The NHL and NBA seasons are into their playoff runs, and pitchers and catchers have reported to Spring Training, but we're still talking about Tom Brady. The NFL season doesn't kickoff for another seven months and the infernal Patriots and their fans are dominating the sports pages.
But the fans, analysts and pundits (real and wannabe) are asking the wrong question. While everyone with a keyboard or microphone is arguing about whether Tom Terrific 🙄 will return to Foxboro for the 2020 season, they should really be asking whether the Patriots want him back.
The answer is clearly no.
If Brady won't retire, New England should move on without him. They don't need him and, when you consider all of the circumstances, they shouldn't want him.
OK. OK. Before you send Patriots Nation or the Masshole Army to burn down my house, let's look at the facts.
TB12 will be 43-years old when the regular season kicks off in September. His on field contributions have steadily declined in recent years to the point where his passer rating in 2019 ranked 22nd in the NFL in a tie with Jacoby Brissett.
You can argue that Brady is the greatest quarterback in NFL history (you'd be wrong), but statistics reveal that, at best, he is currently average. I am talking about advanced metrics, and not just the traditional numbers like touchdowns, interceptions and completion percentage (which also show his steady decline).
Combine Brady's decreased on-field contributions with the fact that he stands to be paid upwards of $US30 million in 2020. Under the contract extension the Patriots' quarterback signed with the team last season would see him paid a salary of $US30 million, but that contract is void for reasons you need a PhD to understand. That contract also precludes the Patriots from using the "franchise tag" on Brady but, if they could, they would have pay him around $US27 million. Either would be a gross overpayment.
The only argument in favor of keeping Brady in New England is that the team doesn't appear to have anyone to step into his place behind center on a mediocre team. Last year's backup, Jarrett Stidham, could turn into a serviceable play caller one day, but he only attempted four passes as a rookie in 2019. Cody Kessler appears destined to be a career backup after being signed, released and re-signed by New England at the beginning of last season.
But there are all kinds of free agent QBs out there that could give New England the same on-field production as Brady (albeit without the nostalgia and swooning) for a lot less money. the best option is probably Teddy Bridgewater.
They could draft a quarterback too. They don't pick until 23rd, but they definitely have a knack for mining gold with later picks. I'm no scout, but surely one of Justin Herbert, Jordan Love, Jake Fromm, Jake Eason, Jalen Hurts or James Morgan will turn into a decent NFLer. All should be available when the Patriots select. Belichick just needs to figure out which one.
If they don't want to draft a QB this year, short term free agent solutions include Philip Rivers, Ryan Tannehill and Marcus Mariota.
The point is that New England has better options than Tom Brady at $US30 million. Will they get another Brady in his prime? Never. And that's the problem. Patriots Nation can't accept that their hero is over the hill and that the dynasty is over. They've had it pretty good for the past two decades. Moving on from something like that is undeniably painful. But if they don't the Patriots will find themselves praying for the return of Drew Bledsoe, let alone Tom Brady.
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