It's been three weeks since the NFL season ended, but the news keeps rolling in. From the upcoming draft combine to Drew Brees returning for his twentieth season, we're off to a HOT start.
A few days ago, I wrote about how it was reported that the Raiders are planning to offer Brady $60 million for two years. Mark Davis is doing anything possible to bring the greatest quarterback to take the gridiron to Sin City. Will it happen? Probably not. But, that does not mean it has been ruled out as a possibility. Until right now, I am telling you Tom Brady will not play for the silver and black next season. He will be repping that blue baby. Which blue, though?
As first reported by @4thandGoalUSP, Tom Brady could be heading to the Music City next season rejoining former teammate turned head coach Mike Vrabel and his squad.
Yes, we tweeted right before the Super Bowl. Just doing our job in tweeting reports that relate to our Lord and savior turned into an all out Twitter war. "Fake news. He maybe retiring in Nashville. He isn't leaving. LeBron was in Philly looking at schools, doesn't mean anything."
Oh but it DOES mean something, random twitter troll. According to Adam Schefter(THE NFL source), he had Jeff Darlington on his podcast to discuss the future destinations of the QB free agents. Jeff Darlington is a reporter for ESPN who covers all things NFL. He has interviewed big name stars such as Jared Goff, Clowntonio Brown, and Tom Brady. He is a trusted reporter for the company, especially after this take. On the podcast, Darlington discussed how he believes Tennessee is the number one spot on Brady's listed of desired landing spots for the next chapter of his career. Even more shocking, the Patriots are third on the list behind the Raiders. Excuse me?? Are you serious?? Third??
Listen, I trust ESPN just like any avid sports fan. They always deliver accurate news and are always unbiased in their reporting....
We have fun at the PittStop.
But in all seriousness, Darlington makes a valid point. For a 42, turning 43, year old QB, the Titans are am attractive franchise to sign with. They have everything a veteran quarterback needs to be successful. A young, fast wide receiving core in AJ Brown, Corey Davis, and the "Android version of Julian Edelman" Adam Humphries. They have a solid defense. Their head coach is former teammate of Brady, Mike Vrabel, who is coming off two of the biggest wins of his career defeating the MVP led Ravens and Tom Brady's Patriots in back to back weeks to send his team to the AFC Championship for the first time since 1999. To top it off, they have the rushing leader Derrick Henry lining up in the backfield next to Brady.
However, I am not so certain that Brady is just going to pack his bags, grab his cowboy hat, and fly over states en route to the music city. Yes, it makes a ton of sense of him to make this move. However, it does not make it the right move. Tennessee is a solid, young and hungry team trying to establish themselves as a regular in the playoffs. They got their with Ryan Tannehill. RYAN FREAKIN' TANNEHILL! The same Ryan Tannehill who struggled significantly with the Miami Dolphins. Luckily for Brady, he is a free agent too. That is, if the Titans decide to go with ole reliable instead of the up and comer. If I am Tennessee, I am settling with Tannehill, letting Tom wait for his next flight at Logan Airport, and flying Derrick Henry in as soon as possible to ink his signature on the blank check he deserves.
Why Pat? Why of all people are you saying Tennessee should not sign Tom Brady? Other than the obvious being it would crush five year old Pitts to see his favorite athlete of all time suit up for a different shade of blue every Sunday. It actually does not make sense for the Titans to sign him. Where's my proof? Scroll down a bit.
In week five, Mike Vrabel made a decision. He sat the number two pick in the 2015 NFL Draft for a man who was ran out of Miami. His decision paid off in a huge way. Tannehill finished as the number one rated QB in the NFL. He finished with 22 touchdowns, 2740 yards, and a completion percentage of 70. While those numbers do not jump off the page, they don't have to. The 70% completion rate says it all. He got the ball to his receivers without turning the ball over. He did the exactly what a quarterback needs to do to win games, being a game manager. His passes weren't flashy. He didn't throw deep balls. He played a dump and dunk passing game that allowed them to gain first down after first down giving the chance for Vrabel's favorite toy to run wild.
On the flip side, Tom Brady finished the season in the middle of the pack of quarterbacks. He threw for over 4000 yards yet again, 24 touchdowns, and a 61% completion rate. These are numbers Kirk Cousins would dream of, but for Tom Brady, they haunt his dreams at night. His numbers may look solid, but they do not tell the full story. He consistently missed receivers due to poor route running and the inability to create space.
Derrick Henry was the sole reason that the Titans made it to the AFC Championship game. I do not care what you say about the Titans as a whole. Without Derrick Henry, the music plays softer and more somber in downtown Nashville after game days. He rushed for 182 yards and a TD against the Boogeymen in Foxboro. Then a week later, went toe to toe with the top ranked Baltimore Ravens where he ran through them like a bulldozer for 192 yards. The two toughest teams in the NFL to play against on the road, and this man is running through them like tissue paper. Before you start jumping down my hypothetical throat about how they didn't even get to the Super Bowl, there was no way in hell that the Kansas City Chiefs were not winning the Super Bowl. Pat Mahomes was slept on the entire season because of Lamar Jackson hogging the spotlight. It was Mahomes year. Whatever.
If those two reasons weren't good enough for you, here is one that'll make you scratch your head. The Titans were the WORST rated offensive line when it came to pass protection last season, according to Football Outsiders. They allowed the third most sacks in the league with 56. The Dolphins and Panthers were the only teams that ranked lower with 58 sacks. Keep in mind, these were two of the worst teams in the entire league. However, the Titans had a top four offensive line when it came to the running game. They averaged nearly five yards for every rush and had a top five offensive line in the power game too. With that on the table, do you think Tom Brady can withstand being sacked 56 times in one season? The most Brady has been sacked in a season was 43 times in 2013. Other than that, he has not been brought down more than 40 times in a season. At his age, being sacked upwards of 50 will land him in the retirement home.
So wouldn't pairing Tom Brady with a top five running back be the recipe for a Super Bowl? Yes, you are right, but only in Madden. If the Titans want Brady as bad as everyone in New England wants him to stay, they are going to have to sacrifice a franchise changing talent in Derrick Henry for him. Derrick Henry is the size of a linebacker with the speed of a wide receiver and the ability to find the gap like Le'veon Bell. The league is evolving into a passing game, but teams need a solid run game to even be considered a playoff contender. Re-sign Tannehill and Henry, upgrade the offensive line by drafting tackles who can protect the quarterback, and rely on your young talent to get you back on course. If Trent Dilfer can win a Super Bowl on the backs of a historic defense, Ryan Tannehill can do the same with the generational talent that is Derrick "Diesel" Henry.
Another week in the books on the hunt for the next landing spot for Tommy Terrific. Hopefully he doesn't become Tommy Titan. As the weeks pass, the thoughts of him leaving New England become more and more of a possibility with all of the reports. However, I am not buying it. Why do I think this? One of my favorite Brady quotes is, "You know what my favorite ring is? The next one." As cocky as that sounds, it fits perfectly with his debut to the free agency market. He is not going to go somewhere for the money. At the age of 43, he wants to prove the the football world he can still raise the Lombardi trophy come February. The Raiders would be taking a detour on their championship path by giving him $60 million. The Titans would lose an important piece to their Super Bowl puzzle if a Vrabel and Brady reunion happens for the 2020 season. Believe what you want when listening to reports. Just remember to keep in mind Brady's mindset towards football. With that, it is time to head back into the wild to collect more data. Will report back soon with more updates. Peace, y'all.