|
Arians clarified yet again he doesn't expect Tom Brady to be the
player revealed behind the door, a reference to looking at
options outside the known players on the depth chart: Blaine
Gabbert and 2021 second-round pick Kyle Trask.
"That would shock me," Arians told the Tampa Bay Times of a
potential Brady return. "And he let us know in time to do the
free agency like we've done in the past. That's why I don't see
it happening. I don't know if there's really a story there."
NFL Network reported last week that Arians and general manager
Jason Licht hadn't ruled out Brady's return. The 44-year-old
announced in early February that he was retiring after 22 NFL
seasons.
But other reports indicate Arians is looking for his "next
Brady" and has spent time studying Deshaun Watson (Houston
Texans) and Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks), among other
potential trade targets for Tampa Bay.
When Arians and Licht met with Brady as a free agent before the
2020 season, Arians had only recently made a reference to
looking behind "Door No. 2" when questioned about whether
then-free agent Jameis Winston would be re-signed.
The 2022 offseason of QB musical chairs includes many
significant names beyond Wilson and Watson, who've shown
interest in being traded.
There also have been reports that Brady could have interest in
playing for the San Francisco 49ers to return to his California
roots.
Several teams are in need of a quarterback when the new league
year begins in March.
Arians also rather colorfully said former NFL player Rich
Ohrnberger's report that Brady and Arians didn't see "eye to
eye" on game planning was unfounded.
"I mean, that's such bulls---''' Arians told the Tampa Bay
Times. "That's what pisses me off. It seems like there's one
(story) every day now. Everybody is speculating he's going
somewhere else. That don't bother me. This other bulls---, the
relationship thing, that's so far-fetched."
--Field Level Media
[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
