It's about to be that time of year where some football fans love it while others hate it, but whichever side that you stand on, one thing is clear--free agency is near! As a Patriots' fan, each year of free agency and the offseason is a roller coaster, at least for me anyways. Some years, the free agency pickups were so fantastic and made me so excited for the season to start only for other years it being horrible. With free agency also comes having to say goodbye to some of your favorite team players as they move on to other career opportunities with new teams making it heartbreaking for us fans. However, none of that has stopped teams, especially New England from reaching the big game although some could argue that some free agency moves might have prevented it. Don't ask me for an example because I can't give you one.
This free agency is definitely going to be one to watch. I say this because for twenty years now, Tom Brady has called Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA home. Now, he is a free agent and it's never been more clear that his chance to spread his wings while he's writing the last half of his football playing chapters is now. The question on everyone who cares' mind is where will the GQ cover man land? Will Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick, and the rest of the New England organization re-sign the GOAT? Or will he land elsewhere?
Let's take a look at Tom's landing spots and why I think he could potentially sign there.
New England. This one you would think would be a no-brainer, however, it is the free agency, Tom Brady, and Bill Belichick. Robert Kraft has said repeatedly that he doesn't want his favorite quarterback to go anywhere and that he'd do anything that he could to keep the man around. Brady loves him some Robert Kraft, regardless of the ridiculous Prostitution sting scandal in Florida that surprisingly went away. Even though Brady and Belichick don't necessarily seem to be as close nowadays as they once were, Belichick and Brady both have to know that without the Patriot Way and each other, it's a game of roquette. Every party involved here knows that the man deserves to be paid and he deserves to be paid well. For years on end, he has continually taken paycut after paycut just so that he can continually have some of the best of the best to throw to because that's the type of guy that he is. He loves winning and he loves Patriots Nation. But it is time though that he gets paid what he deserves regardless of the other talent on the roster.
Tennessee. This one is said to be one of the top three landing spots for the once Uggs spokesman. Take a look at the Titans right now. They are coming off of a pretty hot season, having made the playoffs and even knocking out New England in the Wildcard round. Like, what?! The Titans have Ryan Tannehill at quarterback right now. Tennessee has the option that they could franchise Tannehill and remove Brady from the equation and cross your fingers that Tannehill plays like he did this past season, not use the franchise tag on Tannehill and go after the GOAT himself with the possibility of possibly losing Ryan and not signing Brady? The Titans have Mike Vrabel as head coach. Brady loves to be able to collaborate with his personnel about game planning. Being able to do that is going to be a key factor in his choice. Vrabel and Brady are said to be good pals so could that potentially work as a boss/employee type of situation? The receivers for the Titans are solid, including the tight ends. The entire offensive line right now isn't all that bad of a prospect for Brady.
Las Vegas. Ugh. This one I truly hope does not come to fruition because I, for one, cannot stand the Raiders, Jon Gruden, the owner and his weird-shaped puffy orange shape with his bad haircut, or Derek Carr. But unfortunately, there are rumors spreading about this one. The first time I even saw this as a potential landing spot for my favorite quarterback was a week or two ago. I saw on Instagram where Derek Carr had been asked by reporters about the possibility of Tom Brady joining the Raiders and his response was that the team needed a backup. He clearly doesn't understand that HE, himself, would be the one that would become the backup, not Brady. No way in hell do you bench Tom motherfucking Brady. You just don't do that. You put players like Derek Carr on the bench. Now it is said that the Raiders are considering to put in a 2-year/$60 million contract once free agency begins. Whether they do or not is beyond me. This would not be a good landing spot for Brady. The location would be great because he could open up a TB12 store and get more people introduced to the TB12 method but he could do so without actually playing for this horrible team.
Indianapolis. Now, this isn't really a top potential landing spot for Tom Brady but with me living in Indiana, I've heard it a time or two since the Super Bowl (which I didn't watch because obviously). Hell-to-the-mother-fucking-N-O do I ever want this move to happen. The first reason is because Colts fans do not know how to appreciate good talent when they get it. Who the hell boos a man who has put so much time, energy and effort into trying to be the best quarterback that they can be all because they decide to put their health and family first?! Like who the fuck does that honestly? I mean, I would love to be able to go to all of the home games I possibly could (still wearing my NEW ENGLAND Tom Brady jerseys) and watch him live every Sunday while still rooting for my New England boys. But no. All of the shit talking that every single Colts' fan has ever done would be for what? Nothing because all they do is run their mouth.
Los Angeles. I feel like that is really enough said right there. The Chargers' head coach has stated that a mobile quarterback is basically where it's at when it comes to the future of the league. Brady is a mobile quarterback. He knows how to move on the field to get things done. Philip Rivers is not quite what you would call a mobile quarterback and I honestly think Rivers is mediocre at best. Rivers' contract is actually up so he also becomes a free agent this offseason as Mr. Philip Rivers has moved his entire family to Florida. Whether or not he is re-signed by the Chargers, I got off topic there a little bit but whatever. Without looking at the personnel and roster of the chargers, Los Angeles as a whole would be perfect for the Bradys to spread the roots. And the Chargers are having their stadium built so he'd get to play in a brand new stadium.
When it's all said and done, Tom Brady is going to sign with whoever the hell he wants to sign with. He honestly could have it planned to re-sign with New England but just wants to know how much money he could truly get. The only way to do that is to test out the free agency.