Tom Brady, Giselle Bündchen's Rented Tampa Estate For Sale After Couple's Divorce
Oct 29, 2022
TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 07: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates with Gisele Bundchen after winning Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
After Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen announced their divorce on Friday, the Tampa home they previously rented together is now on the market.
According to Front Office Sports on Saturday, the home is available for $12.5 million:
For the last two years, Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen have rented this estate in Tampa.
Now, the home is on the market for $12.5 million.
▪️ 6500 sq. ft, 6 BR, 6 BA ▪️ Elevator ▪️ Wine cellar ▪️ Custom pool, spa ▪️ Private dock ▪️ Boat lift pic.twitter.com/0uNWhep8pP
Both Brady and Bündchen took to social media to confirm the end of their marriage. Brady stated "We arrived at this decision amicably and with gratitude for the time we spent together." Bündchen wrote "The decision to end a marriage is never easy but we have grown apart."
Brady and Bündchen began dating in 2006 and were married for 13 years. They share two children—a son born in 2009 and a daughter born in 2012.
Week 8 of the 2022 NFL season has already begun. For Super Bowl hopefuls like the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs and New York Giants (yes, really),...
Bucs' Tom Brady, Wife Gisele Bündchen Announce Divorce After 13 Years of Marriage
Oct 28, 2022
TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 27: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on during pregame warm-ups prior to a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Raymond James Stadium on October 27, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen are officially divorced.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers star announced on social media the couple finalized the divorce in recent days.
TMZ Sports reported Bündchen filed divorce papers in the state of Florida.
According to the report, lawyers for both sides have spent most of the month of October figuring out details of a settlement and an agreement on property and custody of their children.
Brady and Bündchen began dating in 2006 when he was playing with the New England Patriots. The couple married in 2009. They have two children together—a son born in 2009 and a daughter born in 2012.
Bündchen was often seen at Brady's games, most notably during his appearances in the Super Bowl. She was on the field with him, along with their kids, to celebrate the Bucs' 31-9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55.
Brady announced Feb. 1 he was retiring from the NFL. The future Hall of Famer reversed course only 40 days later, writing on Instagram he realized his place is "still on the field and not in the stands."
Latest Buccaneers Loss Shows That Even If Tom Brady Rebounds, It May Not Be Enough
Oct 28, 2022
Tom Brady
Thursday night's loss to the Baltimore Ravens dropped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to 3-5, obviously not where the Bucs had planned to be eight games in. There is a chance for Tampa to turn things around. The NFC South is wide open and of course, Tom Brady is still the quarterback.
There's always a sense that the future first-ballot Hall of Famer will eventually flip a switch and right the proverbial ship. The reality, though, is that Brady may not be able to save these sinking Buccaneers this time.
Brady has been part of the problem this season, and he was far from perfect on Thursday. He came into the game with a passer rating of just 92.8, his lowest as a Buccaneer and his second-lowest (88.0 in 2019) since 2014.
He finished 26-of-44 for 325 yards and a late touchdown, but he was off on several throws and struggled with the pressure (sacked three times) Baltimore brought early and often.
However, Brady's issues largely seem to stem from his lack of chemistry with a revolving cast of pass-catchers. Chris Godwin missed two games with a hamstring injury, Mike Evans missed a game because of a suspension. Julio Jones has missed time with a knee injury.
Rob Gronkowski retired in the offseason, while fellow tight end Cameron Brate is out with a neck injury.
When Brady is on the same page with his intended target, he's still very capable of hitting throws like this one:
Tom Brady DROPPED IT IN THE BUCKET for Mike Evans 😱
But even if Brady starts clicking with his receivers—and that remains a big if—it won't fix all of Tampa's issues, and there are many.
The offense as a whole has been lacking a rhythm. A unit that ranked second in both yards and points a season ago came into Thursday ranked 22nd and 27th in those categories, respectively.
The offensive line, featuring new starters in Luke Goedeke, Robert Hainsey and Shaq Mason—has been wildly inconsistent all year. Brady was only under pressure on 14.1 percent of his passes coming into this game—according to Pro Football Reference—but that's largely a credit to the 45-year-old's quick release. Tampa has rarely had chances for big plays to develop down the field.
The line has struggled to open holes in the ground game too, while running back Leonard Fournette is running like he has lost a step. On Thursday, he averaged a mere 2.7 yards per carry against a Ravens defense that was surrendering 4.5 yards per carry coming in.
On the season, Fournette has averaged just 3.5 yards per carry. The Buccaneers have averaged 3.0. Tampa may want to seriously consider its trade options at running back before Tuesday's deadline.
