After another 12-4 regular season campaign and their first AFC Wild Card game appearance since 2009, the New England Patriots’ 2019 campaign ends with a 20-13 loss at the hands of the surging Tennessee Titans. This marks the first season since Super Bowl L (February, 2016) that New England will not be representing the AFC in the Super Bowl. However, despite the loss, and the fact that Mike Vrabel and Derrick Henry may have ended the most formidable dynasty in sports right before our very eyes, the talk of the town after Saturday night’s game still revolves around Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
As the clock struck 00:00 at the end of fourth quarter on Saturday night, Tom Brady officially became an un-restricted free agent for the first time in his illustrious career, leading to much buzz around the league concerning the 6-time world champion’s future, whether it’s in New England, or elsewhere.
Despite belief that this could, in fact, be the end of a twenty-year romance between the greatest quarterback of all-time and the greatest NFL coach of all-time, it is hard to believe that Brady would actually walk away from a city and organization that achieved 20 years of pure dominance.
Despite being 42 years of age, Robert Kraft knows exactly what he’s getting out of Tom Brady when he steps foot out on that football field.
Tom’s Mentality
A 3-time NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP), (with the third honor coming in 2017 at age 40), and a quarterback who is already itching to get back on the field after a rather disappointing performance against Tennessee on Saturday night.
We have also seen Bill Belichick rip the bandaid off with other aging talents that were beloved in Foxboro, including the likes of Chandler Jones, Wes Welker, Jamie Collins and Malcom Butler, among others.
With that being said, Tom Brady is not Chandler Jones and the chances of Brady choosing retirement at the end of the 2019 season are slim to none.
However, the thought of Brady in another NFL uniform during the 2020 season is always gonna seem unsettling, especially to Patriots fans around the globe already waiting patiently for the verdict on their beloved hero.
Given Brady’s shear dominance over the AFC East since 2001, it would be foolish of Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft to let Tom walk this easily, as there is also currently no clear direction at the quarterback position.
On and Off Struggles
Throughout their 20-year partnership, it’s been no secret that Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have had their disagreements, dating back to as recently as 2018, when ESPN released a long story detailing the “serious disagreements” between Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft.
However, despite hard times, the trio has been able to capture six world championships (tied for most in NFL History) in only two decades, while also winning nine AFC championships.
Given how the trio has defined the word “champion” in the NFL, as well as in the city of Boston, over the past two decades., it would be hard to believe that Tom Brady and Bill Belichick would just walk away from each other after one disappointing season.
It has been notoriously known that, for years, the 14-time pro bowl quarterback has taken pay cuts in order for the Patriots to use money elsewhere to bring in talent to surround him.
However this time around, Brady seems to be wanting the paycheck as well, and at age 42, New England may not be willing to grant him that payday.
Despite that fact, there aren’t many talented teams that are in desperate need for a quarterback, as Brady’s ideal fit outside of New England would be a legitimate contender who has the offensive talent to help the 4-time Super Bowl MVP.
Other Locations?
Unless Drew Brees decides to hang his cleats in New Orleans after the 2019 season, or Los Angeles decides to move on from Philip Rivers, there aren’t many ideal fits for the 42-year veteran.
Despite that fact, it wouldn’t be shocking in the least to see contending teams make room in order to qualify for his services.
Come training camp in July, the chances of Tom Brady dawning a New England Patriots uniform for the 21st consecutive season seems like the likely scenario, as we’ve seen this song and dance in seasons past.
We’ve seen the Patriots lose tough playoff matchups to teams that they weren’t supposed to lose to due to lack of offensive/defensive help in certain areas. In 2019, Tom Brady didn’t have the elite weapons that he needed to succeed.
It wouldn’t be shocking to see New England to stock up offensively for the 2020 season and make a heavy run for their star quarterback of the last two decades in free agency this spring. As Tom Brady will be looking to ring in his third decade in red and white with a 7th world championship.
What will happen? We will have to wait to find out. However, don’t think for a second that the dynasty in Foxboro came to and end on Saturday night.
