Why did Tom Brady walk away from Patriots, Bill Belichick after 20 years?
Do we want to do "blame" or do we want to do "reasons"?
We can do both but - out of respect for the end of the greatest run by any franchise in NFL history - I'd rather lay off the blame for why Tom Brady is no longer a Patriot.
Let's stick to reasons.
One thing, though? Tom Brady didn't "decide" to leave the Patriots. That's for sure.
He decided to leave the same way a person "decides" to get out of the car when it pulls into the driveway, is put into park and the engine is turned off. Ride's over. Time to get out.
The Patriots made very clear to Brady over the past few years that they weren't in it with him for the long haul anymore.
They made it clear before the 2018 season when - instead of the extension he'd been trying to extract - he was given some incentives to hit in order to sweeten his salary.
At the time, a source texted me, "Remember, this is a club that would not pull the thorn out of the lion's paw if presented with the situation."
We all owe the NFL a debt of gratitude of keeping the hot stove burning this week. It's been a welcome distraction. No news hit my ear better than the bain of the Buffalo Bills' existence, the Nelson to their Bart, Mr. Thomas Brady hitting the road for Tampa Bay. Bill Belichick finally alienated the one player he had held on to all these years. And Buffalo's sins went with him when Bill put him in the hole. Now Buffalo has a Top 10 receiver in Stefon Diggs, a Top 5 defense and the stalwart Brady out of the division. If there's a Super Bowl next year I like the Bills' chances.
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