On one hand, Tom Brady wants us to literally buy his wholesome persona: Mr. Family Guy, humble roots, doesn't offend anyone ... the long shot everyone counted out time and time again. Mr. All American.
And then he keeps wanting to play football with Antonio Brown.
Gross.
Brady can't have it both ways. You can't want everyone to look at you one way, and keep pushing for this guy to catch your passes.
For those who have forgotten:
- The Steelers took a $21 million cap hit just to rid themselves of Brown in a trade to the Raiders;
- Brown barely practiced with the Raiders after getting frostbite on his feet and complaining about the new helmet rules, and got into a verbal altercation with Mike Mayock. Brown was suspended for conduct detrimental, and later released.
- Belichick ran to hand Brown $10 million guaranteed.
- A former trainer filed a civil suit against Brown alleging sexual assault;
- Played for Patriots vs. Dolphins and catches four passes for 54 yards and a touchdown;
- A female artist accused Brown of sexual misconduct;
- Patriots released Brown;
- Disparaged police in a video he posted while law enforcement was assisting in a child custody matter between Brown and his child's mother;
- Brown turned himself into police on a warrant on burglary and criminal mischief charges;
- NFL suspends Brown for eight games in July;
- Brown — or at least someone in his personal gym — allegedly appears in a pornographic video posted to OnlyFans.com just last month.
- Brady pushed for the Buccaneers to sign Brown, who agrees on a one-year contract with Tampa.
At that point, Kraft — the owner of the franchise and the man in charge of the entire operation — made a phone call to consult on this particular decision.
Kraft called Tom Brady.
According to Benedict, “one of his biggest frustrations in recent years had been the way key personnel decisions that affected the offense were made without input from [Brady].”
“It aggravated Brady that after two decades as the team’s quarterback, he still wasn’t a part of the conversation before important moves were made,” so the 42-year-old quarterback appreciate the consultation.
Brady, as Kraft disclosed at the time, was “one thousand percent in” on the Patriots signing Brown.
That was the clinching endorsement for Kraft, who knew that it may be Brady’s final year in New England and whose “priority was to extend the magic for a little longer.”
“This is risky,” Robert Kraft said on a phone call to his son, Jonathan. “Bill doesn’t know Brown. If Tom was ambivalent, I wouldn’t support it.”
From there, Belichick was free to make the deal. It was struck.