The End of An Era: Tom Brady Announces That He Is Leaving the Patriots
Tom Brady took a massive step Tuesday, when he officially announced that he would be leaving the New England Patriots via Twitter. In a lengthy announcement, he said: “To all my teammates, coaches, executives and staff, Coach Belichik, RKK and the Kraft family and the entire organization. I want to say thank you for the past twenty years of my life and the daily commitment to winning and creating a winning culture built on great values.” He continued listing the many things he was grateful for from his Patriots’ journey, but eventually that his “football journey will take place elsewhere.”
“I have been privileged to have had the opportunity to know each and every one of you, and to have the memories we’ve created together,” he said.
Brady also spoke to the fans in a second tweet, saying “I wanted to say thank you to all to all of the incredible fans and Patriots supporters. MA has been my home for twenty years. It has truly been the happiest two decades I could have envisioned in my life and I have nothing but love and gratitude for my time in New England.”
Finally, at the end of the announcement, he said “I don’t know what my football future holds but it is time for me to open a new stage for my life and career. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I will always love you and what we have shared - a lifetime full of fun memories.”
And thus the greatest quarterback of all time announced that he would be leaving the only team he had ever played for. There is one massive remaining question to be answered before the season begins: Where will he go?
Adam Schefter has said via Twitter that, despite the announcement, Brady isn’t sure where he will go now, and is “weighing his options.” The Colts, Chargers, and Buccaneers have all been thrown around on social media, but for now, fans will just have to wait, hoping for another announcement soon.
Meanwhile, the Patriots are tasked with the unenviable task of replacing the greatest player in the team, and probably league, history. Mike Sando of The Athletic has proposed that they should seek to trade for Jimmy Garropolo from the San Francisco 49ers, reuniting Bill Belichik with the quarterback he supposedly chose to be Brady’s heir all along. They could also seek to sign a veteran like Philip Rivers or Jameis Winston, or the Patriots’ next quarterback may even be found in the draft. One thing is virtually guaranteed, though: nobody will truly replace the GOAT in New England.
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