As a whole, the offense just seems to lack chemistry, cohesion and communication. While Byron Leftwich remains the offensive coordinator under head coach Todd Bowles, it's fair to wonder just how big of a role Bruce Arians had on the offense over the last two years.
It wasn't this way before Arians stepped down as head coach in the offseason.
This Buccaneers team has looked poorly coached all year. Mistakes that just shouldn't be made, they keep making. Bruce Arians may not have gotten enough credit.
Even if Brady does return to his usual Pro Bowl form, the miscues and the inability to run the ball won't disappear—and those miscues aren't a problem for the offense alone.
And Brady can do nothing to impact a defense that is as banged up as any in the NFL.
The Bucs were without nearly their entire starting secondary on Thursday, as Carlton Davis (hip), Sean Murphy-Bunting (quad) and Antoine Winfield Jr. (concussion) were all inactive. Logan Ryan is on injured reserve with a foot injury.
On top of all of that, Tampa may now be without star pass-rusher Shaq Barrett for the remainder of the season:
#Bucs star pass-rusher Shaq Barrett is feared to have suffered a torn Achilles based on the initial exam, source said. Coach Todd Bowles said it doesn’t look good and he’ll have an MRI tomorrow.
However, the Ravens found success in the second half by running the football. Poor positioning, bad angles and missed tackles plagued the Tampa defense in the second half. Baltimore had just 27 yards before the break and finished with 231 on the ground.
This marks the fourth time this season that Tampa has surrendered at least 150 rushing yards.
And, let's be honest, this game might have gotten even uglier if the Ravens hadn't lost pass-catchers Mark Andrews and Rashod Bateman early.
Ravens went into tonight’s game with Mark Andrews, Rashod Bateman and Gus Edwards all listed as questionable. By the fourth quarter, each had exited the game due to injury and, unless Edwards unexpectedly returns, none will have been healthy enough to finish.
If the defense cannot get healthy in a hurry, this season could quickly spiral away from the Buccaneers.
Brady recently stated that he has no plans to retire in the immediate future.
There's no immediate retirement in my future," Brady said on Let's Go! With Tom Brady, Larry Fitzgerald and Jim Gray (h/t Carly Ledbetter of Yahoo Sports). "There was a retirement in the past, but I moved on from that,” Brady said. “I made a commitment to this team, and I love this team, and I love this organization. I told them in March I was playing, and I’ve never quit on anything in my life."
However, Brady may not be eager to return to this team in the offseason. He can't remedy all of the issues on his own, and he's certainly not getting any younger.
Now, the silver lining in all of this is that Tampa has nine games left in which to improve. Only one of the Buccaneers' remaining opponents—the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 15—is currently above .500. Tampa is only a half-game behind the division-leading Atlanta Falcons (3-4) and can rally to steal the division.
Are the Buccaneers legitimate playoff contenders, though? Not right now, and if they are by season's end, it won't be simply because Brady finally found his footing.
The defense is running short on depth, the ground game cannot get rolling, and the Bucs are now averaging 5.5 penalties per game after having four against the Ravens. These are all issues that will have to be corrected if the Buccaneers hope to go on a run.
But if Brady continues struggling to find time in the pocket and connect with his receivers the ship is assuredly sunk. Brady can't carry this team and, right now, the Buccaneers are completely incapable of carrying him.
Tom Brady's Continued Slide Dragged by Twitter as Bucs Fall to Ravens, Drop to 3-5
Oct 28, 2022
TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 27: Justin Houston #50 of the Baltimore Ravens sacks Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium on October 27, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
Everything seemed to be back on track for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense in the first quarter of Thursday's contest against the Baltimore Ravens.
And then the rest of the game happened.
Tampa Bay scored 10 points on its opening two drives in that first quarter but didn't find the end zone again until the final minute against a prevent-style defense in a 27-22 defeat. It fell to 3-5 overall and 1-5 in its last six games as the offense continues to be a problem with 45-year-old Tom Brady under center.
While there is no arguing that Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time and on his way to the Hall of Fame as a seven-time Super Bowl champion, the offense has scored more than 22 points just once all season.
Social media wasn't going to miss a chance to weigh in on another loss for Brady and Co.:
There were some positives for the offense. Leonard Fournette scored his second rushing touchdown of the season on the opening drive, and Brady found Mike Evans on multiple perfectly placed deep balls.
Yet Brady underthrew his top option on another deep ball, sailed a potential touchdown pass to him, took three sacks as he struggled to escape pressure, had multiple passes batted down at the line of scrimmage, missed Kyle Rudolph for a touchdown and narrowly escaped picks in the end zone when Marcus Peters and Chuck Clark dropped interceptions.
