TAMPA — Tom Brady introduced within the high gun Monday night time in his ongoing dogfight in opposition to Father Time.
Tom Cruise watched the Buccaneers and Cowboys play Monday from a luxurious suite at Raymond James Stadium. Cruise is 60. He’s planning to shoot a film in house subsequent 12 months. He was final seen rocketing off a Norwegian cliff aboard a motorbike right into a BASE soar.
Sadly, not even Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell may awaken Brady out of a season-long 9G flat spin.
“Talk to me, Gronk!”
Brady and the Buccaneers had been splashed by Dak “5 TDs” Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys 31-14.
This Brady Super Bowl run turned an inconceivable mission. The Buccaneers wanted a number of good males on either side of the ball, particularly when it got here to the offensive line and secondary. Tampa Bay was out of sync all season. And Brady was spun off his axis.
Dallas’ defensive entrance left Brady in a daze of thunder throughout the closing sport of Super Wild Card Weekend. The NFL’s all-time-everything passing chief was flustered, pissed off, and flummoxed.
Sure, Tampa Bay gained the NFC South.
But that’s solely as a result of the University of Georgia selected to remain within the SEC.
Brady’s twenty second NFL season as a beginning quarterback was a paradox. His 490 completions and 733 makes an attempt led the league and had been profession highs. His 4,694 yards passing was third within the NFL, behind solely Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert.
Yet, as his former coach as soon as warned: “Stats are for losers.”
This was clearly Brady’s worst profession efficiency by way of notion and end result. He completed beneath .500 for the primary time since he was a back-up JV quarterback. Brady was unable to combine a potent offensive cocktail, regardless of the presence of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on the roster. His 25 TDs had been his second fewest in a season since 2003. Brady’s Buccaneers averaged simply 18.4 factors per sport. Fewer than Washington, Chicago, and, yikes, even New England. His common of 9.4 yards per completion was the bottom of his profession.
Dink and dunk. Meet stink and stunk.
Monday night time delivered a fruits of all that was unsuitable with Brady all season.
A real Hollywood ending – within the spirit of “Titanic.”
The solely approach this could possibly be any worse is that if my editor makes me see “80 For Brady.”
Only essentially the most twisted Bradyphobes or delusional Belichick apologists may use this season to tarnish Brady’s everlasting document.
Who ruminates on Bobby Orr’s stats with the Blackhawks? Or Kansas City’s Joe Montana shedding his closing profession sport to the Dolphins within the Wild Card spherical? Or Larry Bird ending his NBA run with 12 factors in a Game 7 loss at Cleveland within the Eastern Conference semifinals?
Only these whose personal lives are steeped in failure make such exits their focus.
Brady nonetheless has nothing left to show to anybody — however himself. That is the scary half.
Brady’s eyes had been broad shut Monday though he threw the ball 66 occasions. He had no fewer than 4 balls tipped close to the road of scrimmage. He lobbed a useless duck in the long run zone on a second-and-goal from the 5 within the second quarter.
The ball flew proper into the hazard zone – and into the arms of Dallas’ Jayron Kearse.
It was Brady’s first purple zone interception since 2019 when he performed for New England. A 14-play, 6:37 drive resulted in nothing however angst. Brady would end with 351 yards passing, 35 completions and a pair of TD passes. So a lot. Yet so little.
Afterward, Brady congratulated members of the Cowboys at midfield after which trotted off the sector, waving his lid to the sparse however appreciative crowd.
Gods don’t reply letters. But GOATs tip their caps.
“Kind of typical how we played all year — inefficient in the passing game, not very good in the run game, so, it’s hard to beat good teams like that,” Brady stated within the after credit.
It was dangerous enterprise for Brady to play this season. Battle traces had been drawn when Brady’s ex-wife let it’s identified that she was not happy together with his choice to unretire. Among the casualties of a season that noticed Tampa Bay end an NFL-worst 4-12-1 in opposition to the unfold was Brady’s 13-year marriage, which went the way in which of the crypto markets.
We’ve been advised the union of Tom and Gisele was completed as soon as Tom opted to play this season. Those of us who’ve been married for 33 years to divorce attorneys can let you know that marriage is a partnership. When ultimatums start, the wedding is completed. No matter the phrases.
Brady is the freest of free brokers. He’s unencumbered by marital obligations or the all-mighty energy of a binding NFL contract. For Brady, this freedom could possibly be rooted in remorse or reduction. We do not know. Neither does anybody else. A choice on his subsequent cease may relaxation as a lot on the needs of his youngsters in South Florida and New York, as some other issue.
Brady wasn’t considering a lot past Tuesday on Monday night time.
“I’m going to go home and get a good night’s sleep,” Brady replied when requested about his future plans.
Depending on the place you look, there have been both actual or hypothetical betting odds on Brady taking part in for a minimum of a dozen totally different groups subsequent season.
We’ve made our case for him coming again to New England right here beforehand. Some groups being mentioned – the Raiders, Dolphins, 49ers, and Buccaneers – make rather more sense for Brady than others – the Jets, Colts, Ravens, Commanders, and Texans.
The freaking Jets?
Most are keen to point out Brady the cash.
Brady should determine if he – like Cruise – goes to ship one other sequel this 12 months.
A “TB12 — Mission Impossible 24” in 2023.
If Brady can deal with the reality, he’ll make Monday’s curtain name his final.
Until Canton.
Bill Speros (@RealOBF) will be reached at [email protected]
Source: www.bostonherald.com
