What is Tom Brady’s Future in Tampa Bay? | You Pod to Win the Game
Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson and Frank Schwab discuss Tom Brady’s Future with the Buccaneers following Tampa Bay clinching their second straight division title.
Video Transcript
CHARLES ROBINSON: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers punched their ticket, beat the--
FRANK SCHWAB: Do we have to?
CHARLES ROBINSON: --beat the Carolina Panthers 30-24. Yeah, I mean Tampa wins the division. I had some conversations with people about Tom's future. Ended up writing about this past week. And I thought one of the really interesting things when I was talking to people about Tom's future was like, OK, well, give me the scenario where he ends up in Tampa Bay. And straight up, multiple people were like, if that happens, everybody on the offensive coaching staff is not coming back.
They're like there's going to be some coaching staff changes. I'm like, really? That's what we're putting this on is-- Yeah. It sounds like if he's going to end up in Tampa, there's going to be some firings in the offensive coaching staff. So I'd be prepared for that. The one thing I will take away from this game. Well, it's really two things. It's weird, because at times I look at Sam Darnold and Carroll. And I'm like, hmm. Sometimes he really looks like a competent quarterback.
FRANK SCHWAB: He does play well. I'll give this credit.
CHARLES ROBINSON: And I don't want to fall in that trap, because I've been there with Sam Darnold. I've been like, oh, he's a competent quarterback, and then he just is horrible again, and he's getting hit, and he's going to one read, and he can't get to two and three. That caught my eye early in the game. But then, obviously, the connection between Tom and Mike Evans is huge, because Mike Evans has been pedestrian most of the season. There was that thing where you watched it and you're like, hmm.
FRANK SCHWAB: Well, if they crank this up-- three touchdowns, huge game, monster game for Mike Evans-- is it possible then that there's a trickle down effect in the offense? If you get Mike Evans really going on the Mike Evans level we're used to, if they get that, does that end up being like when Rodgers all of a sudden, Christian Watson starts nuking guys and you're like, hmm, OK. Rodgers clearly likes that.
CHARLES ROBINSON: Now I look at Tampa, and I'm like could Mike Evans-- breathing some life back into Mike Evans showcasing that change a little bit of the expectations for Tampa's offense? I still think it's probably a one and done, although they're going to play a home game. Let's see who they draw. I don't think they go far. But something changed at least watching this.
FRANK SCHWAB: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, I thought Evans was just awesome in this game. He was always open deep. When he wasn't open on the intermediate stuff, he just beat guys.
CHARLES ROBINSON: Perfect passes though, too. Right? You've got to admit.
FRANK SCHWAB: I'm giving him that. I've used the stat a lot, I'm going to use it again because I think there's some context here. Before this season, the history of 45-year-old quarterbacks in NFL, there was one guy who ever threw a pass. It was George Blanda. I might be a little off in assessment, but I think this is right. 7/18, 116 yards in totality. That was the totality of 45-year-old quarterbacks in NFL before this year. Today, Tom Brady at 45 years old was 34/45 for 432 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions in a division clinching game. We've never seen anything like this. OK?
People talk about Brady's declining. And he is. I think that that's clear. It's been clear all year. But there's going to be a time five, ten, 15 years down the road. We're going to look back at the season and say "a 45-year-old guy did this? Really?" This has never-- not only has it never been done, it's never been close. Again, 116 yards through the first 102 seasons of NFL football for 45-year-old quarterbacks. And this guy throws for 432 in three against the Panthers? Get out of here.
That is-- it's one of the most unbelievable stories we've ever seen. It really is. There's just there's no comp to this. For as much as I really don't like this Buccaneers team, I tip my cap to Brady. It'll be good to see him in the playoffs yet again. I think this is like his-- aside from the year he missed with the ACL, it's like his 21st straight year in the playoffs or something. Like, it's just something crazy. He's had an unbelievable career. Hats off to him.
CHARLES ROBINSON: One thing too that people should understand here. He's got a really good chance. He's going to approach throwing for 5,000 yards this season. Now 17 games, I get it. He's got 24 touchdown passes right now, nine interceptions, completing 66% of his passes. His passer ratings going into next week is going to be high 80s, low 90s. Right? I get it, and I've watched it, and it hasn't been great to watch. But I'm like, if you just blindly take these numbers and attach them to a lot of quarterbacks in this league, we'd be like, "it's pretty damn good."
FRANK SCHWAB: Yeah, right. Oh, and especially this year, when half the teams in the NFL can't come up with a competent quarterback? It's just, yeah. Him being above average this year is unheard of. It's unheard of. This is-- I can't say this enough. There's nothing like this in sports history, really. Like, it's just-- it's ridiculous what he's doing. Again, hats off to him, because this is just insane.