Tag: Brady

Dec 15, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith during warmups against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Reports: Jets’ search heats up with interview requests

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New York Jets requested interviews with at least a half-dozen coordinators and other assistants as their coaching search intensified Monday, per multiple reports.

Offensive coordinators Arthur Smith (Steelers), Bobby Slowik (Texans) and Joe Brady (Bills), defensive coordinators Aaron Glenn (Lions) and Vance Joseph (Broncos), and quarterbacks coach Brian Griese (49ers) were candidates named in multiple reports.

The Jets (5-12) fired head coach Robert Saleh after a 2-3 start this season and went 3-9 under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich.

In addition, the Jets reportedly completed first interviews with former two-time head coach Ron Rivera and former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.

Smith, 42, is in his first season with Pittsburgh after posting three consecutive 7-10 seasons as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2021-23.

Smith’s Steelers, who will visit the Baltimore Ravens for a wild-card game on Saturday night, finished the regular season ranked 16th in scoring (22.4 points per game) and 23rd in total offense (319.4 yards per game).

Slowik, 37, is in his second season with the Texans after working as an assistant for the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan from 2017-22. The Texans were 19th in scoring (21.9) and 22nd in total offense (319.7).

Brady, 35, joined the Buffalo staff in 2022 and is in his first full season as the offensive coordinator. The Bills ranked second in scoring (30.9) and 10th in total offense (359.1).

Glenn, 52, has been the Lions’ DC since 2021. Detroit finished seventh in the league this season in scoring defense (20.1) and 20th in total defense (342.4).

Joseph, 52, compiled an 11-21 record in two seasons as head coach of the Broncos from 2017-18. In his second season as head coach Sean Payton’s DC in 2024, Denver finished third in scoring defense (18.3) and seventh in total defense (317.1).

Griese, 49, just finished his third season coaching the San Francisco quarterbacks. He was a QB in the league for 11 seasons with four teams from 1998-2008, earning one Pro Bowl selection.

–Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (L) talks to Tom Brady (R) before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders in August. Brady's ownership stake in the Raiders was approved by league owners on Tuesday. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Tom Brady’s 5 percent stake in Raiders unanimously approved

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NFL owners unanimously approved Tom Brady as a minority stakeholder in the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday.

Brady is cleared to purchase the 5 percent stake in the franchise he discussed with principal owner Mark Davis in 2023.

Brady’s bid was on the agenda at the NFL fall league meeting in Atlanta, where he needed only 24 of the league’s 32 owners to vote to approve his acquisition. The NFL vote was officially 32-0 on Tuesday when Brady’s former teammate, Richard Seymour, also was approved for purchase of a 0.5 percent stake in the franchise.

“I’m deeply grateful — humbled and honored — to become an NFL owner. This is the mission of a lifetime, and I accept it with both purpose and pride. With great opportunity comes great responsibility. And I pledge to be a worthy steward of our game — and all it makes possible,” Seymour said via social media.

Brady and Knighthead Capital Management co-founder Tom Wagner in May 2023 agreed to purchase approximately 10 percent of the Raiders from Davis, with Brady personally holding 5 percent. He’s also part of the ownership group of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces with Davis.

Multiple issues stood in the way, and the topic was discussed behind closed doors at previous league meetings. Owners feared Davis had given too big a discount to Brady and Wagner, who altered their offer.

Brady is in the first year of a 10-year, $375 million contract to be an analyst on Fox’s No. 1 broadcast team. Some owners were concerned that a part-owner of one franchise would gain access and insight to coaches, staff, players and game plans of other teams.

In response, the NFL limited Brady’s access relative to what is afforded other analysts. He’s not allowed in some production meetings, and can’t visit team headquarters or attend practices.

Brady’s job as a broadcaster might be impacted on-air should he be approved.

According to ESPN, Brady is not allowed to publicly criticize game officials and other clubs. Doing so at a level deemed excessive could result would result in a fine or suspension. He would also be subjected to anti-tampering policies.

–Field Level Media

Retired Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) attempting a pass against the Chicago Bears. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-Imagn Images

Crazy for Brady? Bears owner admits pursuing QB in 2020

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Bears owner George McCaskey confirmed the franchise made a run at signing then-free agent quarterback Tom Brady in March 2020.

Brady left the Patriots to hit the open market for the first time and previously referenced multiple suitors without directly disclosing any teams that finished as runners up to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Now retired and working for FOX as a color analyst, Brady said during a live broadcast of the Buccaneers and Eagles in Week 4 that the Bears ran a “stealth recruitment” with Mitchell Trubisky under contract.

