The announcement of Tom Brady’s retirement crashed onto the shores of Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The rumors of which the preceding weekend rang throughout the NFL like tsunami sirens. Now Buccaneer fans are left to pick up the pieces and move forward. There are many storylines to assimilate from the two seasons with Brady under center in Tampa Bay. It will take time to digest the exquisite meal we all ate. The following is but an appetizer.
The Man in the Mirror
The Buccaneers were 0-4 against the Saints in the regular season with Tom Brady at quarterback Surely, this alone would bring Tom Brady back for a twenty-third season right? Always the competitor, there must be a desire to break that O’fer. But when you counter that with being undefeated in the postseason against those same Saints. Beating the Saints in last years divisional playoff game to advance to the NFC Championship. Makes it feel like a push.
Buccaneer fans had far too close a seat for most of the hall of fame career of Brees. The combination of Sean Payton and Drew Brees had been a Buccaneer buzz-kill since 2006. That does not dampen the respect. Even if Tampa Bay has historically been short on quarterback success. You’d of had to be Rip Van Winkle to have slept on the significance of the fifteen years Brees was in New Orleans.
This Close to Greatness
With TB12 under center for two seasons there were many good things. One of them was self awareness. Bucs fans have known greatness. They’ve touched it, held it, experienced it a few times. Which made an easier transition to respecting the relationship between Tom and Drew. Both playing in the NFL for over twenty years. Both tickets punched for Canton. These two are now forever part of Buccaneers’ history.
The retirement of Drew in 2020 must have hit Saints fans pretty hard. Bucs fans now know that feeling. A smaller sample size, it hurts no less. But how different would watching Brees ride off into the sunset have been? If not for a legend of their own under center. Would it have mattered? Probably not. As previously stated, the cupboard wasn’t completely bare of historical Buccaneer greatness. But there was a direct comparison here in 2020. A man in the mirror, if you will.
But as Bucs fans take in all that was great over the last two seasons of….well, greatness. We will remember all the little things. And the big ones. For only two seasons there were so many good memories. This is just one. There are more to follow. Stay tuned to Bucs Report to share more.
