One team has not been shy about their interest in Tom Brady: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It started at the NFL Combine when Bruce Arians said he would inquire on the 42-year-old quarterback with him being a potential free agent, and then there have been several other reports since.
The biggest came Wednesday from Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times who wrote Tampa Bay is going all-in on Brady. Their pursuit of quarterbacks this offseason starts with Brady. The Buccaneers have not reached the playoffs in 12 years, but are desperate to get back.
Stroud is one of the most connected Tampa Bay reporters, so when he reports something there's usually something behind it.
This came a day after ESPN's Dianna Russini called Brady and Tampa Bay a match made in heaven.
“Some of those things he wants — control over roster, he wants to be part of making decisions on the play-calling — if you take a look at what Bruce Arians has done in the past with Ben Roethlisberger (when he was Steelers offensive coordinator), they both have been very public how [Arians] let Ben call plays,” she said on ESPN's 'Get Up'. “Talk about a match made in heaven in terms of if that’s what Brady’s looking for, so if he wants control, Bruce Arians is a guy he should match up with.”
Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston is also set to become a free agent, but by all accounts the team is prepared to move on.
It's easy to see why Brady would like to play for Arians since he loves to throw the ball. There's also Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, two of the best wide receivers in football. Playing for the Buccaneers could be a lot of fun, but can they compete with the Saints in the NFC South? Would Brady actually play in Tampa Bay? Those are questions that would need to be answered.
They do have a ton of cap space (close to $80 million), so the money is there to sign Brady as well as a few other pieces for the quarterback to work with.
It's obvious the Buccaneers are interested, but now the question becomes is Brady interested in them?
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