Paige McGowan
Tom Brady has officially said goodbye to the New England Patriots in a series of posts on social media, putting an end to his 20-year run with the only NFL team he has ever known.
The 42-year-old has seen tremendous success with the Patriots, leading the franchise to nine Super Bowl appearances and six championships.
Brady is widely considered the greatest quarterback in history, with the most Super Bowl rings than any player in the NFL.
The big question now is: where will Tom Brady play next season?
“I don’t know what the future holds,” Brady wrote, “but it is time for me to open a new stage for my life and career.”
NFL free agency officially begins tomorrow, and Brady will be on the open market for the first time in his long career.
Brady’s market is headed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Los Angeles Chargers, two teams who finished well out of the playoff race last season.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Buccaneers and the Chargers have made strong offers, believed to be $30 million or more, to acquire Brady’s signature.
“I want him to do what is in his best personal interest,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft told ESPN. “After 20 years with us, he has earned that right. I love him like a son”
Replacing the Quarterback won’t be easy for the Patriots franchise due to salary cap constraints.
Since Brady reached free agency, they will have $13.5 million in dead money from his contract in 2020, even though he will be on a different team.
The Super Bowl odds at Caesars Sportsbook have been on the move with NFL free agency underway.
After Brady’s announcement, Caesars Sportsbook decreased the Patriots’ odds of winning the Super Bowl from 12-1 to 20-1.
During his free agency, Brady is asking for a few things that no other free agent has ever done before.
According to Dianna Russini of ESPN, Brady has two big “wants” that he will be looking for in his new team.
The six-time Super Bowl champion wants control over team roster, and to be part of making decisions on calling plays.
Brady has said he’d like to play until he’s 45, so he’s looking at only a couple of seasons left in his career. Having some control over his team, would ensure that he ends his NFL career the way he wants to.
