ESPN reporter Adam Schefter is suggesting a terrifying possibly for the New England Patriots. Schefter believes quarterback Tom Brady is setting himself up to leave the team during the 2020 offseason.
Though Schefter is a reporter, he is clearly stating opinion (and is not reporting news). Schefter is drawing conclusions from Brady’s recent actions– and they add up to a potential departure from New England.
“If he’s selling his home and his trainer’s selling his home and he’s voiding his contract, what does that tell you?” Schefter asked his co-hosts on the ESPN broadcast on Monday night. “He’s setting up — and we’ll see — to move on. Now listen, there are many times people set things up in their mind to move on and they walk up to the abyss and they look down and they say, ‘Whoa, I’m not jumping now.’ So he could change his mind. But I’m just telling you, if you look at it, in his mind, it has to be clear. He’s thinking about leaving New England.”
The discussion continued into Tuesday morning, with Schefter appearing on WEEI Boston sports radio to discuss the topic further. His comments had NFL Network’s Michael Giardi sharing thoughts on the uncertain future for Brady. He agreed with Schefter.
This offseason, Brady signed a two-year extension with the Patriots. So what’s the big deal? Well, the extension voids in 2020. Unless the Patriots and Brady put together another pact, Brady will be a free agent this offseason. There’s plenty of time to revise the contract. But it should be nerve-wracking for New England fans that, for the first time in his career, Brady is playing on the final year of his contract. The contract also presents the Patriots from placing the franchise tag on him.
Here’s what Brady had to say on WEEI in August about these stipulations, which create increased uncertainty for his future:
“Beyond this year, whether it is signing for five more years, or signing a franchise tag, or not playing — none of those things need to be decided this year. I think what it was was focusing on this season and being in the right mental, emotional frame of mind to go out there and perform at my highest level.”
It’s a matter of fact that, because of his contract, Brady’s future with the Patriots has never been so uncertain. When considering the other factors at play in Brady’s life — like the sale of his and Alex Guerrero’s homes along with reports of tension between Brady and Belichick — there is legitimate reason for anxiety of a breakup between Brady, Bill Belichick and the Patriots.
