Tom Brady Says He's 'Not Opposed' to Coming Back to the NFL

SAUL LOEB. Getty Images.

In the normal, ordinary course of things, a story like "Retired Great Athlete Suggests He Might Consider Return" after he's been out of his sport for over a calendar year is the kind of thing I give a wide berth to. The stuff of lesser websites, filled with headlines like "Why did Hollywood turn its back on this actress?" and "You won't believe this wardrobe malfunction!" And not the high quality content you've come to know and love here. All too often what is said in jest ends up being spun into clickbait gold. And since my relationship with my readers is based on trust and sexual charisma, I refuse to stoop to such gimmicks.

Besides that, we've seen too many examples of athletes floating suggestions they might consider unretiring only to have it turn out to draw attention to some energy drink or cannabis oil they're promoting. Rob Gronkowski pulled that move a dozen times during his first retirement. And as Mike McDermott says in Rounders, you can sheer a sheep many times, but you can only skin him once. 

With all that as preamble, find the insincerity in Tom Brady saying he's open to a return to the NFL. In his words. His tone. His expression. His general demeanor:

Forget it. You can't. He means every word. Tom Brady is many things, but a good liar is not one of them. 

The guy cutting his perfectly pH-balanced hair asks him in he'd consider going to the 49ers. And what's the first word out of his mouth? The very first word? "Patriots." Even if he couches it in some doubt because he's trying to buy a piece of the Raiders from Mark Davis, the other 31 owners couldn't be more opposed to setting that precedent. And if it ever does happen, it'll be tied up in negotiations for years. More importantly, Brady has made no effort to hide where his loyalties lie:

A Brady return to New England makes sense on every level. Even as they talk about "God forbid somebody goes down" in order for him to "pick up that phone," that is not a situation that remotely applies to the Patriots. Yes, they're about to draft a quarterback. And develop him. But slowly. And with all the care in the world. This is not going to be a Zach Wilson situation where a physically gifted 21- or 22-year-old is thrown to the wolves before he's ready. The Pats are not making that mistake. Which is why Jacoby Brissett is back. Well who could be a better Bridge QB for this situation than Brady? 

After all, there's no "picking up the phone" dynamic here. There is no doubt in anyone's mind Mr. Kraft and Brady are as close now as they were when their relationship was still less like owner/franchise player and more like father/son. 

John Angelillo. Shutterstock Images.

Probably more so, given that the biggest strain on their relationship is gone. If we learned anything from The Dynasty (besides the fact the producers of The Dynasty had zero interest in making a fair and reasonable documentary about the actual Dynasty and the whole project should've been done by NFL Films instead of AppleTV and Imagine studios), it's that Brady's dynamic with Bill Belichick had grown toxic. That RKK was caught in between, trying to mend fences between two strong-willed Alphas who were stubbornly refusing to even talk to one another. But the damage was not only done; it was beyond repair. 

Ultimately, he sided with Belichick. With the coach who was pushing 70 over the quarterback who was on the wrong side of 40. His coach was coming off one of the great masterpieces in the history of his profession in holding the 2018 Rams to a field goal to win a sixth Super Bowl, so it made sense. Yet the record of both men since speaks for itself

Well that impediment - and I cannot believe for one hot second I'm using a buzzword like that to describe the best coach of all time, but in this one situation it actually fits - to Brady's return is gone. Replaced with Jerod Mayo, with whom Brady shared a locker room for seven seasons (I'm excluding 2008). Who was a captain on all those teams. Who won a ring with him in 2014. And who would, of course, gladly hand over complete command and control of Alex Van Pelt's offense for as long as Brady's warm, glowing, ET-like heart desires. 

In short, what could be a better situation for him than to come back to the place he knows and loves, to play for the owner he knows and loves, for the coach he knows and loves, in front of the fans he knows and loves? Sure, you can quibble about how other teams aren't coming off 4-13 seasons and would give him a better chance to win. But Tom Brady is a one-man "better chance to win." And who proved when he signed with the franchise that had the lowest winning percentage of all time when he went there, he loves a challenge. And would, by his very presence, attract talent looking to come here and play with him. 

So I'm not only not shying away from using this as blog fodder, I'm flat out campaigning to have this happen. The Kraft family and the Brady family united once again. Because they not only share a mutual respect and admiration, but also because they share a mutual love for proving other people wrong. (Belichick in this case.) And for striking fear into the hearts of 31 other franchises. 

This is a win anyway you look at it. A do-over for 2020. A chance to reboot the franchise. And a way to let the next great QB learn under the previous great one. Let's do this thing.