TAMPA, Fla. _ So this is how the upper crust in the NFL live, eh? This is how it feels for those lucky enough to have been born in the end zone. This is how fan bases react when they have an iconic quarterback who brings an identity to their city and Super Bowl parade routes to their streets.
"The impact that has on a small-market team is immense," Bucs quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen said. "You're kind of privileged. There aren't that many. And for your town to get one, it's special. It's not like everyone wouldn't love to have one. They're hard to find. They don't exist.
"The Mannings, the Bradys, the Favres, the Breeses ? there's not a ton of them. They just bring a notoriety and respect for your town, sports-wise, that's immeasurable."
That's what Tom Brady already has done for the Bucs. Shortly after signing him to a two-year, $50 million contract, the Bucs started reaping the benefits of skyrocketing ticket sales, team merchandise in demand and five prime-time games on the 2020 schedule, a team record.
Both Christensen and former Bucs/Colts coach Tony Dungy say it happened with Manning in Indianapolis.
Before he arrived, the Colts weren't exactly Page 1 news. But by the time Dungy took over in Manning's fifth season with the Colts, the transformation had begun.
"Indianapolis was (Indiana) U basketball one, Pacers basketball two and Notre Dame football three," Dungy said. "And all of a sudden in two or three years, it's Colts football all the way because of one iconic person. That's rare and it usually does take a quarterback."
If any fan base had earned the right to suffer envy, it's the Bucs.
Tampa Bay hasn't reached the playoffs for 12 straight seasons. During that awful stretch, their quarterbacks have been Jeff Garcia, Brian Griese, Byron Leftwich, Luke McCown, Josh Freeman, Josh Johnson, Josh McCown, Mike Glennon and Jameis Winston.
Having a passing paragon, even one who will turn 43 before the start of the 2020 season, alters the culture of the franchise.
When it comes to iconic quarterbacks who change addresses, there's no guide. But Christensen says when Brady decided to leave New England after 20 seasons, nine Super Bowl appearances and six championships, he certainly was influenced _ if not encouraged _ by Manning's second act with the Denver Broncos.
Despite recovering from a difficult neck surgery that forced Manning to rebuild his mechanics and strength in his right arm, he led the Broncos to two Super Bowl appearances, winning one.
"I do know a couple of times (Brady) mentioned he watched Peyton go to Denver and he said it looked like he was having fun," Christensen said. "It was a very similar situation. He had two big wideouts, two big-play guys and he just went out there and kind of did it again if you will. He inspired another team to higher levels. I think there's a joy that comes with just doing that.
" ... You're down the road in your career. You've got the experience. You know how to get it done and you go and apply it to another team. You go and you build something again. All the things he's learned he'll bring and share and pass on. I think I can safely say, he got a charge out of that."
Without Brady, and since the demise of their Super Bowl 37 team in 2002, the Bucs and their fans have struggled to feel like a part of the NFL.
Dungy experienced that first hand when he took over as Bucs coach in 1995.
"I remember that was my goal our first year here, just to get a 4 o'clock game," Dungy said. "If we get one 4 o'clock game, it will seem like a victory. And we were so excited and the schedule came out and it was 1 o'clock, 1 o'clock, 1 o'clock. And then we were 5-0, I remember it like it was yesterday, they called and said if you guys beat Arizona, we're moving the Green Bay game to 4 o'clock. And it was like, 'OK, we've arrived.'
"So just that attention of 'hey, we're relevant.' That's going to be different. And you always think you're a good team and we can beat anybody. But when you break out that schedule and it's New Orleans and it's a national game and it's we've got these guys on Monday night, the Raiders on Sunday night, you say, 'Wow, we're there now.' It has an impact, no question."
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