Tampa Bay's offense was downright ugly at times, and the only saving grace for the team at this point is every other squad in the NFC South is under .500.
It will look to get back on track with another home game against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 9.
Report: Fox Wants Tom Brady for Super Bowl 57 Coverage If Bucs Don't Make Title Game
Oct 28, 2022
TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 27: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up prior to a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Raymond James Stadium on October 27, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers do not reach Super Bowl 57, Fox "definitely" wants Tom Brady on its broadcast of the NFL's championship game, per Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports.
"If he’s not playing in the game, I would expect Brady to be part of Fox’s Super Bowl coverage," a source told McCarthy. "Definitely. I would be very surprised if he isn’t."
Fox is considering a number of options for Brady to be featured in its Super Bowl coverage at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on February 12, 2023.
One option is to have the seven-time Super Bowl champion join Greg Olsen and Kevin Burkhardt in the broadcast booth as a three-man team, per McCarthy. However, it's more likely he serves as an analyst alongside Terry Bradshaw, Michael Strahan, Howie Long, Jimmy Johnson, Curt Menefee and Jay Glazer.
Brady signed a 10-year, $375 million post-retirement deal with Fox in May. He is expected to replace Olsen on the network's No. 1 broadcast team alongside Burkhardt when he officially hangs up the cleats.
Over the course of this long-term agreement, Tom will not only call our biggest NFL games with Kevin Burkhardt, but will also serve as an ambassador for us, particularly with respect to client and promotional initiatives.
However, Brady told reporters earlier this month that there is "no retirement in my future," so the 45-year-old may not appear in a broadcast booth on a regular basis for a while. That said, Fox does have the broadcast rights to two of the next three Super Bowls, so if Brady isn't in those games, it appears he'll at least be in the booth calling them.
At this point, it doesn't seem like Brady and the Bucs will be able to contend with the NFC's top teams for that coveted championship spot this year, either. Tampa Bay entered Thursday's game against the Baltimore Ravens with a 3-4 record and is struggling to remain afloat.
If the Buccaneers can turn things around and put together a much better second half, then we may see Brady contend for another title. Either way, it certainly seems like Brady will be involved in the Big Game regardless.
Kurt Warner Thinks Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady Are 'Exhausted,' Should Consider Retiring
Oct 26, 2022
TAMPA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 25: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers talks with Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the game at Raymond James Stadium on September 25, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner believes it may be time for a pair of future Hall of Famers to consider stepping away from the game.
In an interview with Lanae Brody of People, Warner suggested Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers would be wise to give thought to retiring:
"I think both of those guys look like they're exhausted. It's OK to go, 'You know what? It's not how it used to be. I may not be who I used to be, or, it's just too hard overall to get everybody up to the standard. Maybe it is time to walk away.'"
Brady and Rodgers are two of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, but the 2022 season has been a massive struggle for them. Brady's Bucs and Rodgers' Packers are both off to hugely disappointing and underwhelming 3-4 starts.
Neither Brady nor Rodgers is accustomed to performing at their current level, as Brady is a seven-time Super Bowl champion and three-time MVP, while Rodgers is a one-time Super Bowl champ and four-time MVP.
In fact, Rodgers is the two-time defending MVP. He and the Green Bay offense, however, have been out of sync following the offseason trade of wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders.
While Rodgers is without proven wideouts, Brady still has Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Tight end Rob Gronkowski retired, though, and it is fair to wonder if the head coaching change from Bruce Arians to Todd Bowles has impacted him.
Brady is reportedly experiencing off-field issues as well.Brody and Jason Hahn reported earlier this month that Brady and his wife, Gisele Bündchen, have long had marital problems.
Following the 2021 season, Brady announced his retirement from football, but he changed his mind shortly thereafter. There has been speculation that the about-face strained their marriage.
Regardless of the circumstances surrounding Brady's and Rodgers' on-field problems this season, Warner noted he sensed in them a lack of joy for football, saying: "It's not being defeated. That's not saying you can't do it anymore. I just think sometimes that stuff outweighs the joy of the game, which is what it looks like is happening for those two guys and I feel for them."
Despite leading the Arizona Cardinals to their first Super Bowl in his second-to-last season and the playoffs in his final season, Warner said he experienced similar feelings near the end of his career.
Even so, it would be early for Brady and Rodgers to pull the plugs on their seasons and careers.
Despite their records, the Bucs are tied for first place in the weak NFC South, and the Packers are second in the NFC North and very much in the wild-card race.
Both legendary quarterbacks could retire now and be celebrated as two of the best ever, but given the competitive spirit they have displayed over the years, it seems unlikely that they would want to go out on those terms.
