Bedard: How this should go down between Tom Brady, Bill Belichick & the Krafts

This is going to give #FavreWatch a run for its money. It will arguably be more closely monitored than a papal conclave.

Sunday marked the one month mark from when Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr. can legally talk to other NFL teams about possibly signing with them.

For some, that's Doomsday. For others, a whole lot of fun.

For those involved in this situation — some directly, some indirectly — the feeling is there's a way this can all be handled so everyone gets what they want.

For Brady to end his career with the Patriots, this is what should happen:

Time apart, then come together

Yes, nothing has happened to this point. There have been no contract discussions. This is not that unusual, and it was expected. There's still a month before there's a sense of urgency. The Patriots aren't going to show their cards this early. They shouldn't be giving Brady written permission to talk to teams at this point. Or maybe at all. The phrase, "The player was given permission to work out a deal ..." means the team no longer wants said player and is eager to facilitate his departure.

That doesn't appear to be the case here, but the only person who matters is Bill Belichick and he's not going to tell anyone what he's thinking at this point. However, it's believed that the Patriots have been happy with Brady's play and have not seen a lot of slippage. The problem with the offense last season was a lack of weapons.

The best thing for all sides was to spend time apart, decompress and then have a meeting. Brady's been spending family time in far-flung places. Belichick has been fishing. Kraft has been down the Hollywood circuit.

At some point, however, the three sides need to come together under the radar and out of the press.

Put all the cards on the table

When the three sides meet, Brady needs to state his intentions:

"I would like to return to the team, if you still want me to be your quarterback but some things need to change." Or, Brady just needs to be up front and say, "I think we've accomplished all we can and I think it's best that we go our separate ways."

Some people close to the situation have not ruled out the possibility that Brady could want out just out of spite for the whole situation since the Falcons' Super Bowl — lack of any contract extension at any point, treatment of trainer Alex Guerrero, Belichick grinding on Brady, constantly changing offensive personnel, the utter failure to provide any viable weapons last year.

If that's the case, Brady should just say it and move on. Stop playing these constant leverage games his camp has been playing in the media.

Some people think, when it comes down to it, that Brady really has no intention of leaving. That, at the end of the day, he's not going to want to set up a new shop for coaches and with players he doesn't know — forget about the extra time commitment it will take. After 20 years in the league, Brady's really going to go play for Anthony Lynn, offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and owner Dean Spanos? How about Jon Gruden and Mark Davis, where the Raiders have zero defense and as many receivers as the Patriots? Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and his receivers/tight ends are going to suddenly convert to Brady's demanding route running in one offseason?

People have serious doubts about all of that.

Belichick's turn

If Brady wants to stay, then the ball is totally in Belichick's court. He needs to be prepared to have a human response if Brady indicates that he wants to stay.

"Yes, Tom, we want you to be our quarterback for the next one or two more seasons. We agree, you can still play and you give us the best chance to win. ... Look, you and I both know I (bleeped) up last offseason. Gronk screwed us so we lost out on Jared Cook. I effed up the receivers. I thought the defense was going to carry us, and that was wrong. AB was a disaster. Still is.

"If you come back, we're not that far away. I'd welcome your thoughts on possible upgrades. I can't make any promises that I'll do them, but I'd like to hear them. Maybe you can help us recruit.

"However, there's one thing I want from you, or else there's no point in any of this ... you have to show up in the offseason. If we make these changes, you have to be there starting with Phase 2 of the offseason workouts through the end. There's no point in me getting X, Y, and Z if you're going to only show up for the three-day minicamp. You're going to be on a pitch count in camp, so you need as much time to work with them as possible."

Now the ball is with Brady. If he really does want to do this family thing in the offseason, then he should be the quarterback for another team. No one is saying it cost the Patriots anything the past two seasons, but if they're really going to make a go of this for one or two more years, then it needs to be a full go.

"I can do all that and I agree that's what we need to do to finish this off the right way. But I still want to hear other teams out. Since you didn't want to give me a contract extension when I was league MVP and winning you two more Super Bowls, I think that's only right and fair."

Patriots should agree to that, but both sides should agree on a deadline, say midnight on March 18 — the day Brady's contract voids at 3:59 p.m.

Brady also has to concede that the Patriots will be going over their own options and looking for contingencies.

Clear consciences

With that, every side should get what they want. Brady hears the respect he's yearned for from Belichick. Brady also gets to hear the pitches from other teams. And if they do come back to each other, it's for the right reasons.

Plus, Belichick gets his quarterback back in the offseason and a partner to possibly help some other players take less-than-market value to help Brady go out the right way in his final season or two.

If Brady thinks he's going to visit with other teams and literally be wined and dined while Belichick just sits around, he's fooling himself. That would not be in the best interest of the football team and the Patriots should move on at some point.

Kraft needs to be a facilitator at this point, and no one is a better closer than Robert Kraft.

Everyone knows what's best for the Patriots at this point, and if Brady realizes his best chance to win is with New England — it is, without question, with a few of the right moves — then this shouldn't be all that complicated, if the three sides get together and have an honest conversation.