S1 E12: Play It Again, Tom: Brady's Big Risk on The Tampa Bay Buccaneers - a podcast by iHeartRadio & Diversion Podcasts

Sequels rarely equal the originals. It’s true with movies and especially true with quarterbacks. What about Tom Brady on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after 20 years on the New England Patriots? He's trying to rewrite the script of Joe Namath, Johnny Unitas, and his hero, Joe Montana. Second acts haven’t always been pretty in the NFL, but Tom Brady is intent on changing the narrative by holding up his seventh Lombardi Trophy. Is 43 the new 33?
Michael Jordan won six championships with the Chicago Bulls and then retired for three years before he came back for two forgettable seasons with the Washington Wizards. Willie Mays falling down in centerfield in the 1973 World Series at the end of his career playing for the New York Mets was a sad and unnecessary sight. Joe Namath in a Los Angeles Rams uniform and Joe Montana with the Kansas City Chiefs still upsets me.
For every Star Wars sequel or Peyton Manning reinventing himself following four neck surgeries and signing with the Denver Broncos and making it two more Super Bowls, there’s Johnny Unitas with the San Diego Chargers and Emmitt Smith with the Arizona Cardinals and Jerry Rice with the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos.
Which brings us to Tom Brady and the Bucs. What script is he writing? In this episode, Gary Myers discusses the risk Brady embraced by leaving after 20 years in New England to play in Tampa with a perennial loser. And you will hear from Joe Namath about his experience moving to the Rams.
Tom Brady put his legacy on the line by exiting his comfort zone with the Patriots. He was a forever hero in New England regardless of how the end of his career would have played out if he stayed. Even if Patriots fans are upset with him now, especially with his old team struggling, how can they possibly boo him when the Bucs play in Foxborough in 2021?
But all that wasn’t good enough for Tom. What was he unhappy about? He had never been paid market value, preferring to put his ego aside so the money he left on the table could be spent to keep the Patriots a Super Bowl caliber team every year. But then he looked around at his dwindling group of impact playmakers and wondered where the money was going.
Sources tell us he had a deteriorating working relationship with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels with his input on game plans diminished. And let’s face it, the great thing about playing for Bill Belichick is he’s the best coach in the league, maybe of all time. The bad part is there is not much joy that comes in the winning. It’s just not a fun environment.
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The GOAT: Tom Brady, is a production of Diversion Podcasts, in association with iHeartRadio. This season is written and hosted by Gary Myers. Executive Producers: Scott Waxman and Mark Francis for Diversion Podcasts and Sean Titone for iHeartRadio. Story editing by Scott Waxman with editorial direction from John Tuttle and Jacob Bronstein. Editing, mixing, and sound design by Mark Francis. Archival research by Brianne Murphy. Verna Fields is our Technical Producer. Director of marketing and business development: Jacob Bronstein. Special thanks for Oren Rosenbaum at UTA.
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