Tom Brady Says He's 'Absolutely' Still Loving Football Despite Bucs' 3-4 Start
Oct 25, 2022
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 23: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on October 23, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers figured to be among the most realistic Super Bowl contenders as soon as Tom Brady decided to come back for the 2022 campaign, but they are fighting to stay around .500 after four losses in their last five games.
Yet the future Hall of Famer hasn't lost his passion for the game despite Tampa Bay's 3-4 start.
"Absolutely," he said on his Let's Go!podcast when co-host Jim Gray asked if he still loves the sport at 45 years old in the face of the recent struggles (15:45 mark). " … It's a hard sport we've chosen, and it's tough. It challenges you in every area, physically, mentally and emotionally. Certainly, at this stage we're in, this is where you've gotta dig deep and see what you're all about. See what kind of character you have."
This surely isn't what Brady had in mind when he decided to return after temporarily retiring this past offseason.
Tampa Bay scored just three points in Sunday's loss to a Carolina Panthers team that already fired head coach Matt Rhule and traded running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Robbie Anderson.
It has scored more than 21 points just once all season, and that was during a 41-31 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The frustration is clearly there, as Brady has been seen yelling at his offensive linemen and throwing a tablet on the sidelines, but he put a stop to any speculation he might retire again during the season.
"I made a commitment to this team," he said (18:00 mark). "And I love this team. … I've never quit on anything in my life."
Brady spent much of the podcast discussing how important it is to overcome adversity and how he still believes this Buccaneers team is capable of making a run. It surely helps that they are tied with the Atlanta Falcons atop the NFC South and could seize control of the division with just a couple of better efforts.
"Everyone can be there during the parades," he said. "Everyone can be there when everyone's telling you how great you are. Who are you when things aren't great? Who are you when things don't go your way?"
Next up for the Buccaneers is a Thursday night showdown with the Baltimore Ravens, who are also looking for a bit more consistency after alternating wins and losses on their way to a 4-3 record through the first seven games.
It might take just one impressive offensive performance from Brady and Tampa Bay to turn things around, and fans at least don't have to worry about whether he still loves the game while his team is struggling.
Tom Brady Says 'No One Feels Good About' Where Buccaneers Are After 3-4 Start
Oct 24, 2022
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) talks to the media after his teams 21-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers after an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers surprisingly fell to 3-4 after Sunday's stunning 21-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Bucs quarterback Tom Brady didn't sugarcoat things when he described the team's mood following the loss.
"No one feels good about where we're at, no one feels good about how we've played or what we're doing," Brady said after the game, per ESPN's Jenna Laine.
Sunday's loss was similar to last week's against the Pittsburgh Steelers, as it came against a one-win Carolina team that was led by a backup quarterback in P.J. Walker. The Steelers defeated the Buccaneers 20-18 despite having to play backup Mitchell Trubisky when rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett suffered a concussion.
Brady threw for 290 yards on 32-of-49 passing. Tampa Bay mustered just 46 yards on the ground on 16 carries, demonstrating the lack of balance on offense that has hindered the team this season.
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles was blunt in his assessment of the team's recent performances.
"We're not playing well. We're not playing well as individuals, we're not playing well as a team," he said. "We're not coaching well. All around. We're not scoring enough on offense. We're not stopping them enough on defense. So, as a result, we have to wear this on our sleeve. We've got to be grown men. We're going to see what we're made of—how many people can handle adversity? This is as dark as it's going to be right now."
Brady has not been on a team below .500 seven games into the season since 2002. He said it's up to the franchise as a whole to try to turn things around.
"We're all in it together," Brady said. "We've gotta go pull ourselves out of it."
The Bucs will look to bounce back when they return to action on Thursday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens.
Tom Brady, Buccaneers Have Only Themselves to Blame for Early Season Failures
Oct 24, 2022
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 23: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaves the field after a loss to the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on October 23, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
When Tom Brady decided to un-retire and return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for another season, the belief was that the Bucs would once again be one of the NFC's top teams in 2022.
In our first regular-season
set of NFL Power Rankings here at Bleacher Report,
the Buccaneers checked in at No. 3. Only the defending champion Rams were
ranked higher among NFC teams.
Much like those Rams, though, the season hasn't gone anywhere near what most folks expected. The Tampa offense has sputtered much of the season, entering the week 21st in the league in both total offense and scoring offense.
And while the Buccaneers are still technically in first place in the NFC South, after getting blown out by the Carolina Panthers 21-3, it's become more and more evident that these Buccaneers have major problems—problems that threaten to derail their season.
And Tampa has only themselves to blame for their
predicament.
