TB Heading to TB
We may not have live sports, but we do have NFL Free Agency and let’s all say a thank you for that.
Brady Watch is over friends. The CDC said 6 ft, Tom Brady said, “Hold my beer.” After 20 years and six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, TB12 is now QB1 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He will have offensive weapons in the forms of wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and a damn good coach in the form of Bruce Arians.
Brady has signed a two-year, guaranteed $50 million contract that includes $9 million in incentives. It also bars any tags or trades.
Earlier this week, Brady thanked Patriots fans for “the happiest two decades I could have envisioned in my life” and the organization saying, “I cherished every opportunity I had to be a part of our team, and I love you all for that.”
The Sports World and COVID-19
Ever since Utah Jazz Center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the Coronavirus last week (though it feels like three months ago), multiple players from multiple teams have been tested.
The Nets’ Kevin Durant, the Pistons’ Christian Wood, the Celtics’ Marcus Smart and the Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell are among NBA players infected with the virus. We also know that two Lakers players, three Pistons players, a member of the Denver Nuggets and three other members of the Brooklyn Nets have tested positive.
New Orleans Saints’ Head Coach Sean Payton also revealed that he has tested positive for the virus.
We have seen numerous players and organizations donate and designate funds to make sure employees, arena workers and communities are taken care of during these uncertain times, which is incredible.
Anyone can get this and we must all do everything we can to keep ourselves and those around us safe. Wash your hands. Practice social distancing. Stay home!
Star Running Backs Find New Homes
In 2018, the Los Angeles Rams signed running back Todd Gurley to a four-year, 60 million contract extension, with $45 million in guaranteed money. Yesterday, the Rams released him.
Today, Gurley agreed to a one-year, $6 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons. After dealing with a late season injury in 2018, Gurley never returned to his superstar form and the Rams have a lot salary cap issues due to decisions I’ll never understand (but that’s a discussion for another time).
Meanwhile, that other LA football team, the Chargers, said goodbye to running back Melvin Gordon. The two-time Pro Bowler is heading the AFC West rival Denver Broncos on a two-year, $16 million contract that includes $13.5 million guaranteed.
Receiving Corps
The first major trade of the week sent Texans’ wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals. Arizona gets the four-time Pro Bowler and a fourth-round draft pick, while Houston gets RB David Johnson and a second-round pick.
Although there were reports that the trade was the result of a rift between Hopkins and Texans’ head coach Bill O’Brien, Hopkins said that was “blown way out of proportion.” Either way, the Cardinals and QB Kyler Murray upgraded their offense big time.
Meanwhile, Stefon Diggs is on his way to Buffalo to join QB Josh Allen and the Bills. It seems that Diggs has been ready for a change of scenery for a while. You’ve lived in one cold place, you’ve lived in them all, amiright?
Anyway, the Minnesota Vikings got a first-round pick, a fifth-round pick, a sixth-round pick and a 2021 fourth-round pick for Diggs. You Digg that? I’ll see myself out…
Quarterbacks Not Named Brady
We can’t all be Tom Brady (though I’m going to TB12 the hell out of this quarantine and try) and neither can every quarterback. That being said, every team needs one and a few QBs have new homes either through trades or free agency.
- Philip Rivers – Indianapolis Colts
- Teddy Bridgewater – Carolina Panthers
- Nick Foles – Chicago Bears
- Marcus Mariota – Oakland Raiders (where he’ll most likely be QB2)