Tom Brady, the quarterback, was solid in his first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
But Bruce Arians may be more impressed by Tom Brady, the leader.
Arians have consistently praised Brady’s leadership since the Bucs first met for the summer training camp. That trend continued on Sunday when Brady helped lead Tampa Bay to a divisional round victory in New Orleans over the Saints.
But while tipping his limit to TB12, the Bucs’ head coach may have been punched by Brady’s former team.
“Perfect leader,” said Arians of Brady, according to Peter King of NBC Sports. “It’s been going on all year. I gained the air of confidence that permeates our team every day. I allow him to be himself. Like, New England didn’t allow him to train. I allow him to train. I just sit sometimes and watch. “
A feeling from another ex-Patriot supports the Aryan statement. Rob Gronkowski, also in his first season with the Bucs, said that the biggest difference between the Tampa Bay and New England regimes is the freedom to be yourself in the first.
Regardless of how Brady really felt about Belichick and Co., he must certainly be thrilled by the decision he made in March. The Patriots have been watching the playoffs from their sofas, and the Bucs are a victory from the Super Bowl LV.
Miniature photo via Kim Klement / USA TODAY Sports Images