Last year, Tom Brady led the NFL in both passing yards and touchdown passes. The Buccaneers piled up more yards and scored more points than every team in the league except the Dallas Cowboys. Tampa's offense was more prolific than the Kansas City Chiefs, the Buffalo Bills and the Super Bowl champion Rams.
What a difference a year makes.
Entering Week 7, the Buccaneers were averaging 332.0 yards per game and 20.2 points per contest—over 70 fewer yards and almost 10 points off last's year pace. The offensive struggles have left Brady visibly frustrated at times, including a sideline tirade directed at his offensive linemen during last week's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
While speaking to reporters ahead of this week's trip to Carolina, Brady defended that outburst, stating that it's all part of leading a team.
Tom Brady having a word with his O-line after a 9-point first half 👀
"Sometimes you have to annoy guys and try to raise the level, convey a sense of urgency to them; raise your voice and create a different vibe for the whole offense," he said.
"That's what I was trying to do. I'm a quarterback. I don't expect the right thing to be done by the tackle, the running back or the receiver. I'm going to do it myself. That's my job to try to get us going, and raising my voice sometimes is a positive encouragement."
If Brady was frustrated before, he has to be apoplectic now.
Sunday's matchup with the hapless Panthers was supposed to be a perfect "get-right" spot against arguably the worst team in the NFL.
Carolina is rolling out a third-string quarterback, just traded their best offensive player in Christian McCaffrey and has already fired its head coach. The Panthers came into Week 7 ranked dead last in total offense and 20th in total defense.
Not only did the Buccaneers not "get right," but Tampa was blown out.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 23: Frankie Luvu #49 of the Carolina Panthers tackles Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium on October 23, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
The Buccaneers were a hot mess offensively against Carolina. As has been the case so often this season, the Bucs had no ground game to speak of, managing just 46 yards on 16 carries. Brady threw for 290 yards, but it took 49 pass attempts to get there.
Tampa converted just 2-of-12 third downs in the game and punted on its first five possessions (not counting the end of the half). And perhaps most embarrassingly, the Bucs were outgained by Carolina's league-worst offense.
"No one feels good about where we're at," Brady said. "No one feels good about how we played or what we're doing. We're all in it together, and we have to pull ourselves out of it."
The loss dropped Tampa to 3-4, which puts Brady in some uncharted territory.
With the #Bucs ugly loss today, Tom Brady has a losing record through his first 7 games for the first time since 2002, per @NFLResearch.
The problem is that there's no clear path to pulling out of it.
Granted, injuries at wide receiver hurt the team earlier in the season, but that wasn't the case Sunday. With the exception of Julio Jones, Brady had his full complement of receivers against the Cardinals.
At the risk of being tabbed a heretic, Brady looks little like the player that led the league in passing yards and touchdown passes last year. His completion percentage and yards per attempt are similar to 2021, but his passing yards per game are down over 35 yards, and after tossing 43 touchdowns in 2021, Brady has just eight in seven games in 2022.
In his defense, Brady isn't getting much help. After averaging 4.5 yards per carry last year, Leonard Fournette is averaging just 3.6 yards a pop this season.
In 2021, Pro Football Focus ranked Tampa's offensive line as the second-best unit in the NFL. This year that number has dropped to seventh, with rookie guard Luke Goedeke continuing to struggle.
Tampa's defense remains stout, but they aren't perfect. They can't be expected to shut down every opponent just because the Bucs offense can't score. And against Carolina, that defense finally cracked, allowing 173 yards on the ground.
The problems are all feeding into one another. Fournette is struggling in part because the offensive line has taken a step back. That forces Brady to press behind protection that isn't what it was. The offensive struggles are putting an untenable amount of pressure on the defense. Add it all together, and you have the recipe for a team that is 1-4 over its last five games.
There doesn't appear to be an easy fix to what ails the Buccaneers, either. The return of center Ryan Jensen will help the offensive line, but one guy coming back isn't going to magically fix an offense that is completely out of sync.
Tampa may well still be the best team in the NFC South, but it's becoming awfully hard to imagine this team beating the Philadelphia Eagles in the playoffs. Or the Dallas Cowboys. Or the San Francisco 49ers. Not after they couldn't beat the Panthers.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 23: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers directs the offense in the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on October 23, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
It sounds weird to call rolling out the greatest quarterback in NFL history a risk, but the reality is Brady is 45 years old. There was a chance that his play would decline and that he wouldn't be able to carry the Bucs on another deep playoff run after another offseason of roster attrition.
However, while it was always possible that the Buccaneers would backslide, it doesn't make it any less jarring to see it happen so suddenly. But happen it has.
And odds are good that things aren't going to get better from here.