“That seems like ancient history at this point,” McCaskey said Thursday as Chicago prepares to play the Jacksonville Jaguars in England.

“Anytime you’re in a situation like that you’re not putting all of your eggs in one basket. You’re looking at alternatives. It’s the same in free agency, it’s the same in the draft. If the person you’re targeting isn’t available, you want to make sure that you’ve done your due diligence on all other options. So that was one option that we were looking at.”

The Bears kept Trubisky, the No. 2 pick in the 2017 draft, and made a trade with the Jaguars to add backup quarterback Nick Foles.

McCaskey said he didn’t have direct involvement with Brady and didn’t disclose any behind-the-scenes knowledge of what might have been classified as stealth recruitment.

“I do remember we were interested in pursuing him. It didn’t work out for us. Worked out great for him in Tampa,” McCaskey said.

Brady won his record seventh Super Bowl in his first season with the Buccaneers.

The Bears started over at quarterback in 2021, trading up to draft Ohio State’s Justin Fields 11th overall. They’re amid another reset, drafting Caleb Williams with the top pick in April and trading Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I think it’s gone very well,” McCaskey said of Williams’ first five NFL games, which produced a 3-2 record. “We wanted to have a structure in place for him to succeed, and a lot of that was protecting him from the inevitable distractions when you’re the starting quarterback of the Chicago Bears.”

The Bears are not known for a rich history at the position. In 2018, Trubisky was the first Bears quarterback to earn a Pro Bowl selection since their last Super Bowl-winning QB — Jim McMahon in 1985. The franchise hasn’t had a first-team All-Pro quarterback since the AFL-NFL merger. The last Bears’ quarterback named All-Pro was Johnny Lujack in 1950. He went 9-3 that season with four touchdown passes and 21 interceptions, dabbling in kicking and recording one interception while playing some defensive back.

Chicago’s single-season passing records belong to Erik Kramer, who set the franchise marks with 3,838 yards and 29 touchdowns in 1995.

–Field Level Media

Jan 16, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) meet after the wild card game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys, Browns and Brady featured in Week 1 matchup

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Tom Brady and two of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks will gather Week 1 of the 2024 season in Cleveland.

Brady, in his regular-season broadcasting debut with FOX, was part of the announcement Monday night when he confirmed alongside new booth partner Kevin Burkhardt that they would call the Cowboys at Browns in Week 1, a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff.

Brady and Michael Strahan, the former Giants defensive end and part of FOX’s studio show, briefly discussed the matchup and Brady offered a good-natured ribbing of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.

“Let’s see if he can finally come through,” said Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion. “Did that just slip out?”

The Cowboys posted a 12-5 record in 2023 with Prescott leading the NFL in touchdown passes with 36. Dallas lost in the playoffs to the Green Bay Packers.

Prescott is in the final season of a four-year, $160 million contract. He would be a free agent if the two sides fail to reach a contract extension before March and cannot be retained on the franchise tag.

Cleveland reached the playoffs last seaon as a wild-card team with Joe Flacco operating the offense. Deshaun Watson underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in October and spent the offseason rehabbing. His health is a critical storyline for the Browns ahead of training camp.

–Field Level Media

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) reacts to his second touchdown to regain the lead against the Chiefs.

Bills QB Josh Allen wants OC, HC back in 2024

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Business is about to get more expensive for the Buffalo Bills.

A salary cap crunch created by the ballooning cap hit of quarterback Josh Allen is among chief concerns entering the offseason. Allen and the Bills lost in the divisional playoff round for the third consecutive season and bowed out without reaching the Super Bowl for the fifth straight year.

“Still doesn’t feel real that we’re not practicing today,” Allen said Monday when asked how he’ll spend his offseason.

The Kansas City Chiefs eliminated the Bills from the playoffs in a 27-24 dogfight in Buffalo on Sunday.

Allen finished a two-game postseason run this month with four touchdown passes and three TD runs. A potential game-tying field goal by Tyler Bass sailed wide right, but Allen said Monday the collective missed opportunities in all phases add up to his team heading home while Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs get ready for another AFC title game.

“I believe in what we have going on here and the people in charge,” Allen said, adding he fully embraces bringing back offensive coordinator Joe Brady. “All signs are pointing up with this team.”

Allen said he’s witnessed growth from head coach Sean McDermott and wants to continue playing for him.

“Losing is never fun. The reason why you play this game is you don’t want to feel this way. When you feel this way, it makes winning that much more special. We’re not going to run from this. We’re going to take it on the chin,” Allen said. “Continue to learn. Get better. … We’re just like (fans), we want to win. We’re going to keep fighting and keep working as hard as we can until we are that one team. Long road ahead, long offseason.”

