TAMPA, FL. – Yes the Bucs have talent, experience in winning, and a good coaching staff. But Bucs owner Joel Glazer admits, it’s mainly Tom Brady that has been the main reason for success these last two seasons.
“Having him (Brady) there, having him as a Buccaneer, having the experience he has, the leadership he has, everybody learns from him,” Glazer said. He sets such a standard, such a high expectation, that’s what he brought in the beginning, but that becomes contagious and everybody starts to learn what that expectation is.”
Brady retired for just 40 days saying he wanted to spend more time at home with his family and do some things that he’s never had time to do. Brady announced he was coming back on his social media platforms on Instagram and Twitter.
“These past 2 months I’ve realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands,” Brady wrote. “That time will come, but it’s not now. I love my teammates and I love my supportive family. They made it all possible. I’m coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa.”
Brady made this post just a day after he was at a soccer game and spoke with international soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo. There was speculation that Glazer met with Brady at the game and discussed him coming out of retirement at that time. Glazer put that rumor to rest. saying he did not meet with Brady at the game was thrilled when Brady told him he was coming back. Glazer says the team was preparing to move on without Brady.
“You just kind of felt the finality of the whole thing.” Glazer said. But as time goes on, you think about it and realize, there’s a lot of emotion involved and it’s painful at the end of the season. I know how I felt at the end of the season, so you think about it. You know how competitive Tom Brady is that there’s always a chance. Then he had time to reflect and think about things and we’re just thrilled to have him back.”
Most of the so-called NFL reporters that I spoke to at the NFL Annual Meeting feel the Bucs are one of the top 2 or 3 favorites to win the NFC. Bucs Chief Operating Officer Brian Ford says the Bucs are close to announcing sellouts for all home games. Glazer says it feels very good after some lean years.
“To me, of everything, is the most wonderful part because that’s what it’s all about,” Glazer said. “I know what drove me to be a fan of the game. It’s when you go into it and the whole community is into it and enthused. That’s what you live for. It’s been wonderful to see.”
The Bucs will be the first team to play a regular-season NFL game in Germany. The Bucs opponent date and time will be announced soon.
So the Bucs are once again must-see TV, all thanks to Brady who’ll turn 45 years old in August. Pretty amazing.
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