individual ability to lift a team up to win championships. It separates him from the six that he won here. It puts him on a different level.

  • ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 08: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs onto the field prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 08, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

    ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 08: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs onto the field prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 08, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

  • Full Segment

  • Ryan Beaton is a Producer and Contributor for 985thesportshub.com. You can follow Ryan at @ry_beaton on Twitter.

    Listen to Zolak & Bertrand from 10-2 every Monday-Friday on 98.5 The Sports Hub, with hosts Marc “Beetle” Bertrand, Scott Zolak, and Rob “Hardy” Poole. You can listen live in the Sports Hub App and subscribe to their podcasts here. Follow @ZoAndBertrand on Twitter and Instagram to keep up with the show!

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