The cost is going up for Allen in particular. His cap figure this season was $18.6 million, but leaps to $47.1 million in 2024. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who didn’t speak with the media following the loss, brings a cap charge of nearly $28 million. But the Bills could save in the neighborhood of $20 million by trading Diggs after June 1.

“This feeling right here is what you’ve got to remember going forward,” tight end Dawson Knox said. “We’ve won the division four years in a row. We’ve made the playoffs five years in a row. But this feels nowhere near satisfying. … This feeling of coming up short, is important to just marinate and motivate you for next year.”

As the cap stands, Buffalo projects to be at least $42 million over the 2024 threshold. Unrestricted free agency awaits key contributors with expiring deals, including defensive tackle Ed Oliver, defensive end Leonard Floyd, safety Micah Hyde and cornerback Rasul Douglas, a trade deadline acquisition from the Green Bay Packers.

–Field Level Media

Nov 13, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis (13) runs with the ball after making a catch against the Denver Broncos during the second half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Bills WR Gabe Davis on OC change: ‘Behind Dorsey 100 percent’

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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis openly defends fired coordinator Ken Dorsey and takes offense to suggestions he was to blame for the team’s downturn in production.

“It’s on us players to go out there and play at a high level and execute,” Davis said Thursday.

Davis said the “offense is the offense” and there are no major changes coming after the Bills decided to move on from Dorsey and install Joe Brady as the coordinator on Tuesday. He said he’s in a “weird space” and is trying to find answers in “harsh truth.”

“If anyone tries to blame one guy, they definitely don’t know what they’re talking about,” Davis said. “He put me in the best position last week to go and catch a runner. It went through my hands. Where in that does that get put on Dorsey? There are things out there that we created. … In reality, we’re just going through a little adversity. It’s just been tough. I definitely have defended Dorsey 100 percent. It takes a team. You ask any of these guys, and we’re behind him 100 percent.

“We’re 5-5. We’ve lost five games (by) 23 points totals. With the amount of bad plays, the amount of turnovers. There’s been games we’ve made a lot of mistakes and yet we’re still in it.”

Quarterback Josh Allen leads the NFL with 11 interceptions and had two picks Monday in a 24-22 loss to the Denver Broncos (4-5). Allen said Dorsey would still be the coordinator if he was performing to his own expectations.

“I take that very personally,” he said. “It hurts a lot to see someone you care about go through a situation like that and to know that if I could have done more, if this offense could have done more, we wouldn’t have had to do something like that.”

Davis said all of the questions asked by media and other pundits are questions they’re asking themselves.

“There’s some accountability we all have to take that we are where we are. We all have hands in it,” said Davis, who has 33 catches for 490 yards and five scores. “We all have to figure out how we can do better.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 25, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) greet after the game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Jets won’t try to lure Tom Brady out of retirement

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The New York Jets will not ask a seven-time Super Bowl champion to replace a four-time Most Valuable Player.

The Athletic reported Wednesday that Tom Brady coming out of retirement to replace injured quarterback Aaron Rodgers isn’t one of the options head coach Robert Saleh and the Jets are discussing.

Brady, 46, has made it clear to people close to him that he is finished with football, per the report.

Saleh confirmed Tuesday that 2021 first-round pick Zach Wilson is “our quarterback” and there is no competition heading into Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas.

Rodgers, 39, played just four snaps in his much-anticipated Jets debut on Monday night against the Buffalo Bills before sustaining a torn left Achilles tendon, ending his season.

Wilson, the No. 2 overall pick in 2021, replaced Rodgers and completed 14 of 21 passes for 140 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The Jets defeated the Bills 22-16 in overtime on undrafted rookie Xavier Gipson’s 65-yard punt return.

Tim Boyle is the only other quarterback on New York’s roster, leaving the Jets to shop around this week for a veteran free agent.

–Field Level Media

(file photo) Tom Brady talks with owner Robert Kraft before a preseason game in August 2019.

Bill Belichick: Tom Brady deserves more than one appreciation night

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Celebrating Tom Brady tops the Week 1 itinerary for the New England Patriots. From the sound of it, head coach Bill Belichick expects the ceremony to be just the beginning.

“Look forward to seeing him and I’m sure there will be a lot of excitement at the game, in the stands as there should be,” Belichick said Monday in an interview with WEEI radio. “He’s done an awful lot for this organization, for this franchise, for this city, the National Football League.

“One night’s really not enough, anywhere close to being enough for the appreciation for what Tom deserves.”

