Although Tom Brady introduced Sunday that he plans to return to Tampa Bay for his twenty third season, a minimum of one NFL insider stays skeptical.
“Something wasn’t right when things ended down there … I’m just not sure if [going back to Tampa is] going to be the case this year,” former NFL exec Scott Pioli said Sunday evening on “Total Access Live.”
That got here quickly after NFL Network reporter Mike Giardi mentioned that “a [conversation] needs to happen” in Tampa between Brady and head coach Bruce Arians.
“Arians might have a little work to do to mend that relationship with Brady. Or maybe it should be the other way around,” he tweeted.
In a separate tweet, Giardi agreed with The Post’s Andrew Marchand that Pioli’s feedback about Brady’s future with the Bucs had been “very cryptic.”
It’s unclear what the obvious tensions are between the 2, although Arians was adamant on the NFL Scouting Combine that the staff wouldn’t be keen to commerce Brady if the quarterback returned. Arians additionally denied studies there have been points between the 2, calling one such report “bulls–t.”
There had been hypothesis for weeks that Brady could be extra excited by enjoying for a special franchise, maybe his hometown 49ers, if he got here again for an additional season.
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Although Brady led the Bucs to a Super Bowl title two seasons in the past and an NFC South championship final season, he said he has “unfinished business” to take care of.
“These past two months I’ve realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands,” Brady tweeted in his announcement. “That time will come. But it’s not now. I love my teammates, and I love my supportive family. They make it all possible. I’m coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa.”
The Bucs released a statement after Brady’s announcement that mentioned the group is “ecstatic that he decided to continue playing and working toward winning another championship.”
Arians shared the Bucs’ statement on Twitter, and quoted Brady, writing, “LFG.”
Brady, who turns 45 in August, continues to be enjoying at an elite stage. He led the NFL final season in yards passing (5,316), touchdowns (43), completions (485), and makes an attempt (719).
In what was initially believed to be his closing season, Brady and the Bucs fell to the Rams in a Divisional Round playoff loss at dwelling. Los Angeles went on to win Super Bowl 2022 in February in opposition to the Bengals.