Brady spent his first 20 seasons with the Patriots and wrote a storied legacy alongside Belichick and team owner Robert Kraft. Brady and Belichick won 17 division titles, played in the AFC Championship game 13 times and made nine appearances in the Super Bowl with six Lombardi trophies.

New England opens at home Sept. 10 against the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles. Brady will be honored at halftime.

When Brady left via free agency to sign with the Buccaneers in 2020, there were indications of a fracture in the coach-QB relationship partially tied to Brady’s loyalty to his personal trainer.

But Belichick maintained positive praise for Brady when he won a seventh Super Bowl title in a 10th appearance in his first season in Tampa, and thanked him again when he retired in February — this time, Brady says, for good.

Belichick kept the kudos coming on Monday.

“It was a great opportunity for me,” he said of coaching Brady. “I feel very fortunate to have coached Tom, Lawrence Taylor, Matt Slater. That’s the three top players at their position: offense, defense, special teams, I think in the history of the game, and that’s pretty — I feel pretty lucky as a coach. Great players make great coaches, and I’ve been very fortunate. There’s been a lot of great players along the way. I’m not taking anything away from anybody else. But those three are special.”

Asked if Brady deserved a statue at Gillette Stadium, Belichick said, “Give him whatever he wants, yeah.”

–Field Level Media

Feb 28, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles during the NFL combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Todd Bowles: Bucs can still win without Tom Brady

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles addressed the elephant in the room on Sunday, although the “animal” in question is more appropriately referred to as the “G.O.A.T.”

Bowles spoke of his team’s expectations at quarterback in the wake of Tom Brady’s retirement.

“When you replace a player of that magnitude, first of all, you don’t replace him,” Bowles told NFL Network of Brady’s departure from the team. “You lose aura. You lose the expectation of being great. That doesn’t mean you can’t be great. You just have to do it more as a team. We did it as a team when he was there, but he was such a great player and a great person that you focus all on that. And now that that is gone, the perception is that everything else is gone when really it isn’t.

“We have a lot of good players on our team on both sides of the ball. We have some pieces to fill, but we have a lot of good football players on our team. And we just have to understand that and not go with the so-called outside narrative and do what we have to do to win ball games.”

With Brady retired, all eyes will shift to free-agent acquisition Baker Mayfield and in-house candidate Kyle Trask at the quarterback position.

“I liked Baker when he was coming out,” Bowles said of the former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.

“We kind of hit it off when I was with the Jets. I went down to Oklahoma and we had this vibe between us. And not to say he had the strongest arm and everything else, but he’s a leader. He has great understanding of the football game. He knows where to go with the football. And he has moxie. He’s a guy’s guy. The players love to be around him, and they will fight for him because he’s a winner.”

“… So, between him and Trask, I have no doubt that one of them will come out and be successful.”

Tampa Bay is Mayfield’s fourth team in three years. The 27-year-old helped his chances by finishing last season strong after being claimed by the Los Angeles Rams.

Trask, 25, completed 3 of 9 pass attempts for 23 yards in one game last season. He was picked in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media

Jan 1, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield (17) throws the ball in the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Bucs to sign Baker Mayfield as Tom Brady replacement

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Quarterback Baker Mayfield agreed to a deal with the Buccaneers that presents the former No. 1 overall pick an opportunity to start, according to multiple reports.

Tampa Bay would become Mayfield’s fourth team in three years. The 27-year-old helped his chances by finishing last season strong after being claimed by the Los Angeles Rams.

The Buccaneers lost Tom Brady to his second, apparently official, retirement at the end of the 2022 season and are in the midst of a major roster overhaul due to salary cap restrictions.

Mayfield was drafted No. 1 by the Cleveland Browns in 2018 and became expendable with the team’s acquisition of Deshaun Watson last year. He was traded to the Carolina Panthers and opened the season as the starter before injury and ineffectiveness pushed him into a backup role.

As a rookie with the Browns, Mayfield had 27 touchdowns with 14 interceptions and had nine games with multiple TD passes. He had 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2020 before fighting through an injury-riddled 2021 season that prompted general manager Andrew Berry to kick the tires on a trade with the Houston Texans to add Watson.

With the Rams, Mayfield helped lead a game-winning drive two days after Los Angeles claimed him via waivers.

Mayfield’s 23-yard touchdown pass to Van Jefferson with 10 seconds left stunned the Las Vegas Raiders, 17-16, in Week 14. He threw a total of four touchdowns with two interceptions and was sacked 17 times in five games with the Rams.

The Buccaneers were left with one quarterback, Kyle Trask, on the roster when Brady retired in February. Blaine Gabbert, the No. 2 quarterback for the Bucs last season, is an unrestricted free agent.

–Field Level Media